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NGS Surveyor

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  1. I just had an article (that I wrote some time ago) posted onto the NGS web site. The article discusses the USC&GS survey of the 1000 foot radius circle around the U.S. Naval Observatory in the 1890’s. Here is the link: http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/web/about_ngs/history/THE_CIRCLE_V2.pdf Enjoy, GeorgeL NGS
  2. The patches can be ironed on and I have instructions I can send to those interested. GeorgeL NGS P.S. Almost 1/2 of the caps have been sold already.
  3. New caps with the USC&GS Bench Mark logo are now available, see: http://www.flickr.com/photos/12262796@N06/5263493599/ These are perfect for BM hunting! The caps are $14.00 each plus $4.00 shipping. The logo patches are also available as a separate item – 2 3/4” are $3.00, and 3 5/8” (same as actual disk) are $4.00. Shipping will be discounted for multiple orders. These are being offered by the USC&GS Heritage Society. Contact me at the email below. GeorgeL NGS George.leigh@noaa.gov
  4. Right, disks with air holes were used by USC&GS from c1952 to c1969. I looked at the back with a magnifying glass and could see no signs of a triangle. GeorgeL NGS
  5. Here are links to photos of the front and back of a very unusual survey disk. Front: http://www.flickr.com/photos/12262796@N06/5263222063/ Rear: http://www.flickr.com/photos/12262796@N06/5263221811/ The front is stamped “U.S. COAST & GEODETIC SURVEY, TRIANGULATION STATION…” and the rear is stamped “U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, TRIANGULATION STATION…” I don’t know if this was a mistake, a shortage of brass, or something else. GeorgeL NGS
  6. Here is a link to a photo of my USC&GS bottle: http://www.flickr.com/photos/12262796@N06/5263164113/ I got mine years ago, but I have seen one or two on an on-line auction site . GeorgeL NGS
  7. The current issue of the “American Surveyor” magazine has another interesting article entitled” “Coping with Tectonic Motion” authored by two NGS employees. See: http://www.amerisurv.com/PDF/TheAmericanSu...ion_Vol7No9.pdf GeorgeL NGS
  8. An interesting article about a Coast & Geodetic Survey triangulation crew was just published in the “American Surveyor” magazine, see: http://www.amerisurv.com/PDF/TheAmericanSu...S98_Vol7No9.pdf The article has some great color photos from the period and discusses conscientious objectors service in the C&GS. Of special interest is the photo showing the summit of Wheeler Peak and the remains of the stone wall built during the C&GS’ Transcontinental Triangulation along the 39th parallel during the 1870’s and 1880’s. Some of the stone walls remain to this day. There are also articles on the C&GS in WWII on the NOAA History www site at: http://www.history.noaa.gov/search.html And search for “World War II”. GeorgeL NGS
  9. In 1965 the US Coast & Geodetic Survey became part of the new ESSA (Environmental Science Services Administration), so I'm guessing that had something to do with the Annual Reports ending. Note, in 1970, ESSA and other organizations were combined to create NOAA. GeorgeL NGS
  10. Since yesterday I have found: - A Bill of Materials for a 103 foot Bilby Tower from Braden-Aermotor Corp, dated Nov 9, 1971; - An Aermotor price list for Bilby Towers, dated March 1, 1970 (a 103’ foot tower cost $2985.00 and weighed 7000 pounds; - A large Aermotor drawing of a 103’ Bilby Tower, dated 1959). The drawing is 18” by 45”. Bilby Towers could be built at various heights (hts of the inner tower, in feet): 37, 50, 64, 77, 90, 103, and 116, (129’ was available only in the early years). The outer tower was 10 feet taller. For more information see my two on-line articles: http://celebrating200years.noaa.gov/survey_towers/bilby.html and http://celebrating200years.noaa.gov/magazi...by/welcome.html I also have drawings of wooden towers for the following heights (feet): 4, 10, 15, 24, 32, 40, and 56). GeorgeL NGS
  11. I have used a "tile probe" for hunting for underground concrete marks, but I would be very hesitant to use one to probe for a clay pot - you might easily break the pot. These pots/jars/bottles are quite rare, I have never seen one in the ground. GeorgeL NGS
