MSchwiebert Posted October 23, 2018 Share Posted October 23, 2018 In my area (NW Ohio) it seems markers placed in the 1930's used discs, but early 20th century placements used pipe cap markers like in the photo. Was there a preference to using these for one type of a mark over another, or was it just a change to the discs over time? Quote Link to comment
Bill93 Posted October 24, 2018 Share Posted October 24, 2018 I don't know an exact answer, but in general pipe caps seem to have been popular in the later 1800's and first part of the 1900's, but much less common after 1930, at least around here. YMMV. There's a lot of information in this history, in which I didn't quickly find a succinct answer to your query. https://www.ngs.noaa.gov/web/about_ngs/history/Survey_Mark_Art.pdf Quote Link to comment
kayakbird Posted October 24, 2018 Share Posted October 24, 2018 (edited) All, No definitive use dates, but Special Publication #18 (available on line somewhere) gives a description of this type of cap. C/P formatting not perfect! kayakbird SPECIAL PUBLICATION #18 PAGE 162 (168/334 IN GOOGLE) DESCRIPTIONS OF BENCH MARKS: GENERAL NOTES DESCRIBING DIFFERENT FORMS AND MARKING'S OF BENCH MARKS CONNECTED WITH THE LEVEL NET. The notes in Precise Leveling in the United States, 1903-7, describing the various types of bench marks, have been reproduced in this publication, and the numbering has not been changed in any case . In order that the series may remain intact, some note are included in the list which refer to bench marks described only in previous publications. Observers should adhere to these notes in describing their bench marks and should use the corresponding numbers in their descriptions . >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> added note - MEL SEE NOTE #48 FOR MISSISSIPPI RIVER COMMISSION BOLT & PIPE CAP COMBINATION AND #53 FOR MISSOURI RIVER COMMISSION TRIANGULATION STATION <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< NOTE 1.TENON DISK-This type of bench mark is the red metal disk designed by the Coast and Geodetic Survey. lettered "U . S . Coast and Geodetic Survey. B . M . $250 fine or imprisonment for disturbing this mark." The disk is 3 inches in diameter. with a 3-inch tenon upon the back for setting it, and is set in cement flush with a horizontal or vertical surface. In the latter case a horizontal mark cut on it, or the horizontal mark of a cross, is the bench mark. NOTE 2. PIPE CAP-This type of bench mark has the same lettering as that referred to in note 1, and is A 3-inch red metal cap, somewhat curved, screwed upon a 4-foot or 4 1/2-foot iron pipe set in the ground and usually cemented at the base, from 4 to 6 inches being exposed above the ground. The base of the pipe is split and spread to a diameter of about a foot . For placing the foot of the level rod accurately a square or a small circle was cut in outline in the center of the cap. NOTE 3.-This type of bench mark is A stone post 4 feet long set in the ground with 6 inches exposed, and this portion is dressed. The upper surface is 6 inches square and plane, being marked in the center with a 1/2-inch copper >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> PAGE 163 Edited October 24, 2018 by kayakbird Quote Link to comment
DaveD Posted October 24, 2018 Share Posted October 24, 2018 Pipe marks were common largely because they were very easy to prepare and set. Concrete marks are heavier even if they are prefab and certainly require more time and resources when they were poured in place although they are way more stable. Pipe marks were also very popular with US Government Land Office (USGLO) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Quote Link to comment
