GLO Letters

Probably depending on the state, but the AK BLM site has this as part of their SDMS

Hope this helps.

I have worked this particular area in the past and have extensively researched it. The BLM in 1943 did a dependent resurvey of that township and unfortunately did not find all of the original corners. In particular, the section corner one mile north had a shiny new brass cap set in 1940 that is a little over 750 feet from the original stone AND one of the original bearing trees. The BLM later corrected their error but the 1/4 corner between these two section corners now has two monumented positions because some land was disposed in the area using the 1943 monument. The National Archives in Denver also has the Group File for the 1943 dependent resurvey.

More on point with your question the NA has over 180 bound volumes in Colorado BLM Record Group 49, Entry No. 239, which is entitled "Letters Received from the Commissioner of GLO, 1861-1934." As part of my research I scanned the plats and field notes for over 60 mineral surveys and 26 GLO letters from the Hon. Commissioner of the General Land Office in this area.?ÿ One of those letters just happens to match exactly one that you are looking for.

An aside: One of the GLO letters is not regarding an illegal sub, but rather the note "(legal sub)" means that the Bear Placer was patented by legal subdivision(s). In other words, the Bear Placer was patented via legal subdivisions and because of this the Bear Placer did not have a mineral survey conducted for it.

There is a lot of goofiness in this area because of the Binger Hermann "policy." I've spoken extensively on Binger Hermann who was McKinley's GLO Commissioner. The goofiness is particularly noticeable with the Happy Valley placer claims and the adjoining and conflicting lode claims. Many of the junior claims in the area have patents with theoretical exclusions. I'll let that soak in a bit as everyone knows the patent is the final word regarding land tenure (except for mineral surveys!!).

I'd be happy to discuss things further with you and/or the surveyor in responsible charge for your project (either by PM or phone (720) 357-4410. You'll have to leave a message as I don't answer if I don't know the number.

Best of luck in your work. That is a very pretty area to spend summer days at.

@gene-kooper I figured you knew how to find what I am looking for.?ÿ I will probably give you a call to pick your brain more.?ÿ You have a wealth of knowledge.?ÿ Thanks.

@horseshoes-handgrenades

In case you are interested in what these letters may look like, I included a bunch of them in my Advanced Mineral Surveys CFedS CE course. Here is a link to all four PDF files of the course. Look at the third course on Binger Hermann, starting with page 7 of the PDF. The handwritten, red number at the top of the page is the serialized index number for this correspondence. This index number was assigned by staff of the Colorado Surveyor General when the letter was received. In your case the top of the page has 3323 in red. Also, the upper left corner has the letter "N" which means it originated in the Mineral Division of the Washington GLO office. Don't ask why it should have been the letter "M". If the topic has to do with rectangular PLSS surveys, the letter is "E" which means it originated in the Survey Division in D.C.

Examples of GLO Letters (i.e. from the GLO Commissioner)

On occasion there is an important fact for a retracement surveyor in those letters. Often the information is of no value in understanding the original survey. And sometimes the letters are nothing more than bureaucratic flummery.

I won't disclose anything about your project other than to say that "N" Letter 3323 contains the instructions for conducting an amended survey of a lode claim and how to deal with an adjoining Homestead Entry. If you look at the Surveyor's General certification on the amended plat for that lode claim you will see that it was prepared in conformity with the Hon. Commissioner's instructions of August 8, 1899. They didn't include the serialized letter number on the plat, but that reference is to "N" Letter 3323.

@gene-kooper Gene, I got the Archive File for the Ida/Cascade Claim #3285, but it wasn't much help in locating the claim. It mentioned a drawer file where some information was filed. Somebody on the Forum that was in the Denver area was going to look for it for me, but he never did. I'll see if I can find that old post.

It was imaudigger. The reference was USGS Map Drawer F

Posted by: @skeeter1996

It was imaudigger. The reference was USGS Map Drawer F

I don't have any info on who you could contact at the U.S. Geological Survey about the contents of a "Map Drawer F"

The only records at the Denver National Archives that I have worked with are the records in Colorado BLM Record Group 49.

@gene-kooper This is great info.?ÿ I'll read it over and will probably have questions for you.?ÿ I started reading through the Binger Hermann slides late one night, but still need to finish that and digest the rest.?ÿ Incredibly interesting stuff and it tickles my inner nerd. It all certainly plays into the reason I love retracing mining claims.?ÿ Thanks again!

Posted by: @horseshoes-handgrenades

Incredibly interesting stuff and it tickles my inner nerd. It all certainly plays into the reason I love retracing mining claims.?ÿ

You and me both.