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What's The Oldest Disk With: $250 Fine?


Black Dog Trackers

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StripeMark:

 

Good question. I have often wondered if anyone was ever prosecuted for the wonton destruction of a mark.

 

We have all "found" the missing marks from private, commercial or local government construction as well as the pulled up and thrown, or out right missing Witness Posts, so we know this sort of thing happens.

 

I suspect that after the information was obtained as to elevation and/or Lat-Long the Government has never really cared.

 

BDT:

 

I can verify that a 1922 CGS mark had the $250 warning. I can also verify that a USGS mark from 1912, documented by ddnutzy, has the warning.

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I couldn't find it in a quick search, but last year someone posted on here about a case where a contractor took out a mark that was considered pretty important (both horizontal and vertical very good class).

 

It was reported that they reset the mark and charged him some fee like $10,000 (?) which would be a comparable order of magnitude to the original $250 with inflation.

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I tried at one time to find the oldest disks, but the problem is that a lot of disks were reset on or near some really old stations, and so the datasheet looks like it is for an old disk, but the disk itself is nowhere nearly as old as the station.

 

Here are the 146 disks which bear stampings that contain dates prior to 1900. Even some of these are probably resets and could have been stamped with the date of the original station rather than the date of the disk. We need some volunteers to go check them out!

 

