Here's one of the rock mounds that I found during my recent survey work in West Texas.
This is a corner of a 77-6/10 ac. homestead tract surveyed in 1907. The mark was described in the field notes returned to the Texas GLO as "a rock md in a clump of large mesquite and gorton bushes on the N bank of the aroyo [sic] Tornero, one stone of which is marked W 342"
The "gorton" bushes are a new one on me. That's creosote bush growing out of the mound, but there were clumps of mesquite around the corner, it was on the North bank of the arroyo, and there was one stone inscribed "W 342".
What, you can't see the inscription very well in the photo? Why don't I just highlight it with white chalk?
Much better. Say, while we're at it, why don't we add a rod and cap marker stamped "FD OLD RM" to give the 3 ft. dia. mound a reference point?
That ought to work pretty well, particularly knowing the NAD83(CORS96)Epoch 2002.0 position of the reference point with an uncertainty of less than 0.02 ft. in N and E (s.e.).
Another nice find Kent.
As for the Gorton bushes... Wikipedia said this:
Larrea tridentata, known as Creosote bush as a plant, and chaparral as a medicinal herb, and as "gobernadora" in Mexico, Spanish for "governess," due to its ability for inhibiting the growth of nearby plants to have more water. In Sonora it is more commonly called "hediondilla."
Perhaps the orignal surveyor was hard of hearing confusing gobernadora with gorton? Just a WAG on my part.
Thanks for sharing.
> Perhaps the orignal surveyor was hard of hearing confusing gobernadora with gorton?
Yes, I thought that "gorton" might be a corruption of some Spanish word. The surveyor who built that mound, though, was a longtime resident of the area and creosote bush is one of the commoner plants in the south end of the county. So this corner wasn't his first rodeo.
Very interesting. I do however have a few questions. For us knowledgeable surveyors over in the simplified PLSSia, it seems strange and contrary to find a rock mound without making the determination of the true corner point and monumenting it. Next, to set an accessory right in the area of the true corner point would only lead to a pin cushioner’s dream. Why not make the determination of the true corner point, set a 2 1/2” diam. galvanized iron pipe with 3 ¼” Brass Cap at the corner point and bury the marked stone as a memorial alongside? i.e. one point one corner. Then reference it to NAD 83 with the beautifully accurate coordinates and file your record of survey? Lastly, on your record do you show your bearings/azimuths in seconds and distances to nearest .01 ft. to a nebulous corner point or to your accessory that just only leaves the true corner point up to the determination of the next surveyor? For those of us working only in the PLSSia we get rather confused when we may have to change our ways or to see others do their own individualized methods based upon their experience and definitions.
Pablo
> Very interesting. I do however have a few questions. For us knowledgeable surveyors over in the simplified PLSSia, it seems strange and contrary to find a rock mound without making the determination of the true corner point and monumenting it.
Hmmm. I'm thinking that referring to the punchmark on the rod and cap at the center of the mound as a "reference point" may be the source of confusion.
The original call in the metes and bounds description prepared by the 1907 surveyor was for the rock mound. The corner marked by the rock mound therefore falls at the center of the mound. Considering that the mound is about 3 ft. in diameter and any ten surveyors would likely choose ten slightly different locations for the center of the mound if left to their own devices, the purpose of the rod and cap is simply to give a point of reference as the center of the mound. Those same ten surveyors, if now left to their own devices should all use the punchmark on the cap as the center of the mound.
>Why not make the determination of the true corner point, set a 2 1/2” diam. galvanized iron pipe with 3 ¼” Brass Cap at the corner point and bury the marked stone as a memorial alongside? i.e. one point one corner.
Actually, the marked rock isn't the corner. It is simply an accessory, (to lapse into PLSS-speak) that contributes to the identification of the mound. Burying it would make it more difficult for later surveyors to confirm the identity of the mound, even with the rod and cap marker I added.
>Then reference it to NAD 83 with the beautifully accurate coordinates and file your record of survey?
The record of the survey in this case will be a report prepared in connection with a lawsuit that is underway. It will get into the Real Property Records if part of the resolution of the suit is a written order of the court determining the boundary that incorporates a description of the line that I may write. There is no other system of filing corner records in Texas as there is in PLSSia where maintaining the checkerboard requires it.
I think rehabilitation of an old monument is a professional duty
of the land surveyor. A rock mound sitting on rocks can discourage
the effort. However, I always leave a pipe or rod where I consider
the center of the monument. If there is one stone, I make ties to
nearby objects. I bury it and place a rod or pipe and cap above it.
> I think rehabilitation of an old monument is a professional duty
> of the land surveyor.
In PLSSia, where the filing of corner records is possible and common, I suppose more aggressive methods of improving the monument are not inappropriate. In a state like Texas, where there is no archive for corner records, per se, part of the rehabilitation ought to involve making minimally invasive modifications to the actual monument itself so that future surveyors can inspect it and see for themselves the evidence of the corner. For example, I consider the rebuilding of scattered rock mounds to be generally a poor practice since the result usually looks like a newly built mound. I've only done it in rare circumstances.
In PLSSia and the way the BLM manual is written and upon further study i.e. my rule "one corner one point" resolves the question of where the exact corner is. In your recovery, by the previous surveyors notes the marked stone is obvious of it being only an accessory and part of the mound being the corner point. The same in PLSSia, many times mounds with marked stones, the marked stone becomes removed or was never set. Where is the corner point? Same with very large marked stones in need of remonumentation, where is the corner point of the stone? Those are questions that are resolved by the "one corner one point" rule, and as such the knowledgeable experienced surveyor makes that call or determination, i.e. center of mound, high point of the stone or center mass of stone. The remonumentation being the remains and "one corner one point" no ambiquities for the ignorant.
Pablo
Paul...out here in the frontier, each corner can be unique and different in remonumentation. I've found 6 granite rocks encircling a single unmarked stone of an original survey performed circa late 1880's atop a large granite outcrop. Remonumentation and a completed record form of the corner was a chiseled X with a chiseled center hole with lead, tack and brass washer/pls # (my California learned trick). Many times the early surveyors circa 1880's would actually put a chiseled "cross" on the exposed granite rock or outcrop, without mention in the notes. Fun stuff. When you get on the trail i.e. "footsteps" of those old buggers they had some interesting traits.
Pablo
> In PLSSia and the way the BLM manual is written and upon further study i.e. my rule "one corner one point" resolves the question of where the exact corner is.
Yes, but in practice, at least in Texas, the fact that there is some theoretically exact corner marked by a 3 ft. diameter rock mound doesn't quite fix the corner as well as some modern marker at what for all practical purposes is the center of the mound. Where there are no corner records, best practice is to set a modern marker that is stamped to indicate that the mound was there when it was set. I stampe "FD OLD RM" or "FD OLD SM" on my aluminum caps for that very purpose.
Kent ?
Are my eyes deceiving me or do I see a flared 2"+/- pipe in the midst of that rock mound. Personally I would have left that there with my pin and cap centered in it.
Paul in PA
Support your local optometrist
> Are my eyes deceiving me or do I see a flared 2"+/- pipe in the midst of that rock mound.
LOL! Go ahead and schedule the eye exam.
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