Phantom11

Since I'm new to start logging Benchmarks I have little to say about it, but would like to share an experience. This last week, my grandson and I were Benchmarking while waiting for someone. We found a benchmark that was listed as lost and "reset" in 1958. We first found the reset mark and when talking to a local who worked in the library right where the mark was set in the concrete by the front door. (She didn't know it was there because of a rain downspout). We learned that a benchmark had been found when removing a building which had fallen down many, many years ago. A new building was built in it's place and the original benchmark had been attached to the front wall. Now the problem arises that now there are two benchmarks with the same number, except one is the "reset" mark, and the other is the original, so there is no place to enter both. I wrote a letter to "Geocaching" seeking a resolve or advice and received a letter saying: "cool". So there is another problem that could be addressed; double benchmarks but no place to log them both. Or is there?

In the old days, before the GPS system, surveyers used benchmarks to reference their measurements. In order to lay out a lot in town, for instance, the surveyor would locate the nearest benchmark to the area being surveyed. He would then "chain" or use a viewfinder device, also called a rangefinder, this was used to measure distances to the "staff", which was usually being held by an assistant. They would continue this measuring from point to point, until the property was "surveyed". Before rangefinders, they used the "chain" method, very time consuming. Later came the laser method then finally the GPS system. The USGS would often place "range" benchmarks as referance points to make the surveyors job a bit easier. They would also place tringulation benchmarks for the same purpose. You will find that areas with hills will usually have more benchmarks than flatland.