Specifications for Investigation and Perpetuation of U.S. Public Land Survey Corners

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1 Specifications for Investigation and Perpetuation of U.S. Public Land Survey Corners John M. Thornton State Land Surveyor January 12, 2016

2 SPECIFICATIONS FOR INVESTIGATION AND PERPETUATION OF U. S. PUBLIC LAND SURVEY CORNERS CONTENTS Page Specifications for investigation - Article, 1, 2, Specifications for Perpetuation - Article 4, Diagram of Type "A B R Monument Diagram of Type "RB" Monument... 6 Diagram of Type "RT - 1 Monument. 7 Standards for Marking Survey Monuments Special Examples of Survey Monument Marking.. 9 Section Corner Index Numbers Chart Guide for Marking Witness 'Trees Accessory Signs Used by the Land Survey Division Sample form - Resident Witness Affidavit Form Instructions Sample Form - Certified Land Corner - Perpetuation Filing Record Division of Land Surveys Arkansas GIS Office Personnel John M. Thornton - State Land Surveyor Kami Sharp - Executive Secretary/Administrative Assistant - Corner Certificates Kim Scott - Administrative Assistant - Plats Revised 09/01/2015

3 SPECIFICATIONS FOR INVESTIGATION OF U.S. PUBLIC LAND SURVEY CORNERS ARTICLE 1. AUTHORITY These specifications are written in accordance with the powers, duties and responsibilities delegated to the Land Survey Division. A.C.A These specifications cover the investigation of monuments and records pertaining to the U.S. Public Land Survey original corners as established by the General Land Office (GLO) surveys, and are intended to cover the preliminary records search and the field investigation for setting Land Survey Division monuments to restore and perpetuate said corners. A.C.A states: (b) Compensation may be made to any certified surveyor who provides proof of restoration according to specifications prescribed by the State Surveyor. The procedure herein outlined describes the method the surveyor will use, what records will be evaluated, and how to evaluate the documentation and other evidence found concerning a particular General Land Office (GLO) corner. The result will be the documentation and perpetuation of an original government corner, or determination of the location of the original government corner in accordance with methods and procedures as o u t l i n e d by the Bureau of Land Management s (BLM) current Manual of Surveying Instructions for restoring lost or obliterated corners. ARTICLE 2. RECORDS A. The surveyor shall obtain copies of original GLO notes and plats. In general, if there is a discrepancy between the information on the plat and in the field notes, the notes will control since the plat was made from information in the notes. B. County Surveyor records of the county or counties involved will be searched and, if possible, copies obtained for corners in the affected area. C. Records of other surveys shall be consulted if available. Any references found will be noted along with the location of the document. D. Landowners adjacent to the corners may be contacted and statements taken from them as to the location of corners or what they believe to constitute the corners. E. Local resident witnesses may also be contacted and statements taken as to the position of corners of which they have personal knowledge or common report. F. Other information - Aerial photography from various sources is available for most areas of the state. U.S.G.S. topographic maps and other topographic and plan metric maps showing fence or occupation lines may be used in determining the area in which the corner sought should be located. Due consideration of scale factor changes and methods of production must be used when evaluating information from these sources. ARTICLE 3. FIELD INVESTIGATION A. After search areas have been determined by any or all of the methods above, an exhaustive search of the area should be performed to determine the evidence that can be recovered. Evidence to be noted should include but not be limited to: Revised 09/01/2015 1

