California Surveyors Forums

The 1973 Manual, Chapter 3, Section 3-126 states:

"The technical and topographical features which are to be carefully observed and recorded in the field during the progress of the public-land surveys are:"
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"(6) Intersections by line of water objects. Unmeandered rivers, creeks and smaller watercourses which the line crosses; the distance measured on the true line to the center in the case of smaller streams, and to both banks in the case of larger streams, the course down stream at point of intersection, and their widths on line, if only the center is noted. Intermittent watercourses, such as ravines, gulches, arroyos, draws, dry-drains, etc."

It follows that these features would have made their way to the township maps.



I'm looking at an old township map (T11S, R1W, MDM) as my earliest and only remaining piece of evidence that a present day drainage feature either existed as far back as the date of this map or it did not.

This particular map is fairly extensive in its depiction of drainage courses as described above, so I think it can be relied upon.

The township map was approved by the Surveyor General in February 1860.


As for the section about topographic features cited above, how far back in the history of published Manuals does this particular instruction go?

"SUMMARY OF OBJECTS AND DATA REQUIRED TO BE NOTED.
1. The precise length of every line run, noting all necessary offsets
therefrom, with the reason and mode thereof.
2. The kind and diameter of all “bearing trees,â€￾ with the course and
distance of the same from their respective corners; and the precise
relative position of WITNESS CORNERS to the true corners.
3.The kind of materials (earth or stone) of which MOUNDS are
constructed----the fact of their being conditioned according to
instructions---- with the course and distance of the “pits,â€￾ from the
centre of the mound, where necessity exists for deviating from the
general rule.
4. Trees on line. The name, diameter, and distance on line to all trees
which it intersects.
5. Intersections by line of land objects. The distance at which the line
first intersects and then leaves every settler’s claim and improvement;
prairie; river, creek, or other “bottom;â€￾ or swamp, marsh, grove, and
wind fall, with the course of the same at both points of inter- section;
also the distances at which you begin to ascend, arrive at the top, begin
to descend, and reach the foot of all remarkable hills and ridges, with
their courses, and estimated height, in feet, above the level land of the
surrounding country, or above the bottom lands, ravines, or waters near
which they are situated.
6. Intersections by line of water objects. All rivers, creeks, and smaller
streams of water which the line crosses; the distance on line at the
points of intersection, and their widths on line. In cases of navigable
streams, their width will be ascertained between the meander corners,
as set forth under the proper head."

Thanks Keith.

I finally found a copy of the 1855 Manual in the BLM's "A History of the Rectangulary Survey System".

Cheers.
Clark

I am looking for a legend of symbols used at that time.
Does anybody have any info?

Many of the original Manuals are available as pdf files here:

http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/reference ... ng_Manuals

Other pdf versions are available at google ebooks.

http://books.google.com/

All (except 1947 - coming soon) and 2009 are available as Acrobat 10 optimized pdfs in the library at the Central Valley Chapter website.

Thanks again Keith!

I googled everywhere the other day and got nowhere near this.

Cheers.