Sorted by Date                                                  Sorted by PID                                              
-------------------------------------------------------         ----------------------------------------------------------  
CK0880 1852 stamped BEAUFORT CHURCH NO 2 1852                   AB0004 1885 stamped BROWNSVILLE NO 1 1885                   
LX1104 1853 stamped DENNINGS LDG NO 1 1853                      AB0005 1885 stamped BROWNSVILLE NO 2 1885                   
LX1102 1853 stamped DENNINGS LDG NO 2 1853                      CK0880 1852 stamped BEAUFORT CHURCH NO 2 1852               
HW0674 1871 stamped CLARK MT 1871-1932                          CL0655 1889 stamped ELEV 311.367 312 MC MOREHED 1889        
JC0172 1872 stamped AMERICAN BOTTOM LOWER BASE 1872             CL0694 1898 stamped 381.072 381 MC MOREHEAD 1898            
OD1369 1872 stamped WILCOX 1872                                 CL0877 1898 stamped 259.081 259 MC MOREHED 1898             
FV1130 1873 stamped CHINA GULCH 1873                            CP1381 1896 stamped A 1896                                  
JC1727 1873 stamped DIECKHAUS 1873                              DC1219 1887 stamped BALL NO 1 1887                          
JC1434 1874 stamped BERGER 1874                                 DC1221 1887 stamped BALL NO 2 1887                          
QL0218 1874 stamped FORD RIVER 1874                             DF0630 1898 stamped 727 726.652 MOREHED 1898                
JC0661 1874 stamped GASCONADE 1874                              DF9346 1895 stamped SUGAR LOAF 1895                         
JC1451 1874 stamped PETERS 1874                                 DG0827 1898 stamped EL 765.550 FT D 23 MOREHED 1898         
GU3792 1875 stamped KASLER PT 1875-1932                         DG0836 1898 stamped G 23 836.612 MOREHED 1898               
OF0904 1875 stamped WALWORTH 1875                               DH2452 1886 stamped LAUREL 1886                             
OF0906 1875 stamped WALWORTH 1875                               DY1094 1899 stamped OLD NO 2 1899                           
DY2150 1876 stamped BRUSH 1876                                  DY1096 1899 stamped OLD NO 1 1899                           
JC1495 1878 stamped GEYER 1878                                  DY2150 1876 stamped BRUSH 1876                              
JD2619 1879 stamped CHRISTIAN 1879                              EA0542 1896 stamped NEHL 1896 12.215                        
JK1153 1879 stamped CORRAL BLUFFS 1879                          ED0700 1892 stamped 1892.516 1892 ATLANTA                   
JD0257 1880 stamped HUNTER 1880                                 EW1863 1890 stamped WILSON PEAK NO 3 1890                   
JD0295 1880 stamped VERSAILLES NORTH BASE 1880                  EW1865 1890 stamped WILSON NO 4 PEAK 1890                   
JE0142 1883 stamped HUTTON 1883                                 FA1351 1899 stamped NCGS - USGS 1899                        
AB0004 1885 stamped BROWNSVILLE NO 1 1885                       FA1352 1899 stamped NCGS - USGS 1899                        
AB0005 1885 stamped BROWNSVILLE NO 2 1885                       FC0379 1899 stamped 789 NASHVILLE 1899                      
DH2452 1886 stamped LAUREL 1886                                 FD0161 1899 stamped 971 NASHVILLE 1899                      
DC1219 1887 stamped BALL NO 1 1887                              FD0172 1899 stamped 694 NASHVILLE 1899                      
DC1221 1887 stamped BALL NO 2 1887                              FD0178 1899 stamped 895 NASHVILLE 1899                      
JE1579 1887 stamped KANWAKA 1887                                FD0196 1899 stamped 916 NASHVILLE 1899                      
LY1109 1889 stamped D L W 1889                                  FD0209 1899 stamped 1003 NASHVILLE 1899                     
CL0655 1889 stamped ELEV 311.367 312 MC MOREHED 1889            FD0296 1899 stamped 738 NASHVILLE 1899                      
JZ3336 1890 stamped GLASGOW 1890                                FD0297 1899 stamped 738 NASHVILLE 1899                      
KF0898 1890 stamped THOMPSON 1890                               FD0470 1899 stamped 595 NASHVILLE 1899                      
EW1865 1890 stamped WILSON NO 4 PEAK 1890                       FD0478 1899 stamped 690 NASHVILLE 1899                      
EW1863 1890 stamped WILSON PEAK NO 3 1890                       FD0486 1899 stamped 648 NASHVILLE 1899                      
JH0130 1891 stamped GOPHER 1891                                 FD0490 1899 stamped 697 NASHVILLE 1899                      