4 1. Original government witness trees. 2. Stump holes or depressions from original trees. 3. Marks of original surveyor. 4. Line trees, streams, and other calls of the original surveyor. 5. Marks and trees of subsequent surveyors. 6. Fences of ancient nature. 7. Other signs of occupation or use. 8. Field book (or field note) records shall be made of all evidence found. SPECIFICATIONS FOR PERPETUATION OF ORIGINAL U. S. PUBLIC LAND SURVEY CORNERS ARTICLE 4. CORNERS TO BE PERPETUATED A. Corners established by the original government surveyors under contract from the General Land Office (GLO) or its successors in title, for which sufficient original evidence exists to definitely locate the position of said corner. B. Corners perpetuated and documented by county surveyors, or other surveyors as marking corner locations from original evidence established by the GLO surveyors. There shall be sufficient evidence to definitely locate the position of said corners. C. Corners reestablished according to statutory survey methods of the location of a GLO corner that was lost or destroyed. Corners with existing monuments for which sufficient record and/or parole evidence exists to show the general acceptance of such corner for a long period of time. (Use Resident Witness Affidavit on Page 13 for parole evidence.) ARTICLE 5. METHOD OF PERPETUATION A. Where possible, a Land Survey Division monument will be set at the exact position of the corner to be perpetuated. All monuments shall be stamped with the corner designation i n a c c o r dance with the example of Standards for Marking Survey Monuments (Pages 8 and 9). The precise position shall be marked by a point or cross on the monument. The monument shall also be marked with the registration number of the land surveyor in responsible charge and the year of placement. All monuments shall be set so they can be read standing at the south side of the cap. 1. Corners in Open Ground shall be monumented in accordance with a Type "A- 1-BR" installation instructions on Page Corners in Gravel or Asphalt Roads shall be monumented in accordance with a Type"A-1-BR" (Page 5) or "RB" installation instructions on Page 6. In addition Type "A-1-BR" reference monument(s) may be installed in accordance with Type "A-1-BR" installation instructions in safe position(s) on or near the right-of-way lines. 2 Revised 09/01/2015

5 3. Corners in Concrete Pavement s hall are monumented by establishing two Type "A-1-BR" installations in safe positions on or near the right-of-way lines and set in such manner and position that the corner could be located by angle and distance or by two distances from these monuments. 4. Corners in Concrete Structures, Rock Ledges or Other Similar Conditions shall be monumented in accordance with a Type "RT-1" installation instructions on Page Combinations of the above may be used if deemed to be more permanent. 6. Where holes are dug, broken glass or charcoal should be deposited in the bottom as a memorial. Should the monument be pulled out and the break-off feature fail, the glass or charcoal will remain. B. Where the exact position of the corner cannot be monumented, witness monuments may be set in such manner and position that the corner could be located by angle and distance or by two distances from these monuments. C. Where possible, reference ties in each of the four quadrants with bearing and distance to durable objects shall be made to assist the relocation of the marked corner in the event of the monument being disturbed. Durable objects include, but are not restricted to: building corners (fully described), marks on concrete structures or pavement, marks on ledge or bedrock, sound trees, and reference monuments. D. At locations where trees are to be used as reference ties, four trees (one in each quadrant where available) shall be marked (see Pages 11 and 12). Trees shall be selected, when possible, according to probable length of life, soundness, favorable site conditions and size. Sound trees 6 to 10 inches in diameter of the hardiest species are preferred. It is generally better to avoid marking mature trees, especially those showing signs of decay. Preferred trees in Arkansas are pine, white oak, post oak, black gum, and other long-lived species. Trees are to be marked with one notch (with a nail), a scribed blaze, a painted band, and a bearing tree or location tag all as described below, with marks to be placed as follows: 1. A notch at the base of the tree with "P-K" or steel nail firmly set in notch. This provides positive identification of the stump if the tree should be removed. Notches should be cut as close to ground level as practical into the wood tissue inside of the bark about 1\2" deep and 4" to 5" wide, and placed on one side of the tree at a 90 angle from the face for measuring distance to the monument. 2. A blaze near the base scribed WT. Scribed blazes on witness trees are to be made facing the corner location. Blazes for scribing should be narrow and vertical near the base and specially prepared by removing just enough of the outer bark to expose a smooth surface for scribing into the live wood tissue immediately underneath the bark. Marks on certain trees, including holly, beach, and locust (smooth and thin bark), shall be made by scribing lightly through the bark without blazing. The above marking practices are designed to cause the least possible injury to the tree and enable a rapid overgrowth. 3. Approximately five (5) to six (6) feet a b o v e ground, the bark shall be smoothed (cut or scraped) in a band four (4) to six (6) inches wide completely around the trunk of the tree for painting only and should not cut into the live wood tissue. Revised 09/01/2015 3

