Photo to Illustrate California Land Surveying

[Ric7308]

While understanding that California is a very diverse state in terms of land surveying, I am looking for an image which personifies the practice of land surveying in this state and which might be published in BPELSG's Board Bulletin. My original focus is towards something historical as that usually peaks my interest immediately. However, I am open to other types of images which might better cover the diversity of the practice in California.

Appreciate any input and sharing of images for this use.

Thanks
Ric

[jrbouldin]

Ric, there are several nice historical drawings, and at least one photo, showing dramatic landscapes and surveyors, produced by the California Geological Survey* work in the late 1860s. These would be among the earliest illustrations** showing surveyors and their instruments in the state. And they would all be public domain images. Here's one example, a drawing of Cathedral Peak (Yosemite) with CGS surveyors in the foreground:

Cathedral Peak with CGS surveyors in front.jpg

The earliest actual photo I'm aware of shows a surveyor with instrument near the summit of Mt. Hoffman, again from Yosemite. I think the person shown might well be Hoffman himself. It was taken in 1867.

*Geological Survey of California. 1865. Geology, Volume I; Report of progress and synopsis of the field work from 1960 to 1864, Josiah D. Whitney, State Geologist.

** I know there's at least one drawing of a surveying party in Williamson's railroad survey report from 1853. Fremont's reports from the 1840s might have one or more as well, which would be the absolute earliest possible.

Jim