For those who are CFedS and/or interested in mineral surveys, the CFedS web site is now hosting the files to the live CFedS continuing education course given at the PLSC 2020 conference. I don't know how long it will take for it to become available as an online CFedS CE course, but hopefully in the near future.
In the meantime, the course materials can be downloaded by anyone visiting the CFedS web site. The title of the course is, "Advanced Topics and Case Histories in Mineral Survey Resurveys." The concentration of the course is on discrepancies in the official record and how to identify and properly deal with those discrepancies. Part 3 addresses the Binger Hermann policy of holding the patent description positions of prior official surveys over their monumented positions. Yes, that means that the General Land Office held course and distance over monuments for the five years that policy was in vogue (July 1899 to August 1904). Part 4 of the course contains the Act of April 28, 1904 and several DOI land decisions that ended the Cadastral mayhem.
Here is a link to some reading materials that cover the basics of mineral surveys for those who would like a refresher. It is a 21 MB zip file and hosted on Box.com.?ÿ Let me know if you have problems downloading the materials. The materials include a mineral survey primer written by Jack Kesler, U.S. Mineral Surveyor, the "Mineral Survey Procedures Guide" by John Meldrum, two chapters from the book, "Mineral Land Surveying" by James Underhill, 1906, and the resurvey sections of Chapter X, 2009 Manual.
Supplemental Reading on Mineral Surveys
I spent quite a bit of time replacing the PowerPoint slides containing maps, plats, graphics, etc. with high-resolution versions so they are readable in the PDF files. If you have any questions or comments on the course materials, please feel free to post here or in a PM.
Thanks Gene- will have to download the files you posted through the link and then check them out. Much appreciated! Chuck
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Update for CFedS: This is now available as an online CFedS CE course ($100).
I attached to this post a PDF file of the the appendix of the course materials.?ÿ The appendix contains several articles published in 1903 and 1904 in The Mining Reporter, a weekly mining trade journal published in Denver, CO.?ÿ The articles deal with the Binger Hermann policy that was in effect at the time and how the mining industry came together and worked to rid the industry of this evil inflicted by the General Land Office.?ÿ
While the history buffs here will find joy in the historical perspective, others will notice that land surveying issues haven't changed much over time. We still argue about records vs monuments, preserving monuments in good condition and esp. the near endless chewing on the "cud" topic of staking the deed! I also found it quite humorous that several authors wanted to leave no doubt to the reader that they were educated Men of the West!
The last article contains a copy of the circular instructions issued by John F. Vivian, U.S. Surveyor General for Colorado in late September 1904 that are still excellent guidance for the modern surveyor on how to document the evidence found of the original survey during the course of a resurvey.
Appendix of The Mining Reporter Articles
Article List and Dates of Publication:
- Records Vs. Monuments - December 10, 1903;
- The Groves Case - December 24, 1903;
- Land Office Rulings In Patent Cases - January 14, 1904;
- Land Office Ruling Of June 1899 - January 21, 1904;
- The Effect Of The Land Office Rulings - January 28, 1904;
- The Necessity Of Preserving Monuments In Good Condition - February 4, 1904;
- What The Government Is Actually Doing To Mineral Patents - February 4, 1904;
- The Standpoint Of The Deputy Mineral Surveyor - February 11, 1904;
- Monuments Records And The Locus Of Mining Claims - February 18, 1904;
- Mine Monuments - March 24, 1904;
- The New Mineral Law Relative To Patents - May 5, 1904;
- Test Suit Brought To Secure Interpretation Of New Brooks Act - May 12, 1904;
- Records v. Monument - August 25, 1904;
- Surveying For Patent - October 6, 1904