JH0131 1891 stamped GOPHER 1891                                 FD0702 1899 stamped 600 NASHVILLE 1899                      
ED0700 1892 stamped 1892.516 1892 ATLANTA                       FD0708 1899 stamped 683 NASHVILLE 1899                      
JG0848 1892 stamped HAYS 1892                                   FV1130 1873 stamped CHINA GULCH 1873                        
JG0592 1893 stamped BIG CREEK 1893                              GU3792 1875 stamped KASLER PT 1875-1932                     
JG0538 1893 stamped SKAGGS 1893                                 HW0674 1871 stamped CLARK MT 1871-1932                      
MY3659 1893 stamped SPINDLE HILL 1893-1938                      JC0172 1872 stamped AMERICAN BOTTOM LOWER BASE 1872         
RC0860 1894 stamped HIGH WATER MARK JUNE 6 1894 106.171         JC0661 1874 stamped GASCONADE 1874                          
DF9346 1895 stamped SUGAR LOAF 1895                             JC1434 1874 stamped BERGER 1874                             
CP1381 1896 stamped A 1896                                      JC1451 1874 stamped PETERS 1874                             
EA0542 1896 stamped NEHL 1896 12.215                            JC1495 1878 stamped GEYER 1878                              
JW0688 1897 stamped 2467 1897                                   JC1727 1873 stamped DIECKHAUS 1873                          
NB1082 1898 stamped 1006 D 1898                                 JD0257 1880 stamped HUNTER 1880                             
RC1569 1898 stamped 102.966 L 24 1898                           JD0295 1880 stamped VERSAILLES NORTH BASE 1880              
NA1308 1898 stamped 1047 ALBANY 1898                            JD2619 1879 stamped CHRISTIAN 1879                          
NA1464 1898 stamped 1051 ALBANY 1898                            JE0142 1883 stamped HUTTON 1883                             
NA1324 1898 stamped 1232 ALBANY 1898                            JE1579 1887 stamped KANWAKA 1887                            
NA0756 1898 stamped 1272 ALBANY 1898                            JF1625 1899 stamped LODER 1899                              
NA1456 1898 stamped 1384 ALBANY 1898                            JG0538 1893 stamped SKAGGS 1893                             
NA1457 1898 stamped 1384 ALBANY 1898 RESET                      JG0592 1893 stamped BIG CREEK 1893                          
NC0198 1898 stamped 1393 1898 D                                 JG0848 1892 stamped HAYS 1892                               
NB1207 1898 stamped 1573 D 1898                                 JH0130 1891 stamped GOPHER 1891                             
NC0176 1898 stamped 1593 D 1898                                 JH0131 1891 stamped GOPHER 1891                             
NB1223 1898 stamped 1610 D 1898                                 JK1153 1879 stamped CORRAL BLUFFS 1879                      
NB1215 1898 stamped 1675 D 1898                                 JW0688 1897 stamped 2467 1897                               
CL0877 1898 stamped 259.081 259 MC MOREHED 1898                 JW0911 1899 stamped PITTSBURG 999 1899                      
CL0694 1898 stamped 381.072 381 MC MOREHEAD 1898                JX0079 1899 stamped 859 PITTSBURG 1899                      
DF0630 1898 stamped 727 726.652 MOREHED 1898                    JX0175 1899 stamped 885 PITTSBURG 1899                      
NB0281 1898 stamped 818 ALBANY 1898                             JY0700 1899 stamped COLUMBUS 1899 778                       
NB0377 1898 stamped 840 ALBANY 1898                             JZ3336 1890 stamped GLASGOW 1890                            
NA1433 1898 stamped 867 ALBANY 1898                             KF0898 1890 stamped THOMPSON 1890                           
NA0003 1898 stamped 930 ALBANY 1898                             KX1273 1899 stamped 868 PITTSBURGH 1899                     
NB1108 1898 stamped 935 D 1898                                  KX1504 1899 stamped 852 PITTSBURG 1899                      
NA1285 1898 stamped 978 ALBANY 1898                             KX1506 1899 stamped 844 PITTSBURGH 1899                     
RC1542 1898 stamped 99.606 E 24 1898                            LH0384 1898 stamped BLUE HILL 1898                          
LH0384 1898 stamped BLUE HILL 1898                              LX1102 1853 stamped DENNINGS LDG NO 2 1853                  
DG0827 1898 stamped EL 765.550 FT D 23 MOREHED 1898             LX1104 1853 stamped DENNINGS LDG NO 1 1853                  
DG0836 1898 stamped G 23 836.612 MOREHED 1898                   LY1109 1889 stamped D L W 1889                              
