JOURNAL OF THE BLAINE HARBOR LINE SURVEYING PARTY, under charge of B. W. DeCourcy, for the month of June, 1891. Hon. W. F. Prosser, Commissioner in Charge, North Yakima : According to your instructions I organized my parties and proceeded to Edmonds on September 29, 1891, and commenced work on the section lines that day. As all the meander corners on the water front had been destroyed by the construction of the Great Northern railroad through that district, we proceeded at once to commence the relocation of same. The meander corners that were re-established were the following, to wit: Between sections 12 and 13, 13 and 24, 23 and 24, 23 and 26 and 26 and 35, all in township 27 north, range 3 east, Willamette meridian, making altogether five (5) meander corners. In order to re-establish these meander corners it was necessary to retrace about three and one-fourth miles of section lines. The topography was taken along the water front, showing the location of the Great Northern Railroad, wharves, docks and all improvements, also the mean high water mark. The hydrographical work occupied three (3) days. Soundings were taken along the entire water front of the survey, locating thereby the line of mean low water, the line of extreme low water and the line of thirty (30) feet depth of water at extreme low water. The difference between mean high and mean low water is twelve (12) feet. Extreme low water is three (3) feet lower than mean low water. Astronomical observations were taken in order to establish a true meridian, to which all lines in the survey are referred. The field work was completed on October 8, 1891. Accompanying this report is a complete map of the survey on a scale of one (1) inch equals four hundred (400) feet. Hoping what has been done will meet with your approval. A. B. NOWELL, Engineer in Charge. SIDNEY HARBOR. TACOMA, November 15, 1891. Hon. Eugene Semple, Commissioner in Charge, Seattle: DEAR SIR-I have the honor to submit a report of my proceedings in the survey of the harbor of Sidney, Kitsap county, State of Washington. The party, consisting of the engineer in charge and five assistants, left Seattle at noon of Monday, October 4. A continuous meander line was run from the corner to fractional sections 19 and 30, in township 24 north, range 2 east, Willamette meridian, to the corner of fractional sections 27 and 34, in township 24 north, range 1 east, the intermediate corners being tied in. On account of numerous obstructions and the height of the tide, making it necessary to lose much time, it was not found advisable to run according to the government meander notes. From the meander line, as run by us, the high water line and all buildings, piling, wharves and other obstructions between high and low water lines were located by offsets or by triangulation. Two signals used by the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey were also located, they being the only monuments of that survey to be found. The centers of streets in the business portion of Sidney were tied in to the meander line as closely as possible, it not being customary in this city to identify the centers or corners of streets, or the position of initial points by any enduring monument. An initial point of this survey was located as near the intersection of Sidney and Bay streets as possible, and its position established by a stone monument sunk in the ground, with a cross cut in top. The soundings were taken in the manner usually practiced by the United States Coast and Geodetic engineers, signals being established on the north side of the inlet and located by triangulation from the base lines on the south side, and the soundings being located by sextant readings. A tide gauge was set on Bitner's wharf. By comparison with the gauges set on the opposite side of the inlet by the naval commission its zero coincided with the level of the extreme low tide. The greatest rise and fall of tide observed was about nine feet. 1 The survey party finished its labors on October 28, 1891. The total expense of the party, for which vouchers were taken, was $571.50. In addition to this, an expense of $40 for the five maps required is added. Respectfully, L. A. NICHOLSON, Engineer. TACOMA, December 26, 1891. Hon. Eugene Semple, Commissioner in Charge, Seattle: DEAR SIR-In obedience to instructions from the board, I went to Sidney, Kitsap county, on December 14th, to re-establish the meander corner between sections 25 and 26 from the nearest established corner. I found that the stake used was at the proper distance from the quarter section corner between sections 25 and 26, and at two and six-tenths feet west of the meridian line established later. This meridian line was established two or three nights afterwards at the first favorable opportunity, the variation being 21°38′ east. Respectfully submitted. L. A. NICHOLSON, Engineer. OCOSTA, HOQUIAM, ABERDEEN AND COSMOPOLIS HARBORS. HOQUIAM, November 20, 1891. Hon. D. C. Guernsey, Commissioner in Charge, Dayton: When ordered to estimate and commence this survey, neither (as I believe) you nor I was aware of the extent of the corporation of Aberdeen, supposing it to be of the same dimensions as called for by cities of the same class as Hoquiam, Ocosta and Cosmopolis; neither did you consider it necessary to extend the surveys of the Hoquiam and Wishkah rivers beyond the respective corporation lines of the cities thereon situated, but on your first visit here to confer with the citizens and inspect the progress of the survey, you found it necessary to order the extension of the survey at Ocosta to take in South Bay and Beardsley's Bay, and at Hoquiam and Aberdeen also to extend the surveys of the Hoquiam to the forks, and the Wishkah for a mile beyond the corporation line. This and the size of the corporation of Aberdeen, covering three and a half