It was an interesting day today. I set out to find the northeast corner of Section 11 and the east quarter corner of section 11, T15S, R36E, B.M. (Southeast of Malad City, ID) The line was originally run in 1873 by Allen M. Thompson, and re-surveyed in 1916 by James Spofford, an excellent surveyor..
Last Friday I found the stones for the southeast corner of 11 and the southwest corner of 12 (offset sections), and projected north 2626’ and eventually made my way to where the E1/4 was supposedly set. (yes it was grunt). The notes state: “Point for ¼ cor. of sec. 11 falls on limestone in place, 12x8x1/2 ft. above ground, on which I cut a cross (x) at exact point, for ¼ cor. Of sec. 11, and mark ¼ W. of cross; and raise a mound of stone, 2 ft. base, 1 ½ ft. high, W. of cor.” The area is extremely rough, rocky, and steep. I searched for a quite a while, but it seemed hopeless, there were three likely ledges within 30 feet of the projected location. Lots of in-place rocks, very steep, shale and gravel, about a 1000 feet above the valley floor. What a mess.
This morning I loaded two horses, the dogs, rain gear, etc. and headed out, it was raining until I reached the base set up point, then the weather broke. It took nearly 2 hours of riding to reach the NE cor of 11, which was in place and easily found. I re-monumented it, shot it, loaded up and headed ½ mile south anticipating (and fearing) I might have to set a proportion point. But, alas, the surveying gods were smiling today. After clearing gravel, brush, and mud off three likely looking ledges, I finally found the chiseled cross and the ¼ west of it. I wish I would have brought the camera. The E1/4 was found at lat 42 deg 08’ 4.0096” N Lon 112 deg 12’ 33.4698” W. Maybe someone could post a google image of the area (I’m tech challenged)?
After about a total of 4 hours of riding I got back to the truck & trailer, loaded the horses and picked up the base. It then started raining again. It was a lucky day indeed. On the drive home I realized that today Dad would have been 75. I’m sure he had a hand in my good fortune today. And to think, I get paid to do this!!
My Father Would Have Been 100 Today
He would have loved to survey with this new equipment.
Paul in PA
A great find and you have to be happy about that. NO CAMERA?
Keith
Nope. I left it on the kitchen counter this morning. I normally never take it, finding original stones isn't that rare for me, but this morning I thought if I happened to find the 1/4 cor cross, it would be a good to get a picture of it. But, oh well, and I ain't going back up there just for a picture!
Here is the general area.
Here is the general area.
Middle daughter turned 32 today.
Brian, what a great day!
Is this close? These are earthpoint.com section lines generated (I think) from the BLM GCDB. This coverage shows a bunch of funky sectional double corner jazz going on between Sections 11 and 12. Don't know if that's right or not (purple lines = section lines, white lines = 1/16 lines):
In some places I've seen the earthpoint/GCDB point real close to real world. In other places, not so much. this being rough country, I bet "not so much"
those are the fun ones- they make up for the days when you have to talk on the telephone.......
Those corner locations are really close. Yes it is double corners, due to the 1873 survey not running the lines for the east tier of sections in the twp. They were completed in 1916. Another example of double section corners with no closing corners, there are potential angle points at each corner.
The terrain is pretty rough, the measurements were "out a little" for Spofford, 10-15 feet in 40 chains, but really good for the terrain covered.
That had to be a killer job for the original survey crew. Keeping just the right tension on the perfectly level chain while holding a plumb bob to keep track of the precise horizontal location every 66 or 33 feet ALL DAY LONG, DAY AFTER DAY.
Yes HC. The north-south line I re-traced was the EASY one!. They had to monument the sections to the east of this line (sections 1, 12, 13, 24, 25 & 36). Those lines would have been the really hard ones.
