While running a solar compass, the magnetic variation can be read directly at the instrument.
True, but the solar compass was invented in the late 1830's and came into common use in the early 1840's. In Iowa, the solar compass came into use on township lines as they made their way westward through the state, and use on section lines lagged significantly behind that.
The solar compass is not relevant for the original poster's work.
I see a place where he used Variatn for variation in the old style of abbreviation.
Bill93, post: 346293, member: 87 wrote: Uh, sorry to sound disrespectful, but any surveyor taking on a historical retracement who would read "varial" or variati" instead of first trying to make out "var" and numbers needs to do a lot more study because it shows an unfamiliarity with early surveying practices .
The Phelps- Gorham map at Mile 22 has Varial but maybe someone did not cross their T
Last night, I was looking at this with the phone but using the PC today
Bill93, post: 346293, member: 87 wrote: Uh, sorry to sound disrespectful, but any surveyor taking on a historical retracement who would read "varial" or variati" instead of first trying to make out "var" and numbers needs to do a lot more study because it shows an unfamiliarity with early surveying practices .
Variation was nominally what we call magnetic declination, and specifically what they set as an offset on their compasses to the magnetic needle.
Most times that was to obtain the best estimate of compass bearings based on astronomic north, but I think the GLO deputies and maybe others sometimes recorded "var" values which were set on the compass but include offsets for other purposes. Or maybe they were just re-estimating the declination based on the most recent discrepancy.
Uh, I have been licensed for 7 months now so thanks for pointing out that I may not be as knowledgeable as you. That is why I am here to get information and knowledge from the more experienced.
You're right the cross on that t is faint or missing. The t is crossed in other occurrences such as at the south end of the line. I would say it is undoubtedly intended to be
Variatn 3 (deg) 20' W
BIDDLECW, post: 346302, member: 9943 wrote: Uh, I have been licensed for 7 months now so thanks for pointing out that I may not be as knowledgeable as you. That is why I am here to get information and knowledge from the more experienced.
Thanks for creating this post. These historical surveys are fascinating and need to be discussed. Like others have mentioned, you should be excited to be part of the retracement of this line.
Another resource is the Surveyors Historical Society. There is a poster here [USER=38]@Rich Leu[/USER] that may be of assistance.
I believe the preemption line was originally defined as extending from the 82nd milestone north on the meridian to Lake Ontario. On the map posted earlier, the blue line appears to represent the line surveyed by Ellicott after it was determined that Hugh Maxwell's original survey, (orange line west of Maxwell's) was in error. Since the line was to be run on the meridian, it seems reasonable to assume that Ellicott would have made observations of magnetic variation at intervals as his survey progressed, since mag. variation changes with location. Here's a link to yet more reading:
http://www.crookedlakereview.com/articles/101_135/131spring2004/131robortella.html&apos ;">Col. Hugh Maxwell's Preemption Line Survey
I think it's interesting to note that the portion of NY west of the line was, in large part, laid out in nominally 6 mi. (480 Ch.) squares identified by Township & Range.
Not sure if true, but an old time title examiner told me years ago that surveying in NY went to $hit in the 19th century because the pay was much better breaking up Mr. Jefferson's lands out west. [sarcasm]Plus, there was a cookbook.....[/sarcasm]
Thanks for the information Robert and I appreciated the feedback from the survey community. I have definitely gained some valuable pertinent resources so far.
Sergeant Schultz, post: 346307, member: 315 wrote: I believe the preemption line was originally defined as extending from the 82nd milestone north on the meridian to Lake Ontario. On the map posted earlier, the blue line appears to represent the line surveyed by Ellicott after it was determined that Hugh Maxwell's original survey, (orange line west of Maxwell's) was in error. Since the line was to be run on the meridian, it seems reasonable to assume that Ellicott would have made observations of magnetic variation at intervals as his survey progressed, since mag. variation changes with location. Here's a link to yet more reading:
http://www.crookedlakereview.com/articles/101_135/131spring2004/131robortella.html&apos ;">Col. Hugh Maxwell's Preemption Line Survey
I think it's interesting to note that the portion of NY west of the line was, in large part, laid out in nominally 6 mi. (480 Ch.) squares identified by Township & Range.
Not sure if true, but an old time title examiner told me years ago that surveying in NY went to $hit in the 19th century because the pay was much better breaking up Mr. Jefferson's lands out west. [sarcasm]Plus, there was a cookbook.....[/sarcasm]
That Holland Land Co. Map was west of the Phelps and Gorham Purchase. I know all the townships subdivisions are filed in the county for the Phelps and Gorham but I haven't found a copy online. Here is a link of land east of the preemption line http://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~20040~510036:Tioga-County-?sort=Pub_List_No_InitialSort%2CPub_Date%2CPub_List_No%2CSeries_No&qvq=q:tioga%2Bcounty;sort:Pub_List_No_InitialSort%2CPub_Date%2CPub_List_No%2CSeries_No;lc:RUMSEY~8~1&mi=1&trs=4&apos ;">Tioga County Its interesting to see that the Watkins and Flint purchase have included the area between the new and old preemtion line when subdividing lots. The parcel I am surveying is Lot 43 in Catlin.
There is actually a road in Schuyler County called Preemption Road that follows the old premption line
I've been surveying for many years, and this is the first time I have run across this word or any of the other couple of variations of it as it is shown on the map.
At least I correctly figured it meant a change of some sort, and now we know that it is in reference to the change in declination.
Noted, and thankful for the new knowledge Bill93. Thank you Bill and thank you all for the discussion.