Surveying in the Fields of Fortune, 1847-Style
Survey System
> I love reading that type of correspondence. Thanks Kent.
>
> BTW, what's funny is that there still are some of those high-volume surveyors around who don't write their own field notes:-P
The odd feature of that work, Glenn, is that while the field notes that Giddings signed in District 3 of the Fisher & Miller Colony lands are considered to be part of a survey system, my findings suggest that the six different survey parties in the field with those six compasses on a particular day were probably running to somewhat different meridians and with different excesses in chaining. The "North" directions I found marked on the ground varied by more than a degree from party to party within this supposed system of surveys.
The Treaty with the Comanches
When you have them, please let me know where they are or email a set of the scans.
Thanks
Dave
Link to 1847 Giddings Letters
> When you have them, please let me know where they are or email a set of the scans.
Here's a link to a pdf of the transcriptions of the Giddings letters on file at the Texas GLO. I'll keep this link alive for a few weeks.
J.J. Giddings 1847 Letters in Texas GLO Current Miscellaneous File No. 97
Link to 1847 Giddings Letters
He must have really wanted her to mail letters to mention that Matilda could send a letter to TX without having to pay postage.
And those disgusting ladies chewing snuff and drinking strong coffee.
These are going to be fun to read. Thanks!
Link to 1847 Giddings Letters
Thank you!
Roemer's Texas
BTW there is also another contemporaneous account of the expeditions to the Fisher & Miller Colony lands that J.J. Giddings was engaged in surveying in the Spring and Summer of 1847. This other account was that of Ferdinand von Roemer published as "Roemer's Texas" in English translation. I've picked up a copy and have been meaning to look through it for references to material of surveying interest.
