Anyone know where I can get my hands on original prints for older versions of the BLM Survey Manual of Instructions? I am interested in 1930, 1902 and earlier versions.
> Anyone know where I can get my hands on original prints for older versions of the BLM Survey Manual of Instructions? I am interested in 1930, 1902 and earlier versions.
If it is the text you want check out Al White's History of the Rectangular Survey System .
If it is original textbooks you are looking for I'd suggest you hang out at alibris.com and powells.com. Next to surveyorconnect.com, those would be the best places I know of.
I picked up a copy of the 1902 Manual at Powell's last year for about $30.
Landmark Enterprises did publish "A Collection Of Instructions To Surveyors Of The Public Lands" from 1815-1881. This is a volume you might also look for. I don't think that Landmark still exists, but I may be wrong. The 1930 Manual may be a little hard to find as it seems that not too many exist or those that do have one don't want to part with it.
GLO Survey Manuals
FYI: Digital version of old GLO and BLM Manuals, Instructions, etc. are available at: http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/reference/default.aspx#id=05_Appendices|07_Surveying_Manuals
Wonder why the 2009 Manual isn't digital yet? I heard that BLM Alaska has one for internal use only.
GLO Survey Manuals
I would believe it, makes sense. I heard some issues with copyright is the reason it is not yet ready for public in an electrinic version. I don't understand that one bit, BLM don't seem to have any issues charging the public over a $100 for a printed copy, but thats what we have to deal with.
Landmark Enterprises is long gone. Too bad, it was a great resource of printed materials for the surveyor. Paul Cuomo bought Landmark from Roy Minnick, or maybe from Roy's family after he died, and revived it as Paul Cuomo Press, Inc. (pcpressinc.com). Paul has since passed on and PC Press is now operated by his son (not Tony Cuomo, LS, but Tony's brother Thomas).
The selection isn't nearly what it was when the business existed as Landmark, but they have a few good titles. They list "A Collection of Original Instructions..." as compiled by Roy, but when you click the link, a "No matching entries found" message appears.
Although several years out of print, A Collection of Original Instructions to Surveyors of the Public Lands 1815-1881 can still be found in various conditions up to and including "new" through various used book dealers.
I know of a local book dealer who came into possession of a good portion of Landmark's remaining inventory from when Roy shut the business down, and may be able to get a copy of A Collection of Original Instructions in good shape at a reasonable price.
PM me if you want me to check.
GLO Survey Manuals
>
> Wonder why the 2009 Manual isn't digital yet?
Portions of it are comprised of copyrighted materials by private authors. My understanding is that there are copyright agreements in place with those authors that prevent the Federal govt from making a digital copy publicly available.
Per the note on Page 225 of the 2009 Manual: "The case studies on pages 225 to 262 and 268 to 272 are used by permission from River & Lake Boundaries, by James A. Simpson."
GLO Survey Manuals
My understanding through intermediate sources and some emails is that Simpson reeased his copyright to Cadastral Survey WO to publish the manual in the usual Public Domain fashion. However WO has chosen to weasil that into a prohibition against such use so that they along with NSPS could claim exclusive publication rights and reap profits for the PLSS Foundation.
a sham in other words.
- jlw