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1940 plat help

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(@wheeler-labs)
Posts: 6
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Topic starter
 

Can someone tell me what "C=" stands for, and "a-28.30" stands for, and what "P.C. & radius" mean?

?ÿ

Thank you.

2023 05 25 16.03.42

?ÿ

 
Posted : May 25, 2023 3:37 pm
(@chris-bouffard)
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This is pretty basic stuff here, the C is the chord length, the straight distance from the start and end of an arc/curve.  The A is the arc distance, the distance along the curved line of a radius.  The PC is the point of curvature and the R is the radius point of the circle.

 

 
Posted : May 25, 2023 5:08 pm
RADAR
(@dougie)
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@chris-bouffard 

 


GIF
 
Posted : May 25, 2023 5:18 pm
(@wheeler-labs)
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@chris-bouffard I kind of assumed that, but since a chord is a straight line, why bother calling it a cord if the cord is the property line?

Also, I measured the arc length at the corner and it was about 44', not 28', so that didn;t make sense.

 

My goal was to mark the corners myself (obviously I'm not a surveyor) but the only way I can see that happening since there's no reference point on the plan, is to use a metal detector to see if there are pins. Do you think it's possible they set pins back in 1940? This is Warwick, RI.

 
Posted : May 26, 2023 7:01 am
(@chris-bouffard)
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@wheeler-labs the chord is not the property line, the arced line is.  It's highly unlikely that pins were set in 1940 but something non metalic may have been.

I have family that lives in Warwick, my parents are from Providence.

 
Posted : May 26, 2023 10:57 am

bill93
(@bill93)
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I measured the arc length at the corner

Note the width of the street right of way. You are probably measuring the curb, but the property line is some feet back from the curb.

 

 
Posted : May 26, 2023 11:17 am
holy-cow
(@holy-cow)
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You should note that not all of the boundaries are straight lines.  I do not see enough information on the small part of the plat you have provided to allow me to calculate the true location of all corners.  I always do this first, then go out and hope to find one or two or more existing monuments to tell me how to rotate the rest of my drawing to continue my search.

Truthfully, you need a licensed Rhode Island land surveyor to help you out.  I'm not sure that we have one of those license holders actively participating on this site, despite have several thousand surveyors among our group.  Check with your County offices or City offices to learn the contact information for more than one licensed land surveyor.

 
Posted : May 26, 2023 11:28 am
RADAR
(@dougie)
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Also, I measured the arc length at the corner and it was about 44', not 28', so that didn't make sense.

 

How did you measure the Arc? Where did you start; where did you stop?

It doesn't say what the radius is; these are normally 20'; if that's the case, the chord will be 26'' which would make sense.

 

I don't know about RI, but in the greater Puyallup area, iron markers were not set in 1940. YMMV

Also around these parts; the area in the Public Right-of-Way, between your property line and the traveled way, is yours to maintain and enjoy. Things might be different in Warwick.

 

Hope this helps.

Dougie

 
Posted : May 26, 2023 11:29 am
(@wheeler-labs)
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@dougie I measured the length of the arc from tangent to tangent and it was about 44’ so that’s confusing as the chord would be about 35’

 
Posted : May 26, 2023 1:26 pm
RADAR
(@dougie)
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@wheeler-labs 

You didn't answer my question, so let me rephrase it:

How did you know where to start? how did you know where to stop?

If you are measuring an arc from tangent to tangent; then you aren't measuring the arc; you are measuring the chord.

Find the radius point; use that to set stakes along the arc, and wrap the tape around those. It won't be perfect (no measurement, with conventional means is) but it will be close; as long as you start and stop at the right points.

You can always hire a surveyor; then you have someone else to blame, when it's wrong.

 

Hope this helps.

Dougie

 
Posted : May 28, 2023 8:36 am

(@wheeler-labs)
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@dougie I visually decided where the arc started and stopped, laid a 100’ tape along the curve and got about 44’ for the arc length, not the chord. I’m quite familiar with geometry, not 1940’s abbreviations.

I’ve contacted every surveyor in a 20 mile radius and no one will answer my calls or emails.

 
Posted : May 28, 2023 9:08 am
Williwaw
(@williwaw)
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Do you have the means to mathematically compute all of the elements to your boundary based on the 1940 plat data to the extent that you can determine whether the geometry closes on itself? Locating an arc on its own without knowing where exactly it begins and ends in relation to the rest of the boundary is something of an exercise in futility.

 
Posted : May 28, 2023 9:16 am
FL/GA PLS
(@flga-pls)
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PC = please call
A = a
C = competent
R = Registered Surveyor

 
Posted : May 28, 2023 9:35 am
brad-ott
(@brad-ott)
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@flga-2-2 yes.  Then be prepared to be patient ~6 months.

 
Posted : May 28, 2023 1:09 pm
RADAR
(@dougie)
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@dougie I visually decided where the arc started and stopped, laid a 100’ tape along the curve and got about 44’ for the arc length, not the chord. I’m quite familiar with geometry, not 1940’s abbreviations.

I’ve contacted every surveyor in a 20 mile radius and no one will answer my calls or emails.

 

And that's why you got 44' instead of 28.30...

Locating an arc on its own without knowing where exactly it begins and ends in relation to the rest of the boundary is something of an exercise in futility.

 

I feel for you; I had a buddy looking to buy a piece of property in Kentucky. He wanted to get it surveyed, but no one wanted to talk to him until he started waiving money under their nose; and then they were still 6 months out.

 

Hang in there, things will get better.

GOOD LUCK!

 


GIF

 

 
Posted : May 28, 2023 1:28 pm

GaryG
(@gary_g)
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I’ve contacted every surveyor in a 20 mile radius and no one will answer my calls or emails

 

They have all read this thread.

 

 
Posted : May 28, 2023 1:54 pm
bill93
(@bill93)
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As I said in my my post above, I'm guessing you are measuring the curb, but the lot line is back some few feet from the curb. Thus you measure longer.

 
Posted : May 28, 2023 2:27 pm
aliquot
(@aliquot)
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@dougie I visually decided where the arc started and stopped, laid a 100’ tape along the curve and got about 44’ for the arc length, not the chord. I’m quite familiar with geometry, not 1940’s abbreviations.

I’ve contacted every surveyor in a 20 mile radius and no one will answer my calls or emails.

What others are getting at is that to "visually decide" where the arc starts you would need to know where your boundary is, but you don't seem to know that. Without a monument the point that one arc changes to another ark isn't visible. 

 

 

 

 
Posted : May 29, 2023 5:53 am
aliquot
(@aliquot)
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Do you have the means to mathematically compute all of the elements to your boundary based on the 1940 plat data to the extent that you can determine whether the geometry closes on itself?

The only means required is a solid high-school math education (and at least enough memory to know what to look up). 

 

 
Posted : May 29, 2023 6:00 am
(@wheeler-labs)
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Topic starter
 

Good news! I got a metal detector and found a marked pin on one side. To tie it all together, what does G.B. mean? Maybe I can use it as a starting point.

 
Posted : May 29, 2023 6:01 am

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