Here's one to test the surveying knowledge of Texas registrants. I was in Somervell County recently doing some research and there in view from the courthouse square in Glen Rose was this water tower with an unusual finial. The water tower probably dates from the 1920's, or so I'd guess, but when it was erected, it almost certainly didn't have the finial at the top of the conical tank roof that it does now. It looks as if the original ball-shaped finial was raised several feet by welding in a length of pipe.
Who was the surveyor responsible for this and how did he use it?
I don't know about that one but I have seen water tank finials used as reference azimuths from triangulation stations.
Andy
I would not be surprised if Bill Gunn, who was the Somervell County Surveyor, did it, but he probably didn't. But you can bet that he used it many times to triangulate points and as a permanent backsight or a check point.
Didn't all the local skyscrapers block his view for using it as a backsight?
It looks like a giant Rain Bird sprinkler. Is there a circular lawn around the tower, by any chance? 😀
> I would not be surprised if Bill Gunn, who was the Somervell County Surveyor, did it, but he probably didn't. But you can bet that he used it many times to triangulate points and as a permanent backsight or a check point.
Yes, that was done at the urging of W.F. Gunn. Back in the early 1970's, when he was with Metropolitan Aerial Surveys, he prepared a couple of articles that the Texas Surveyors Association published in the Short Course manual, both dealing with resections as a way of extending control. In one presentation, he described getting the municipality to improve the water tower as a sight by adding the vertical pipe. It looks as if he got them to add a vertical target, also.
Bill Gunn would have been my first guess too but probably just by default since he is one of the few surveyors I am aware of in that area.
I was doing a waterline right-of-way last year near Fort Spunky and happened across Gunn's notes on the rehab of the common east corner of Hood and Somervell Counties. He set some nice witness marks in the center of two successive electric transmission line H poles line which seemed like a good, safe place in the middle of pasture. When I looked at the transmission line it had shiny new steel monopoles in place of the H poles. Doh.
Bill Gunn wasn't with Metropolitan Aerial Surveys, he was Metropolitan Aerial Surveys. Later on, Ken Smith became a partner. He was a very brilliant surveyor that never finished high school, but taught some college courses during his amazing career.
> Bill Gunn wasn't with Metropolitan Aerial Surveys, he was Metropolitan Aerial Surveys.
I understood from a surveyor who knew him that W.F. Gunn had also worked for Brooks Baker in Fort Worth. It would be interesting to know more about his career considering the very high standards he appears to have maintained.
I worked for him for 2 years from 10/80 to 10/82 at Metropolitan Aerial Surveys in Ft.Worth and 30 something years later and still amazed at his accomplishments.
One of our survey techs, Gary Green, worked with Bill.
Andy
Didn't you work with the Tarrant County Water Control Board at one time?
Andy
No. I ran for the board but did not make it. For the time being, I am done with running for office. But I'll stay active helping others to run.