SC0412 1898 stamped O 31-21 1898                                LZ0500 1899 stamped 1139 H 1899                             
FD0209 1899 stamped 1003 NASHVILLE 1899                         LZ0511 1899 stamped 1246 H 1899                             
MA1205 1899 stamped 1038 PITTSBURG 1899                         LZ0517 1899 stamped 966 H 1899                              
NB1125 1899 stamped 1050 OSWEGO 1899 NEW YORK                   LZ0716 1899 stamped 1585 HARRISBURG 1899                    
MB0062 1899 stamped 1062 PITTSBURG 1899                         LZ0888 1899 stamped 528 HARRISBURG 1899                     
LZ0500 1899 stamped 1139 H 1899                                 LZ0939 1899 stamped 620 HARRISBURG 1899                     
MA0855 1899 stamped 1193 DUNKIRK 1899                           LZ1356 1899 stamped 1330 HARRISBURG 1899                    
LZ0511 1899 stamped 1246 H 1899                                 MA0816 1899 stamped PENNSYLVANIA 1086 DUNKIRK 1899          
LZ1356 1899 stamped 1330 HARRISBURG 1899                        MA0855 1899 stamped 1193 DUNKIRK 1899                       
RB0433 1899 stamped 1528.242 A 1899                             MA1205 1899 stamped 1038 PITTSBURG 1899                     
LZ0716 1899 stamped 1585 HARRISBURG 1899                        MA1209 1899 stamped 989 PITTSBURG 1899                      
QB0678 1899 stamped 2113.283 L 310 1899                         MA1233 1899 stamped 919 1899                                
MZ0947 1899 stamped 269 ALBANY 1899                             MA1512 1899 stamped PITTSBURG 1214 1899                     
RA0776 1899 stamped 2788.610 A M 305 1899                       MB0062 1899 stamped 1062 PITTSBURG 1899                     
OD0787 1899 stamped 314 ALBANY 1899                             MC0279 1899 stamped BENCH MARK ELEV NO 7 USC AND G 1899     
NB0572 1899 stamped 481 OSWEGO 1899                             MC0282 1899 stamped BENCH MARK ELEV NO 8 USG AND G 1899     
LZ0888 1899 stamped 528 HARRISBURG 1899                         MC0287 1899 stamped BENCH MARK ELEV NO 9 USC AND G 1899     
FD0470 1899 stamped 595 NASHVILLE 1899                          MC0291 1899 stamped BENCH MARK ELEV NO 11 USC AND G 1899    
OD0748 1899 stamped 6 1899 ALBANY                               MC0303 1899 stamped BENCH MARK ELEV NO 13 USC AND G 1899    
FD0702 1899 stamped 600 NASHVILLE 1899                          MC0305 1899 stamped BENCH MARK ELEV NO 14 USC AND G 1899    
LZ0939 1899 stamped 620 HARRISBURG 1899                         MC0308 1899 stamped BENCH MARK ELEV NO 15 USC AND G 1899    
OD0757 1899 stamped 628 1899 ALBANY                             MC0334 1899 stamped BENCH MARK ELEV 17 USC AND G 1899       
OD0744 1899 stamped 630 ALBANY 1899                             MC0356 1899 stamped BENCH MARK ELEV NO 18 USC AND G 1899    
OD0737 1899 stamped 634 1899 ALBANY                             MC0360 1899 stamped BENCH MARK ELEV NO 19 USC AND G 1899    
FD0486 1899 stamped 648 NASHVILLE 1899                          MC0743 1899 stamped BENCH MARK ELEV NO 6 USC AND G 1899     
FD0708 1899 stamped 683 NASHVILLE 1899                          MY3659 1893 stamped SPINDLE HILL 1893-1938                  
FD0478 1899 stamped 690 NASHVILLE 1899                          MZ0947 1899 stamped 269 ALBANY 1899                         
FD0172 1899 stamped 694 NASHVILLE 1899                          NA0003 1898 stamped 930 ALBANY 1898                         
FD0490 1899 stamped 697 NASHVILLE 1899                          NA0756 1898 stamped 1272 ALBANY 1898                        
FD0296 1899 stamped 738 NASHVILLE 1899                          NA1285 1898 stamped 978 ALBANY 1898                         
FD0297 1899 stamped 738 NASHVILLE 1899                          NA1308 1898 stamped 1047 ALBANY 1898                        
OD0987 1899 stamped 749 ALBANY 1899                             NA1324 1898 stamped 1232 ALBANY 1898                        
NB0856 1899 stamped 766 OSWEGO 1899 NEW YORK                    NA1433 1898 stamped 867 ALBANY 1898                         
FC0379 1899 stamped 789 NASHVILLE 1899                          NA1456 1898 stamped 1384 ALBANY 1898                        
KX1506 1899 stamped 844 PITTSBURGH 1899                         NA1457 1898 stamped 1384 ALBANY 1898 RESET                  
KX1504 1899 stamped 852 PITTSBURG 1899                          NA1464 1898 stamped 1051 ALBANY 1898                        
JX0079 1899 stamped 859 PITTSBURG 1899                          NB0281 1898 stamped 818 ALBANY 1898                         
