History Of Bench Marks

[Z15]

Found some interesting reading on the historty of USGS that other might find interesting. Here is a snippet.

 

USGS 1879-1989

 

Figure 17. Bench marks, showing elevations above sea level, greatly enhanced the value of topographic maps, 1896.

The development of the topographic work followed a similar pattern. Before Walcott became Director, the work of the Topographic Branch of the Survey had been criticized by many who considered the extensive program inappropriate for a geological survey and more properly part of another organization, but at the beginning of his directorate Walcott simply announced that topographic map quality would be improved. Within a few months, the topographic corps was placed under Civil Service, thus eliminating some of the difficulties of the Powell era when many with inadequate or no training, including congressional relatives, had been employed. A practical demonstration was made of the advantages of combining topographic surveys and the subdivisional surveys of the General Land Office in Indian Territory. The value of topographic maps for practical purposes was greatly increased by the placement of permanent bench marks showing the exact location and elevation of fixed points.

Edited November 22, 2003 by elcamino