I have, over the years, recovered what I think are the original corners set by the US Deputy Surveyors in the 1830's and 1840's.
Each case is slightly different of course, but my general standard is 2 original features, whether it was a bearing tree and posthole, 2 bearing trees at an obliterated (as in a cut road) corner, or a close line tree and posthole or accessory. They have to measure, of course.
It helps, of course, if there's old fence remnants, resurvey notes, or parole evidence.
What do the rest of your PLSSers use as sufficient evidence to recover corners?
wfwenzel, post: 387914, member: 7180 wrote: ,,What do the rest of your PLSSers use as sufficient evidence to recover corners?
Nothing says it better than actually finding the corner monument itself. And there are a good number of them still where the first surveyor left them. But it's never that easy.
Stones and pipes are probably the only original monuments I attempt to recover. Unless the ground has never been disturbed (very unlikely) the posts or pits and mounds have long since passed away. If I can't find the original stone or capped pipe, there are plenty of bearing trees that are still with us. Next in my "dignity of evidence" is ancient county surveyor records. Although spotty, they can be really valuable in a lot of cases.
Without a recorded accessory (GLO or private) you're probably stuck with observing and judging the occupational evidence and verbal reports from any long term residents that might help. Topo calls are almost worthless in the prairie after 150 years. After that the only thing you have left is the geometric and positional harmony of the surrounding perpetuated corners to attempt to fix a location. And sadly, those are usually indefinite and arguable.
It varies. Once fd. A 32" white Oak, with hole in the side. It was hollow. It was too coincidental, to not be original. There was a bit more info, but that standing tree... We finally took it as prima face.
Nate The Surveyor, post: 387929, member: 291 wrote: It varies. Once fd. A 32" white Oak, with hole in the side. It was hollow. It was too coincidental, to not be original. There was a bit more info, but that standing tree... We finally took it as prima face.
How old was the record of the tree and what was the original size at the time?
In my area, the original corners are pretty much long gone. I've never seen one in the field. They were almost always called out as a post in a mound. I often think this really was a stick in a pile of dirt. This area was surveyed about 1816. I do find a few stones, usually set by the county surveyors. Otherwise I use available evidence, usually fence corners, fence lines, center of roads, or road intersections.
Bearing trees? Did you say bearing trees? This was sky high prairie grass as far as you could see while standing on a horse's back.
On the Grand Prairie of East Arkansas, Rice & Duck Capitol of the world the GLO dug 4 pits in the Cardinal directions built a mound and set a post in it. They also put charcoal in the post hole. I have found 1 of these corners with 2 pits and the charcoal, these surveys were done in the 1830's. I didn't not know to look for the charcoal remains at corners until I was working on a Forest Service contract with Mike Hart (PLS Cfed) and he explained to me that the common practice for a Post Corner in Arkansas was that they charred it in fire before they set it in the ground to keep it from rotting out to fast.We found evidence of the charcoal in numerous corner searches in the Ozarks and Ouachita Forest.
The discussion of the acceptance of bearing trees could fill another couple pages....
Dont remember all the details. I was doing a survey, that depended on its location. A number of other surveyors were involved. We all saw it and ageed.
Bushwhacker, post: 387972, member: 10727 wrote: On the Grand Prairie of East Arkansas, Rice & Duck Capitol of the world the GLO dug 4 pits in the Cardinal directions built a mound and set a post in it. They also put charcoal in the post hole. I have found 1 of these corners with 2 pits and the charcoal, these surveys were done in the 1830's. I didn't not know to look for the charcoal remains at corners until I was working on a Forest Service contract with Mike Hart (PLS Cfed) and he explained to me that the common practice for a Post Corner in Arkansas was that they charred it in fire before they set it in the ground to keep it from rotting out to fast.We found evidence of the charcoal in numerous corner searches in the Ozarks and Ouachita Forest.
Great idea. Charcoal is a very chemically inert substance and lasts a long time. Wish they all did it.
I was not there, but a story was relayed to me about a survey marker in Texas having been marked by a pile of stone with a whisky bottle broken into pieces at the base. This mark was recovered and verified by the broken glass, and has given me the thought to carry ground glass from the recyclers with me to the stone mounds I find and hold and to sprinkle the glass at the base of the stones, and add that to the description with the date added. The sparkle might help them be located (if anyone is going to bother, since the plat has state plane coordinates) from a distance. It would certainly make them different from the naturally occurring piles of rock
Monte, post: 388396, member: 11913 wrote: I was not there, but a story was relayed to me about a survey marker in Texas having been marked by a pile of stone with a whisky bottle broken into pieces at the base. This mark was recovered and verified by the broken glass, and has given me the thought to carry ground glass from the recyclers with me to the stone mounds I find and hold and to sprinkle the glass at the base of the stones, and add that to the description with the date added. The sparkle might help them be located (if anyone is going to bother, since the plat has state plane coordinates) from a distance. It would certainly make them different from the naturally occurring piles of rock
Monte, the idea is to drink the whiskey!
I do that at the end of the day. I don't wanna be followed around by oil field hands and cowboys all day!!