  12. The USC&GS published a Manual on the Bilby Towers in 1929 and updated it in 1940. Both are on-line and the link to the 1940 version is: http://docs.lib.noaa.gov/rescue/cgs_specpu...35no1581940.pdf The Manual includes instructions and photos showing how to erect a Bilby and also drawings of the parts (see page 7). There are also many photos of Bilby Towers on the NOAA Photo Library's www site at: http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/ As far as existing Bilbys, there is one in LA as mentioned (one of our field crews found it about a year ago), and there are several? at Cape Canaveral. Theses are the only standing Bilbys that I know of. I know a possible source for one and will let them know that the Surveyor's Historical Society is interested. As for someone obtaining parts and building one, CAUTION, it is difficult and dangerous, I would not recommend it. In our mini NGS museum area here in Silver Spring MD, we have a 1/3 scale model of a Bilby. I believe it was made to use in training. GeorgeL NGS
  13. In the next few weeks I plan to update my paper on U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey, National Ocean Service, and National Geodetic Survey survey marks. I have quite a few updates written in the margins of my paper copy. Most of these updates have come from my reviewing the many mark recoveries logged on Geocaching – thanks to all of you! So, anyone with corrections, comments, or additions (such as finding a style of disk not in the paper, or a disk setting date outside the range of known dates in the paper), please respond here or email them to me by November 15. To review the current version of the paper, go to the USC&GS History page at: http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/web/about_ngs/hist...dexhUSCGS.shtml And scroll down to “Bottles, Pots, and Pans: Marking the Surveys of the U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey and NOAA , or click directly on the “Bottles…” link above. Thanks, GeorgeL NGS
  14. For more information on USC&GS astronomic stations, here is the first paragraph on astronomic observations from the “Manual of Geodetic Triangulation”, page 237 (http://docs.lib.noaa.gov/rescue/cgs_specpubs/QB275U35no247rev1959.pdf) “Chapter 4.-AZIMUTHS GENERAL STATEMENT The accumulation of angular errors in triangulation, and a tendency for a part of those errors to be systematic, and to give a twist to the direction of a triangulation scheme, make it necessary to include azimuth-control points, called Laplace stations, in the adjustment of the triangulation. A Laplace azimuth is an astronomic azimuth corrected for deflection of the vertical. The Laplace correction and several methods of determining azimuth are discussed in Special Publication No. 237, “Manual of Geodetic Astronomy.” The description of azimuth observations which immediately follows in this manual is confined to the method used by first-order triangulation parties, who make the azimuth observations along with the angle measurements of triangles, using the same personnel, first-order theodolites, survey towers, observing tents, and other equipment as was described in chapter 2, plus additional equipment described on page 238. First-order Laplace azimuths are the only azimuths now used in the adjustment of triangulation of the Coast and Geodetic Survey. Second- and third-order azimuths are described in the last section of this chapter.” GeorgeL NGS
  15. Good work finding all these old "AND STATE SURVEY' disks. Were you able to determine the year that any of them were set? Thanks, GeorgeL NGS
  16. The following quote contains some interesting history of USC&GS TOPOGRAPHIC STATIONS and HYDROGRAPHIC STATIONS (USC&GS survey disks containing those words). Note especially the last sentence which states that HYDROGRAPHIC STATION marks (disks) are no longer to be used. Previously in the MANUAL it states that many of both types of stations were located by plane-table methods beginning from third-order control Consequently many of these TOPOGRAPHIC and HYDROGRAPHIC STATIONS may be less than of third-order quality and for that reason may not be in the NGS database. Quote from, “HYDROGRAPHIC MANUAL, revised 1942 ed., by Commander K. T. Adams, Coast & Geodetic Survey, pp 92-93. “235. Recoverable Topographic Stations Changes in topography and culture occur as the country develops, or as a particular area increases in importance, and revision surveys become necessary. Such surveys should not be undertaken until a thorough search has been made for stations established during prior surveys. The number of stations recovered may be sufficient for control of the new survey. To provide for future use in revision surveys, the topographer shall supplement existing control by establishing additional recoverable stations so that there are control stations at 1-mile intervals along the coastline; except along rugged or swampy coastline bordering areas unfavorable to habitation or industry, where the interval may be increased to not more than 