6 4. A bearing tree tag shall be placed facing the corner location above or below the painted band attached with two a l u m i n u m nails. These nails should be firmly set in the wood, but not driven to make the tag ti ght against the tree. This will allow the tree to grow for several years before pushing the tag off or growing around it. A die set, pocketknife point or other sharp object should be used to scribe: the township number and its direction (N or S) of the baseline; the range number and its direction (E or W) of the meridian; the number of the section in which the tree stands; the bearing and distance to the monument; the surveyor s registration number; and date. 5. A location tag shall be used either on one of the bearing trees in lieu of a bearing tree tag, or may be placed on the witness post with the Do Not Disturb monument sign. The required information on the location tag describing the corner shall be marked as described above. 6. For locations where the upper marks (tag, band and scribed blaze) would be unsightly or otherwise impractical, the notch and nail at the base may be used alone. 7. Horizontal distance measurements to bearing trees shall be made to the notch and nail to reflect the distance from the monument to the center of the tree at ground surface. If horizontal measurements cannot be made due to steep terrain and a slope distance is recorded, slope shall be scribed on the accompanying tag and noted on the certificate. Bearings shall be taken to the center of the tree facing the monument. E. In order to aid in the preservation and to serve as a means of easy recovery of the monument established, a Land Survey Monument Do Not Disturb sign shall be placed on a steel post adjacent to the monument. The post should be set near enough to call attention to the monument but not so close that it would prevent an instrument being set over the point. Where a fence post or tree is already within three (3) to five (5) feet of the monument, a steel post may be omitted. For monuments established in cultivated fields, the post shall be set on the nearest fence line and include bearing and distance information to the monument. F. A Certified Land Corner Restoration Perpetuation and Filing Record Form shall be completed and submitted to the Land Survey Division for approval within thirty (30) days of setting the monument (see instructions and certificate on Pages 14, 15, and 16). These forms may be sent electronically via . G. A digital photograph taken close up of the set or refurbished monument, and a digital photograph of its setting location, (i.e. witness tree, post,etc.) positioned from the south and facing north, are also to be submitted within thirty (30) days to the Land Survey Division. These digital photographs are to be sent electronically via . 4 Revised 09/01/2015

7 MOIST EARTH BACKFILL PLACED IN 3u LAYERS AND CAREFULLY TAMPED OR COMPACTED GRANULAR BACKFILL D

15 TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: Know all men by these presents: That I, RESIDENT WITNESS AFFIDAVIT was present and witnessed the restoration of the corner of Section Township Range of the Fifth Principal Meridian, and that the monument heretofore described is in the correct position of the corner that it restores. My testimony is based upon the following facts: IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this day of, 2. List other witnesses by name, address and telephone number. (Signature) State of Arkansas County of On this day of, 2, before me personally appeared, to me known to be the person described in and who executed the foregoing instrument, and acknowledged that he executed the same as his free act and deed. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official seal at my office the date last above written. My commission expires (Signature) (Typed or printed name)

