The two Page base stations, Page SW Base and Page NE Base, formed the end points of a line in a northeast-southwest direction that was used to determine the exact distance between Canada and Mexico. This line stretched across both open prairie and cultivated land, crossing twelve barbed wire fences and five cornfields. The length of the line was 8.25 km (5.13 miles) and was divided into eight separate sections for measuring purposes with different devices. The end points, or base stations, consisted of limestone blocks measuring 6” square and 8” tall for the lower monuments, and limestone blocks 24” square and 14” tall for the surface monuments. The surface monuments were also lettered for the United States Coast & Geodetic Survey and had a copper bolt in the center for the precise mark. The end points of the interior sections of the base line were marked with wooden posts 4”x6” with copper rivets in the center. The exception was section 6 where the end points were marked with limestone blocks 6” square and 54” long with copper bolts in the center. This section was measured with all devices for comparison.
The important Page base stations fell into obscurity in the years following the completion of the 98th Meridian Survey. The base stations were visited by C&GS personnel in 1935 when large work forces were assembled in the years of the Great Depression to create new areas of triangulation that would densify the nation’s network. At the time of the 1935 recovery, the Page NE Base station was under cultivation, having been so since around 1927. During the years 1933-35 the soil in the area was said to have drifted considerably and covered the mark. Prodding was done in an attempt to locate the monument, but this effort was unsuccessful. No record has been made of anyone attempting to find this mark since the 1935 search.
On April 14, 2007, Nebraska surveyors Erik Hubl, Seth Kauffman, Gene Thomsen, Steve Rasmussen, Lyle Davis, and Jerry Penry recovered the Page Base monuments. Two GPS points had previously been set near both sites. Using these points, an angle and distance was determined to the base stations and the position located using a total station. Both calculated positions were exactly right on the center of the monuments. The original surface monument was found at the Page NE Base location. It is a 24” limestone monument set in concrete. The Page NE Base monument was removed from the field at that time.
The surface monument for Page NE Base is currently on display in the town of Page, Nebraska next to the historical sign.
For the very interesting whole story go to!!! http://www.penryfamily.com/surveying/pagebaseline.html
The cache is located in close proximity as to where the Base Monument was originally. Please be respectful to the area and good luck.