Meridian History - Oregon Survey History #2 Multi-Cache
Meridian History - Oregon Survey History #2
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This cache was established by the Professional Land Surveyors of Oregon, the Oregon Association of County Engineers and Surveyors, the Oregon GPS Users Group and the National Society of Professional Land Surveyors geocache program, which have a goal of promoting the surveying profession at national and state levels.
This cache is part of what is planned to be the first of a series of caches that show the rich history of land surveying in the State of Oregon. While visiting Waypoint #1 be sure to also visit a nearby cache by Hopalong and Hobblealong Cachedy’s cache, Once Upon a Ferry (Revised) (GC1NA4R). From the Parking area to Site #1 you will travel the following approximate distances and directions: North 5.6 chains then West 13 chains and then South 8 chains Give up on how far a chain is? Follow the established paths and board walk for now. You are now standing on the Willamette Meridian. Have you ever seen the abbreviation “W.M.” on a property deed in Oregon or Washington? Now you know what that abbreviation means. Enjoy the monument that stands before you and read carefully, you will need some of this information. L = Number of acres that could be claimed to homestead in the early 1800’s before Townships were created M = Number of Sections in a Township N = A day in June 1851 O = Year the Willamette Stone monument was placed P = Year of the Land Ordinance Q = Number of Acres in a Section. Now use this information to compute your way to Site #2 AAA = (L*3) - 30 BB = M + N CC = O - P (Coincidentally this is also the length of 1 chain in feet) Site #2 – N 45° 30.AAA’ W 122° BB.CC9’ Note: Parking in this area can be difficult at times This small park is dedicated to an Oregon legislator and Surveyor General of Oregon. John B. Preston was the first Surveyor General of Oregon who issued the contract to set the Initial Point of the Willamette Meridian that you read about at the first stop. As you learn about this location, take note of the quote from 1804 on the base of the “The Promised Land” statue. This quote is by President Thomas Jefferson who among other things was a surveyor. R = # of times the Surveyor General’s last name is written on the sign S = # of people on “The Promised Land” statue DDD = AAA + (R-N) EEE = (S*223) - (M*N)/2.25 To arrive at Site #3 you will travel North approximately 4.1 chains. Site #3 – N45° 30.DDD’ W 122° BB.EEE’ Did you notice the large animal in the street as you crossed? This statue was commissioned by another famous Oregonian, David P. Thompson. While accomplishing many things in his life, David P. Thompson was also a railroad surveyor and he served as a U.S. Deputy Surveyor in Oregon until 1863. The land claimed by this prominent landholder, which encompassed a large area of what is now downtown Portland, was bordered on the south by land claimed by W.W. Chapman whom you just met at the last stop. The map of these claims was signed by W.W. Chapman, Surveyor General. Prior to that survey the land in this area was surveyed into Townships by Butler Ives who surveyed from the original Initial Point monument that was set for the Willamette Meridian on June 4, 1851 at the direction of John B. Preston. During this time Butler Ives brother, William Ives, was surveying the Willamette Meridian north into Washington. Mr. Lownsdale was also involved in one of the very early land dispute lawsuits that was heard in the Oregon Supreme court and subsequently appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1858. T = # of letters in the state he was from U = # of acres he claimed FF = M-T+(N-S) GGG = U-R-(N-S) Site #4 – N 45°FF.173’ W 122° 44.GGG’ The Willamette Meridian is one of 37 Principal Meridians in the United States, nearly all of which are named, that define the rectangular survey system. The point you are standing at is the "Initial Point" or Point of Beginning of the Willamette Meridian. All land surveys and property descriptions in Oregon and Washington are referenced to this point. The establishment of this point allowed the surveys of the Oregon Territory to proceed. This in turn promoted settlement of the Northwest and began the transfer of land from government ownership to private ownership. When you reach the bottom of the path you will find the monument that was pictured on the sign at Site #1 and benches commemorating the contributions of John B. Preston, William Ives (Butler Ives brother) and C. Albert White who was a prominent surveyor and author in our area. To finish your journey now add 0.100 to the North minutes for Site 4 and subtract 0.009 from the West minutes for Site 4. Site #5 - N 45 degrees 31.___' W 122 degrees 44.___' You will find the cache located near the meridian line approximately 9.3 chains north from Site 4. 1 chain = 66 feet and 1 chain = 100 links and 1 link = 0.66 feet The cache container is an aerial photography film canister. It is not as small as you might think. This cache complies with the geocaching policies for Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) properties. Please respect park hours when caching.
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(Decrypt)
Tb nobhg gjragl yvaxf fbhgu bs gur frpbaq cbfg
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