below is a picture of a "planted stone" survey corner set for the east corner of the G. Garcia Survey by J. J. Goodfellow, Tarrant County Surveyor, in February, 1892 (or possibly by George M. Williams deputy surveyor). the field notes state "Thence N 60° E, 948 vs with the N. line of said Bridgeman Sur. to a planted stone at the S.W. Cor. of the W. Simpson Sur. Whence a P.O. 14" brs N 38 1/4 E 31 vs a P.O. Stump 12" and standing 10 feet high brs. N 38 W 23 vs both are the original trees and marked. a P.O. 5" brs N 39 1/2 W 9 3/4 vs new witness"
the survey is square w/ the lines running N 30° E and N 60° W.
the stone is a shaped into a rough square on top approx 4" X 4". the blue top to the right is marking what appears to be a burnt out fence post. the stone about 15"-18" deep.
Nice work Frank! Did you located any other original corners on this survey?
not yet. this one mattered because many of the tracts in the Bridgeman Survey are tied to it and i'm trying to get up the Bidgeman line.
J. J. Goodfellow's Compass
As I recall, a colleague of mine has a solar compass that supposedly was Mr. Goodfellow's. I wonder whether the bearings Goodfellow reported were close enough to true to have been taken with that compass.
J. J. Goodfellow's Compass
The accuracy of the solar compass is dependent upon constantly computing and making the correct adjustments for time and location thruout the day and to make direct setting of declination in anticipation of running under canopy or cloudy skies by compass alone.
Considering that and my few times of operating one of the instruments has kept me in a state of awe of what could be done in the right hands.
J. J. Goodfellow's Compass
The solar compass and solar transits were the workhorse of the GLO and were fantastic instruments.....but they had to be run by experienced operators as they had to be adjusted constantly by the experienced operator.