Found this corner firmly set today @ 2637.59' not 40 chains 😉
It is the 1/4 corner between secs. 16 & 17, T12S, R12E, WM. Set by Samuel W. Lackland in Oct. 1883.
We have some more work to do in this area so I might be able to get some better photos. I took this photo with my cell phone and lets just say the lens is full of lint and dust and the photos always look like there is vaseline smeared on the lens. I didn't have a big enough mirror to get good relief on the marking since it was AM and the stone was marked on the west face.
Wish me good hunting, we have some more to look for. Will post pics when I find more fun stuff.
Respectfully,
Kevin R. Samuel, PLS
here is a photo where I attempted to use my mirror to illuminate the markings...
Remember it well.
It will keep you in the game for another 30 years.
Generally mine don't come so easy. 2.41 feet off record from 1883..?
Sam Lackland you did good, Sir.
How was the alignment?
Haven't retraced the South half of the line yet... remains to be seen.
Yes...now you are hooked for another 30 years...
It don't get no better than that...
DDSM
That's nice, but it was standing up in plain site. You didn't even need to get a back hoe to dig it out.;-)
Has your camera had trouble extending its lens? Is it taking drugs to correct the problem? I've heard that Viagra makes everything look blue...
It was standing up in plain site with about another 500,000 basalt stones 🙂 Seriously though... the original survey stated 4.5 foot mound raised 2 feet. We found a 60 foot section of 4 foot wide by 2 foot tall rock wall that was most likely built in the homestead era. There were several large stones, but only one noticeably pointy one!
I am glad we found it too because it was not referenced by BOs, pits or BTs.
Mirrors and Chalk
I highly recommend carrying a piece of ordinary white chalk to highlight marked stones for photography. The chalk washes off completely and doesn't alter the stone in any way, but solves the problem of photographing cut marks in difficult lighting conditions.
You didn't need a back hoe to dig out the one you found, either.;-)
Mirrors and Chalk
That is excellent advice Kent, and I thank you for it.
I forgot I had a yellow timber crayon in my vest that would have worked well.
I will bring a better camera and get a better shot when we head back to that corner.
Mirrors and Chalk
> I forgot I had a yellow timber crayon in my vest that would have worked well.
>
> I will bring a better camera and get a better shot when we head back to that corner.
The reason I favor plain white chalk (aside from the fact that it is cheap and high contrast) is that it washes off with no residue whatsoever. So, after highlighting the marks on the stone for photography, in a couple of good rains the chalk ought to be washed completely off. That way, the stone is left in pretty much exactly the same condition in which it was found in case there is some question about the stone for some reason. I haven't used lumber crayon much. Is it water soluble also?
Mirrors and Chalk
"I haven't used lumber crayon much. Is it water soluble also?"
Here is the MSDS Report for you Kent. It is not water soluble; however, it has been my experience that it will fade with prolonged weathering, and one can purchase water soluble lumber crayon as well.
The benifit of the keel is that it will not fade after a couple of rains, but it will eventually disappear.
AS[tex]^3[/tex]
Mirrors and Chalk
Sorry about the delay in responding.
Adam is correct. The crayon is not water soluble, but will wear off after a few rainfalls.
I do prefer an "undoctored" photo of a corner if I can get it. Maybe it is that where's Waldo aspect of trying to find the markings.
That being said the chalk and crayon are excellent tools to make the markings more visible. I usually end up taking one photo without enhancing the markings and one with enhanced markings.