KX1273 1899 stamped 868 PITTSBURGH 1899                         NB0377 1898 stamped 840 ALBANY 1898                         
NB0925 1899 stamped 870 RESET 1899                              NB0572 1899 stamped 481 OSWEGO 1899                         
JX0175 1899 stamped 885 PITTSBURG 1899                          NB0856 1899 stamped 766 OSWEGO 1899 NEW YORK                
FD0178 1899 stamped 895 NASHVILLE 1899                          NB0885 1899 stamped OSWEGO 1899                             
FD0196 1899 stamped 916 NASHVILLE 1899                          NB0925 1899 stamped 870 RESET 1899                          
MA1233 1899 stamped 919 1899                                    NB0989 1899 stamped OSWEGO 720 1899                         
LZ0517 1899 stamped 966 H 1899                                  NB1082 1898 stamped 1006 D 1898                             
FD0161 1899 stamped 971 NASHVILLE 1899                          NB1108 1898 stamped 935 D 1898                              
MA1209 1899 stamped 989 PITTSBURG 1899                          NB1125 1899 stamped 1050 OSWEGO 1899 NEW YORK               
MC0334 1899 stamped BENCH MARK ELEV 17 USC AND G 1899           NB1150 1899 stamped OSWEGO 734 1899                         
NE0485 1899 stamped BENCH MARK ELEV NC 20 USC AND G 1899        NB1207 1898 stamped 1573 D 1898                             
MC0291 1899 stamped BENCH MARK ELEV NO 11 USC AND G 1899        NB1215 1898 stamped 1675 D 1898                             
MC0303 1899 stamped BENCH MARK ELEV NO 13 USC AND G 1899        NB1223 1898 stamped 1610 D 1898                             
MC0305 1899 stamped BENCH MARK ELEV NO 14 USC AND G 1899        NC0176 1898 stamped 1593 D 1898                             
MC0308 1899 stamped BENCH MARK ELEV NO 15 USC AND G 1899        NC0198 1898 stamped 1393 1898 D                             
MC0356 1899 stamped BENCH MARK ELEV NO 18 USC AND G 1899        NE0485 1899 stamped BENCH MARK ELEV NC 20 USC AND G 1899    
MC0360 1899 stamped BENCH MARK ELEV NO 19 USC AND G 1899        NE0494 1899 stamped BENCH MARK ELEV NO 21 USC AND G 1899    
NE0494 1899 stamped BENCH MARK ELEV NO 21 USC AND G 1899        NE0496 1899 stamped NO 22 BENCH MARK ELEV USC AND G 1899    
MC0743 1899 stamped BENCH MARK ELEV NO 6 USC AND G 1899         NE0520 1899 stamped NO 24 BENCH MARK USC AND G 1899 ELEV    
MC0279 1899 stamped BENCH MARK ELEV NO 7 USC AND G 1899         OD0737 1899 stamped 634 1899 ALBANY                         
MC0282 1899 stamped BENCH MARK ELEV NO 8 USG AND G 1899         OD0744 1899 stamped 630 ALBANY 1899                         
MC0287 1899 stamped BENCH MARK ELEV NO 9 USC AND G 1899         OD0748 1899 stamped 6 1899 ALBANY                           
JY0700 1899 stamped COLUMBUS 1899 778                           OD0757 1899 stamped 628 1899 ALBANY                         
JF1625 1899 stamped LODER 1899                                  OD0787 1899 stamped 314 ALBANY 1899                         
FA1351 1899 stamped NCGS - USGS 1899                            OD0987 1899 stamped 749 ALBANY 1899                         
FA1352 1899 stamped NCGS - USGS 1899                            OD1369 1872 stamped WILCOX 1872                             
NE0496 1899 stamped NO 22 BENCH MARK ELEV USC AND G 1899        OF0763 1899 stamped OSWEGO 438 1899                         
NE0520 1899 stamped NO 24 BENCH MARK USC AND G 1899 ELEV        OF0904 1875 stamped WALWORTH 1875                           
DY1096 1899 stamped OLD NO 1 1899                               OF0906 1875 stamped WALWORTH 1875                           
DY1094 1899 stamped OLD NO 2 1899                               QB0678 1899 stamped 2113.283 L 310 1899                     
NB0885 1899 stamped OSWEGO 1899                                 QL0218 1874 stamped FORD RIVER 1874                         
OF0763 1899 stamped OSWEGO 438 1899                             RA0776 1899 stamped 2788.610 A M 305 1899                   
NB0989 1899 stamped OSWEGO 720 1899                             RB0433 1899 stamped 1528.242 A 1899                         
NB1150 1899 stamped OSWEGO 734 1899                             RC0860 1894 stamped HIGH WATER MARK JUNE 6 1894 106.171     
MA0816 1899 stamped PENNSYLVANIA 1086 DUNKIRK 1899              RC1542 1898 stamped 99.606 E 24 1898                        
MA1512 1899 stamped PITTSBURG 1214 1899                         RC1569 1898 stamped 102.966 L 24 1898                       
JW0911 1899 stamped PITTSBURG 999 1899                          SC0412 1898 stamped O 31-21 1898                            