2 miles (see 2141). These recoverable stations may be natural or artificial objects when available, or standard topographic disks set especially for this purpose, and together with other control stations provide recoverable control at the required intervals. When practicable, stations should be established where they can be easily identified, and in the most permanent places available. Conspicuous points, rock outcrops, large boulders, etc. are excellent places to set station-mark disks. Often natural or artificial objects exist which make splendid topographic stations that are recoverable without special marking. Some of the natural ones have remained intact for generations and are very likely to remain so for years to come. The establishment of a station at its most likely location will aid a later party in its recovery. All topographic stations specially marked for future recovery shall be marked with standard bronze topographic station marks, stamped with the name and year. Reference marks are not set at topographic stations. Paragraph 29, page 7, and line 8, page 52 of Special Publication No. 144, Topographic Manual, are hereby amended by the substitution of the word "topographic" for the word ''hydrographic." Hydrographic station marks are no longer used by the Coast and Geodetic Survey and hence-forth shall be considered obsolete.” For anyone interested in more information on these or other USC&GS, NOS, and NGS survey disks, see: “Bottles, Pots, and Pans: Marking the Surveys of the U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey and NOAA” at: http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/web/about_ngs/hist...dexhUSCGS.shtml GeorgeL NGS
  17. See page 92 of http://docs.lib.noaa.gov/rescue/cgs_specpu...35no2471950.pdf for a cross-section drawing of a concrete mark and an underground mark. Note, the date of this pub. is 1950. Also note that the drawing shows sand and a board separating the UG mark and the surface mark. Both disks should have been stamped the same and both should have been Triangulation Station disks. Hope this helps. GeorgeL NGS
  18. See page 92 of http://docs.lib.noaa.gov/rescue/cgs_specpu...35no2471950.pdf for a cross-section drawing of a concrete mark and an underground mark. Note, the date of this pub. is 1950. Also note that the drawing shows sand and a board separating the UG mark and the surface mark. Both disks should have been stamped the same and both should have been Triangulation Station disks. Hope this helps. GeorgeL NGS
  19. Great story and great research! GeorgeL NGS
  20. The center logo of the "circle with the slash" across it, and the date, indicates that this disk is a tidal bench mark. Only a small percentage of these are in the NGS database. However, you may be able to find it listed on the NOAA, CO-OPS (Tides and Water Levels Office) web site at: http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/station_r...ark+Data+Sheets Good Luck, GeorgeL NGS
  21. o-captain, For another photo reference (and facts) see my paper on USC&GS, NOS, and NGS survey marks at: http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/web/about_ngs/hist...dexhUSCGS.shtml , and scroll down about half way to "Bottles, Pots, and Pans...". GeorgeL NGS
  22. Hi, A correction to what I stated yesterday, Verplanck Colvin worked in the Adirondack Mts in NY, and not in MA. Regarding flat disks, dates from my paper on USC&GS disks: Triangulation flat disk ~1909 to at least 1925. Note, that these can be spotted not only for their flatness but also the larger than normal triangle. Reference Mark flat disks, ~1913 to as late as 1934. Note, that these RM disks can be spotted not only for their flatness but also the very long arrow which stretches from stamping to stamping. GeorgeL NGS
  23. Hi, I haven't thoroughly investigated this station, but I don't believe any U.S. agency was setting disks as early as 1848. The USC&GS started setting survey disks in ~1900, the USGS about 10 years earlier, and the Mississippi/Missouri? River Comm. and Verplanck Colvin (in MA) several years earlier than that. GeorgeL NGS
  24. All, Bill93 is right on. For additional historical information see the web site for the US Coast & Geodetic Survey's 200th Anniversity at: http://celebrating200years.noaa.gov/welcome.html GeorgeL NGS
  25. Harry Dolphin, Here is a link to an article about commemorative disks on the 200th Anniversary web site, including the one you found: http://celebrating200years.noaa.gov/survey...es/welcome.html Eventually all of these commemorative marks should be entered into the NGS database. GeorgeL NGS
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