16 Instructions for Completing a Certified Land Corner Restoration, Perpetuation and Filing Record Type or print all information on one sheet printed front and back. (Typed entries on the certificate can be made and printed, but not saved from Adobe Reader.) Page 1 A. Check the box that describes: Original Corner: (Type A) A corner that has original evidence of monument or accessories that proves its location. (Type B) A corner that has evidence of subsequent record survey monument and accessories that perpetuated the corner position from original evidence. Re-Established Corner: (Type C) A lost or obliterated corner that has been restored by methods defined by the current Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Manual of Survey Instructions. Existing Monument: (Type C) A corner evidenced by a long-standing monument or by parol evidence. B. Enter the corner description (i.e. the South 1/4) with section, township, range and county information. C. Enter from the original General Land Office (GLO) survey notes the deputy surveyor s name, date, and the description of the monument and accessories established for the corner. Enter the surveyor s name, date, and description of any monuments and accessories from subsequent record surveys and corner certificates, and reference record document archive location and index information (i.e. county and book/page or Land Survey Division document number). For Type C corners in municipal or highly developed areas, original survey notes m ay be omitted from the certificate if evidence of all original monuments and accessories are lost or obliterated. IF THIS IS A REFURBISHMENT OF A PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED CORNER ENTER: LAND SURVEY DIVISION DOC. #. D. Enter the DATE, description of monument and accessories FOUND at the corner location, and reference(s) for their origin. If the original corner is lost or obliterated, explain how you restored the corner and reference any record survey information used. E. Enter the DATE and description of monument and/or accessories you are adding to perpetuate the corner location. IF THIS IS A REFRUBISHMENT OF A PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED CORNER AND MONUMENT AND ACCESSORIES ARE THE SAME, YOU MAY STATE SAME AS ITEM (D) ABOVE. F. Sign, seal and date page one of the document. G. If available, enter a geographic position of latitude, longitude, elevation, datum (i.e. WGS 84), and position tolerance. Describe the method used to obtain the corner position, i.e. scaled from USGS topographic map, conventional surveying methods and equipment, or GPS equipment (list type: recreational, mapping or survey). Enter the posit ion and name of any record control monuments used for control. H. Type or print your name, PLS number, and date to certify the document. Page 2 I. Enter the section, township, and range and indicate the corner position on the location map. J. Draw a sketch of the corner location with the description of m onument(s), accessories and any other information to aid recovery of the corner position. If the corner is restored from survey ties to other monuments show the bearings and distances to them, and/or give a document reference for a survey that was used for restoration. K. Sign, seal and date page 2. Print both pages front and back on a single sheet of 24# or > paper.

(LSD FORM REVISED 01/13/2016)) Certified Land Corner Restoration Perpetuation and Filing Record Land Survey Division #1 Capitol Mall, Suite 6D Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 TELEPHONE: 501-683-1666

17 (LSD FORM REVISED 01/13/2016)) Certified Land Corner Restoration Perpetuation and Filing Record Land Survey Division #1 Capitol Mall, Suite 6D Little Rock, Arkansas TELEPHONE: ORIGINAL CORNER (original or perpetuated original corner I Type A & B) RE-ESTABLISHED CORNER (by statutory method I Type C) EXISTING MONUMENT OR PAROL EVIDENCE (Type C) CORNER DESCRIPTION SECTION TOWNSHIP RANGE COUNTY DESCRIPTION OF ORIGINAL CORNER: (ORIGINAL & PERPETUATING SURVEYS) DESCRIPTION OF EVIDENCE FOUND: DESCRIPTION OF MONUMENT AND ACCESSORIES ESTABLISHED TO PERPETUATE THE LOCATION OF THIS CORNER: GEOGRAPHIC CORNER POSITION Latitude Longitude Elevation (meters) Datum Positional Tolerance POSITION DETERMINED BY: I, PLS # certify on this date that evidence was found for the corner described and I have established monuments and accessories to perpetuate the comer position as shown and sketched hereon. DOCUMENT NUMBER INDEX NUMBER LAND SURVEY DIVISION USE ONLY I certify that this instrument was filed for record with the Land Survey Division on this date Date John M. Thornton, State Surveyor PAGE 1 OF 2

18 SECTION TOWNSHIP RANGE LOCATION SKETCH -INDICATES CORNER PAGE 2 OF 2

CHAPTER The title of P.L.1983, c.337 is amended to read as follows:

CHAPTER The title of P.L.1983, c.337 is amended to read as follows: CHAPTER 77 AN ACT concerning landscape architects, amending the title and body of, and supplementing, P.L.1983, c.337 and revising various parts of the statutory law. BE IT ENACTED by the Senate and General