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I notice that the 1892 disk was a USGS disk, not a CGS disk. It looked like a couple other of the oldest ones were USGS, too. I don't know if that means that USGS was setting disks before CGS, or just that the CGS may have been doing mostly coastal and tidal marks and so fewer of them are preserved.

 

I wonder if there is any way to find the date of the law that authorized the fine?

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USGS History.

 

Seems USGS started using metal disks around 1896 and they have the $250 fine on them. Check out the linbk for more info.. It would follow that USC&GS, US Lake Survey etc followed USGS lead.

 

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

fig17.jpg

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I wonder if there is any way to find the date of the law that authorized the fine?

Probably, but it may take some digging around (something we benchmark hunters don't usually mind). ;)

 

If you're interested, here's the law as stated in the U.S. Code:

 

From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access

[wais.access.gpo.gov]

[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]

[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between

January 2, 2001 and January 22, 2002]

[CITE: 18USC1858]

 

TITLE 18--CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE

 

PART I--CRIMES

 

CHAPTER 91--PUBLIC LANDS

 

Sec. 1858. Survey marks destroyed or removed

 

Whoever willfully destroys, defaces, changes, or removes to another

place any section corner, quarter-section corner, or meander post, on

any Government line of survey, or willfully cuts down any witness tree

or any tree blazed to mark the line of a Government survey, or willfully

defaces, changes, or removes any monument or bench mark of any

Government survey, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not

more than six months, or both.

 

(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 789; Pub. L. 103-322, title XXXIII,

Sec. 330016(1)(E), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2146.)

 

Historical and Revision Notes

 

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Sec. 111 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch.

321, Sec. 57, 35 Stat. 1099).

Minor changes were made in phraseology.

 

Amendments

 

1994--Pub. L. 103-322 substituted "fined under this title" for

"fined not more than $250".

 

The earliest date I see on there is 1909, but it looks like there are some leads here that you could follow up on and possibly trace back to an earlier version of the law. I'll see if I can come up with anything.

 

~Zhanna

 

http://surveymarks.planetzhanna.com/

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It seems odd that in a hundred years of inflation, the fine amount has not changed.

 

I wonder if the $250 amount was approximately equivalent to the cost of re-establishing a mark around 1890. Not to say that a disturbed mark would necessarily be re-set, but the fine may have been set to be roughly equivalent to the damage done.

Edited by Black Dog Trackers
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