US War Department benchmarks?

[+EscapeFromFlatland]

Can anyone help me find more information for US War Department benchmarks?

Was reviewing pictures I took at Ft Stewart a few months ago and realized I had 2 of a benchmark that I found out at a training field. Nothing listed on Waymarking.com or on GC for that location and my googlesearches find more on protesters than on survey discs.

[Papa-Bear-NYC]

Historically the markers were set by the "US Engineers" (Originally a joint dept. bet Army and Navy I think) and later the Army Corps of Engineers. Often you will see the agency listed as :"USE" or sometimes "DOD".

 

As with many agencies, only a portion of their markers were listed by the NGS (National Geodetic Survey) which was CGS (Coast and Geodetic Survey). Some folks have obtained lists from local Army C. of E. offices.

 

Here's one in Queens NY I found a few years ago. It's a battered disk stamped "United States Engineer Dept" and "New York", and some "Do Not Remove" stuff.

 

KU0983 - TIDAL 56 USE STA II 6 (1952)

Click for larger image

 

Notice the name "TIDAL 56 USE STA II 6" incorporates the agency "USE".

 

And here's another which is very close to the first (this was an old Army Base - Fort Totten):

 

KU0983 - 3 USE (1938)

Click for larger image

 

Notice this is stamped "Corps of Engineers U.S. Army".

So where are they? All over - particularly in harbor areas.. How to find them - just search the listings for your area for "USE" disks and talk to the local engineers office if there's one nearby.

Edited August 30, 2009 by Papa-Bear-NYC

[+EscapeFromFlatland]

This one actually says US War Department on it. I'll have to find the photo and post it on here, might be a few days.

Didnt have my GPS with me that day, so only have approximate coordinates.

[Z15]

The United States Department of War, also called the War Office, was the cabinet department originally responsible for the operation and maintenance of the US Army. It was also responsible for naval affairs until the establishment of the Navy Department in 1798, and for land-based air forces until the creation of the Department of the Air Force in 1947.

 

So the US Arm Corps of Engineers were part of the War Dept. Some old buildings at the SOO Locks have that name on them.

 

http://www.lre.usace.army.mil/where/areaof...marie-michigan/

Edited August 30, 2009 by Z15

[+EscapeFromFlatland]

Maybe I wasnt clear in my original request. Is there a separate database or archive for benchmarks installed under the US War Department? Or are these blended under the database by the Army Corps of Engineers? If so, is this available online? Any links to databases or addresses where I could request more information.

 

Basically I'm looking for more information on the history of this 1957 Traverse Station placed near N 31° 59.12, W 81° 29.65.

 

[Z15]

The USACE would have that info. Problem is they are compartmentalized. Nothing is centrally located, you have to find the office that has control of that district and then you still might not find info because you can't find the right person to ask or the info is buried in some archive. I would ask for the engineering dept as they likely have that info but who knows especially if its old data that not used anymore.

 

go to USASE web site and find the district and go from there http://www.usace.army.mil/about/Pages/Locations.aspx

 

War Dept = Dept of Defense (DOD) now.

 

Edited September 3, 2009 by Z15