Perhaps this discussion should have occurred privately.
I'm sure we could convince the powers to be to make this message disappear since it does not have a lot of long term value in regards to surveying.
If you update your profile with your e-mail address, it would be easier.
Heck I could just start bringing George Bush or President Obama into the discussion...Just let us know Skeeter.
There's no way it could be in T15N. It has to be in T14N because of the tie to Running Wolf Creek. Seems I checked the Morning Side Claims out. That's probably a good idea because I never located the USLM's for the other claims that are located in the Running Wolf drainage. I just checked them to see if they had tied to USLM 3285 which they hadn't. How did you connect Chowen to other claims? I could only connect him to Ada/Cascade. I found all of Monroe's surveys that he had done during that period, but I couldn't get a pattern of where he traveled. The claim I looked at to see how he marked his stones was just over the Mountain in Dry Wolf Creek, which is probably why the plat got marked for the wrong Township.
I have no monetary interest in the claim. It's an obsession with me because it was the only claim I never found in my career. Another old surveyor lit the fire again this summer. I gave him all the information I had, but he came up empty handed too.
If somebody else jumped in and found it I would be elated. I'd just have to see where it was to find out if I ever got close.
The Creek side searching would be relatively easy hiking. If you have to hike up the sides of the drainage, it could be a pretty unfun excursion. I've got two other Surveyors that are also interested in finding the claims. One of them knows the current owner and it might even be possible he would fund some sort of a search. Who knows. They came out for two days and went home exhausted. I would have to have a pretty good lead before I did any uphill searching.
Is this a patented Claim (posting sorta vague on this)? and have you tried getting and looking at the Connection Sheets for the claims in the areas you are checking out?
Luke (CO. Mineral Surveyor) has indicated that he has some potentially helpful information. I am looking forward to seeing what he has come up with.
Although you have no financial incentive in finding this claim - the current owner sure does! The value of 40 acres of patented mineral land is near zero if it has been untraceable for 100 years. However once located on the ground, it becomes very valuable.
True he had it listed for $68,000, but got no takers. That's why I said he may fund a search party. There are elk in the area and it would be a great place for a hunting camp, but little else. I had heard he had hired a young Surveyor that set some rebar caps where he guessed the claims were, but the Clerk and Recorder in Judith Basin County rejected his Certificate of Survey. I'm not sure what basis she would have done that on and it may just be a rumor. So far I haven't gotten any information that would help locate the claims. I'm checking out the USLM's in neighboring claims to see if they were duplicated that was a good lead I'm checking out. I'm on Social Security and don't need any more money. :'( It's a pride thing for me.
It's a patented Load claim. I've never run into connection sheets. What, where, and how do you get ahold of them?
Connection Sheets
I had assumed that you already had these for your area (its always my first document to get started with).
Example (Nevada)
According to the Mineral Survey Plat of the Ada & Casacade (bottom margin), you need (at least) Connection Sheet No. 437.
These are available from the BLM Website in most Western States, but I haven't seen a link to them in Montana. Keith Williams used to update these during his early days with the BLM in Montana, he recently told me that the originals are probably in Denver now, BUT the BLM in Montana "should" have some sort of copies.
Loyal
Connection Sheets
Thanks for the tip Loyal. First I had ever heard of them. The BLM Office in Montana is in shambles. Their Survey Notes website doesn't work. You can only get Plats online. I do have a contact in the Office who maybe able to get me a copy.
If you click on the envelope symbol next to Luke's user name, you can contact him via. e-mail. However be sure and update us with any information he provides. I love a good mystery. Perhaps he has a copy of the Con. Sheet 437
I found the other claims that Chowen had by pulling up Ada Cascade, then clicking on "related documents", then surveys on the BLM website. Just happened to run across it while looking for other Monroe surveys.
I wish there was a lost patented claim like this in my area.
I got Connection Sheet No. 437 from the BLM Office. The Records Guy at first didn't know what one was but he found it. Doesn't help at all.
How do you upload pictures one this site? I'll send it.
If it is under 2 MB in size, you can click the button labeled "upload" on the right hand side of the tools that are displayed when you reply.