Benchmark hunting in history

[+seventhings]

Contributors to this forum often talk about benchmark hunting as a relatively new sport/hobby/activity/obsession. But benchmark hunting has been around for a long time – it probably started about one day after the first survey started. There have been many notable “recoveries” throughout history. Here are two of them.

 

In 1849, a joint boundary commission (MD-DE-PA) engaged Lt. Col. J. D. Graham of the US Corps of Topographical Engineers to re-survey portions of Mason and Dixon’s lines, and to re-establish the boundary intersection point at the northeast corner of Maryland. He found the intersection point and noted “The stone monument … which had been placed by commissioner Ewing … in 1768, to designate this point, was missing.” (pg. 44)

 

As he described the setting of a new stone, he stated:

 

“In making the excavation [for the new monument], we found at a depth of about three feet below the surface a cut stone unmarked, and of precisely the same form, dimensions, and quality as the unmarked stones on the arc of the circle [set by Mason and Dixon in 1765] … In turning to the proceedings of the commissioners under the dates of the 17th and 18th of June, 1765, we find that such a stone was placed by them [Mason and Dixon], to mark that point. … The evidence afforded by the disinterment of this old stone, that the point fixed upon by our survey … corresponds so well with that originally established by Messers Mason and Dixon, is certainly gratifying.” (pp. 51 – 52)

 

So Graham got a “Didn’t find it” on the 1768 stone, but got a “Found it” on the sub-surface 1765 stone.

 

Graham, J. D., “Report to the Commissioners”, in Message from the Governor of Maryland transmitting the Reports of the Joint Commissioners and of Lt. Col. Gaham, U. S. Engineers, in relation to the Intersection of the Boundary Lines of the States of Maryland, Pennsylvania & Delaware, (Washington, DC, Gideon and Co., 1850)

 

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In 1883 – 1885, a joint boundary commission (PA-WV) engaged Cephas Sinclair of the US Coast and Geodetic Survey to re-survey the boundary line between the two states. Sinclair re-surveyed PA’s southern boundary line by starting at the southwest corner of the state and working his way eastward. His interim report noted:

 

“From Lantz’ Hill to Brown’s Hill … there were no trustworthy old marks but the theoretical curve … passed practically through the center of the mound on Brown’s Hill… This latter mound was the first mark of the line traced by the Virginia and Pennsylvania Commissioners to the South-west corner of Pennsylvania in 1784 to complete Mason and Dixon’s line. Not very far east of the mound terminated the work of Mason and Dixon … No mark could be found to indicate the end of their work.” (pp. 398 – 399)

 

However, in his final report, Sinclair corrected this observation: “Quite a number of old mounds on that portion [of the PA boundary line] run by Mason and Dixon have been identified by the close agreement [of measurements]. It is thus very easy to prove that the stopping place of Mason and Dixon [in 1767] is … Brown’s Hill … an extract of their field notes … gives positive evidence …” (pg. 428)

 

So, Sinclair originally logged a “Found it” on the 1784 mound and a “Didn’t find it” on the western limit of Mason and Dixon’s survey. He later changed his “Didn’t find it” to “Found it” for what was actually the 1767 mound after re-reading the “datasheet” and re-measuring from a known point.

 

Secretary of Internal Affairs of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Reports of the Surveys and Re-surveys of the Boundary Lines of the Commonwealth, (Harrisburg, PA, Edwin K. Meyers, 1887)

 

Will

Edited July 14, 2007 by seventhings

[Bill93]

Great stories. There seem to be a lot of state line disputes and retracements. The Colorado-New Mexico boundary was the subject of a long discussion here a couple years ago.

 

The Iowa-Missouri line is about 14 miles south of where I grew up. This line was originally surveyed in 1816 by Sullivan as the norther boundary of the cession of the Osage Indians to the US to become the territory of Missouri and marked mostly by posts and blazed trees. Later interpretations of the legislation caused another line to be run 8 to 10 miles north. There were other variations considered and disputed. In 1849/1850 the US Supreme Court decided the 1816 line was the true boundary and sent a commission to re-mark it. I have the 1850's court reporter volume with the case. They placed iron monuments every 10 miles. I have visited a couple of them. The Missouri DNR has taken precise GPS readings at all of these monuments that survive, as well as other intermediate points.

 

The surveyors noted in their 1850 report to the boundary commission:

"the fact that to a great extent in the vicinity of the line there were no roads and the settlements distant and sparse, compelling us to open a track for the transportation of the monuments and baggage of the corps, and also to construct necessary bridges and grade fords, greatly retarded the work." The 10-mile monuments weighed between 300 and 400 pounds and the monument they transported and placed at the "Old Northwest Corner of Missouri" weighted 1500 pounds. Now that's a reset to remember!

 

"On [the 1816] line by close examination we discovered abundant blazes and many witness trees which enabled us to find and re-mark the said line as directed by this Honorable Court. The survey of this portion of the line, more than one hundred and fifty miles in length, was commenced on th 13th day of August and finished on the 18th day of September." That would be 4 to 5 miles a day hauling supplies, taking sightings, looking for evidence of the old line, etc.

 

The kind of detective work needed is shown by this passage: "Near the supposed locality of the 99th mile corner, we found a decayed tree and a stump, which correspond in course, distance, and description with the witness trees to that corner, and cutting into the tree we saw what we supposed to be the remains of an old blaze upon which was preserved a part, apparently, of the letter M. This supposition was verified by measuring south two miles to a point, which we found to be Sullivan's 97th mile corner, from one witness tree, which was perfectly sound. The marks upon it two or three inches beneath the mark were plain and legible." There were many stretches of prairie where no trees had been blazed, and the 1816 survey (nowhere near as accurate as the standards of 1850) had sudden changes in course of 2 or 3 degrees in places, so A lot of looking was sometimes required to find evidence.

 

There is another boundary line in Iowa, now obsolete, that I have been interested in. By comparing the surveyor's notes to streams and other features on the modern topo map I can place it within 100's of feet in some places. (Thanks to J Wahl for some suggestions that I haven't fully worked on). I have tried to understand local attraction of the compass, which seems to have been a factor. Hikes through a couple of the few remaining densely wooded areas has not found any trees that could be 164-year old witness trees. If anyone is interested, see my working document.