MSchwiebert Posted October 24, 2018 Author Share Posted October 24, 2018 Thanks everyone! I kind of figured that it'd be easier to drive/set a section of pipe - but hadn't thought about it being less stable than concrete. Quote Link to comment
forbin_c Posted November 10, 2018 Share Posted November 10, 2018 Since you asked , here's a breakdown of pipe cap benchmarks by year monumented: 1872 | 2 1880 | 2 1881 | 1 1882 | 1 1885 | 4 1889 | 22 1891 | 4 1892 | 19 1894 | 3 1895 | 7 1896 | 45 1897 | 77 1898 | 127 1899 | 55 1900 | 64 1901 | 66 1902 | 77 1903 | 215 1904 | 122 1905 | 206 1906 | 145 1907 | 155 1908 | 196 1909 | 102 1910 | 155 1911 | 205 1912 | 101 1913 | 149 1914 | 90 1915 | 134 1916 | 94 1917 | 133 1918 | 192 1919 | 77 1920 | 54 1921 | 30 1922 | 40 1923 | 27 1924 | 65 1925 | 44 1926 | 11 1927 | 9 1928 | 12 1929 | 39 1930 | 46 1931 | 60 1932 | 11 1933 | 39 1934 | 98 1935 | 64 1936 | 28 1937 | 53 1938 | 20 1939 | 30 1940 | 9 1941 | 32 1942 | 15 1943 | 25 1944 | 34 1945 | 29 1946 | 21 1947 | 32 1948 | 68 1949 | 32 1950 | 33 1951 | 14 1952 | 15 1953 | 36 1954 | 42 1955 | 22 1956 | 28 1957 | 62 1958 | 13 1959 | 29 1960 | 11 1961 | 24 1962 | 27 1963 | 23 1964 | 15 1965 | 33 1966 | 43 1967 | 22 1968 | 11 1969 | 7 1970 | 27 1971 | 7 1972 | 6 1973 | 12 1974 | 21 1975 | 20 1976 | 9 1977 | 28 1978 | 60 1979 | 12 1980 | 4 1981 | 51 1982 | 2 1983 | 3 1984 | 2 1985 | 3 1986 | 42 1987 | 22 1988 | 152 1989 | 12 1990 | 32 1992 | 29 1993 | 7 1994 | 7 1995 | 8 1996 | 12 1997 | 2 1998 | 24 1999 | 3 2000 | 5 2001 | 3 2003 | 2 2005 | 5 2008 | 1 2009 | 1 2014 | 7 2015 | 3 Quote Link to comment
kayakbird Posted November 11, 2018 Share Posted November 11, 2018 (edited) forbin_c, All, Wondering if those totals equate to the ones set, or just those than now have a PID? Looking at Special Publication #18 for the first string set in Montana in 1907 [G3 thru Z3 - portion of the Butte to Huntley Precise Level Net run that year ] I see that 8 of the twenty monuments set were Pipe Caps, but only four have a PID in my GSAK file. Found my first of this type on a winter day west of Bozeman, Montana. kayakbird https://www.geocaching.com/mark/details.aspx?PID=QX0214 Edited November 12, 2018 by kayakbird Delete extra word, direct link photo Quote Link to comment
Z15 Posted November 19, 2018 Share Posted November 19, 2018 (edited) I have found some around here dated the early 1900's and in addition to the U.S. Geological Survey moniker, the words "IN COOPERATION WITH THE STATE OF" in on the pipe cap. Edited November 19, 2018 by Z15 Quote Link to comment
forbin_c Posted November 19, 2018 Share Posted November 19, 2018 Based on the evidence I've seen here, I'll say the numbers I submitted apply only to those that currently have PIDs. For example, Z15's find is not in there. Quote Link to comment
kayakbird Posted November 19, 2018 Share Posted November 19, 2018 forbin_c, Thanks for the response. I rather suspected that, and will say that finding some of the NONPID's using the old publications now online has provided me with a lot of satisfaction. See photos of Missouri River Commission Bench Mark 26 between Helena & Great Falls, Montana scabbed onto MORC Willow Creek RW0549 in below link. Accessed from Holter Reservoir via kayak. kayakbird https://www.geocaching.com/mark/details.aspx?PID=RW0549 Quote Link to comment
Z15 Posted November 21, 2018 Share Posted November 21, 2018 USGS date sheets for my area and the mark I showed can be found here ►USGS Datasheets: Michigan Quote Link to comment
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