miles east and west by three miles north and south, with its devious water lines on the Chehalis and Wishkah rivers, has lengthened the time and increased the expense of the survey much over the estimate. I append a table showing statistics of the survey, which will enable you to realize in a degree the amount of work done. But no one can really estimate the difficulty of the work without a close personal experience. The extent was so large as to involve long walks to and returning from the work, or long rows in boats. When available I used the regular steamers in order to save time. I found it economy to work the men över time, as the going to work and returning could be done under circumstances when the light was too little for surveys. Although being provided with inverting eye pieces, my instruments were available for much later and earlier work than those with erecting. The return of the party late required work at night in the office, checking the work of the day and arranging for the renew on the morrow. You can estimate the value of such management, as it would take the same time going and returning in any case. Total. The finding of section and meander posts required time and was very successful, the points of the original stakes having been dug up in many cases. I am under obligations to my assistant, Mr. Hannam, and other sub-assistants for their care, willing conduct and assiduity under very disagreeable circumstances of wet weather, rough ground destroying their clothes, and mud, with territory slashed and burned, or the thickest undergrowth to be gone through with. Attention is respectfully directed next to the number of meander lines, and of courses, length of the same, the calculations involved, and also to the immense number of angles taken in the triangulation, 762. I have the honor to remain, Very respectfully yours, B. W. DECOURCY, Engineer. 33.00 Length of triangulation lines.. 5.25 3.00 4.50 3.00 15.75 3.50 1.25 6.00 1.00 11.75 Length of soundings.. 23.00 4.75 22.50 5.50 55.75 Length of street lines.. Length of miscellaneous measurements.... Length of section lines and lands.... Length of lines cut out.... Total number of miles run 140, and out of this 18.25 had to be cut out of solid woods. MARYSVILLE AND SNOHOMISH HARBORS. TACOMA, December 26, 1891. Hon. Wm. F. Prosser, Commissioner in Charge, North Yakima : DEAR SIR-I beg leave to hand to you a report of my proceedings in the survey of the Marysville and Snohomish harbors, in Snohomish county, State of Washington, during the months of November and December. The party of six left Tacoma at noon, November 12th, reaching and beginning actual work at Marysville on November 13th, at noon. A transit line was run on the dykes, on each side of Eby Slough, as far on each side of the limits of the town as necessary, tying to such government corners as could be located, the nature of the country rendering these courses far from permanent. The line of the bank of the slough, answering to an approximate low water line, was also located by offsets. Soundings were taken every seven hundred feet. Closer soundings were not thought necessary, owing to the regularity of the channel. These soundings were reduced to an approximate mean low water. An observation of Polaris was taken subsequently and a meridian established, the variation of the magnetic needle being 22° 30′ east. On November 24th the survey party moved to Snohomish, and the survey of that harbor was begun on the next day. Transit lines were run as before, along the right bank of the river, and the high tide line located as near as pos sible. The meander line being washed away so that its location on the bank of the river could not be established, no attempt was made to establish it on the maps until further instructions were received, on December 1st, when the necessary meander corners were located as near as possible with regard to their bearing from the transit lines by lines run from the nearest established section corners. A meridian was also established on the township line, the magnetic variation being 23° 41' east. Soundings were taken through the center of the river to gain an idea of the depth and direction of the channel, but a series of systematic soundings was not attempted. The latitude and longitude of initial points at Marysville and Snohomish were calculated according to instructions. Respectfully submitted. L. A. NICHOLSON, Engineer. FAIRHAVEN, NEW WHATCOM, OLYMPIA AND PORT TOWNSEND HARBORS. OLYMPIA, December 31, 1891. Col. Wm. F. Prosser, Chairman, and members of the Harbor Line Commission, State of Washington : GENTLEMEN - Upon closing my official connection with the Harbor Line Commission, I have the honor to submit the following brief report of operations. In April last, in a personal interview, the superintendent of the United State Coast and Geodetic Survey, Prof. T. C. Mendenhall, LL. D., informed me that, in compliance with a request from the State Harbor Line Commission, I would be detailed for special duty, under direction of the commission, to make surveys of the harbors of Washington. Upon receipt of my instructions, which were dated April 30, 1891, I, on May 11, reported in person to the commission which was then in session at Olympia, and was directed to prepare the steam launch "Helen," which had been assigned to the use of my party by the superintendent, for active service. I accordingly proceeded at once to Port Blakely, and there made some necessary repairs and returned with her to Olympia on May 21. On May 25, having received definite instructions and obtained the necessary instruments and data, I left Olympia in the launch for Bellingham Bay, to make a survey of the water frout of the cities of Whatcom, New Whatcom and Fairhaven, where, having secured the necessary assistance, I began field work on May 28. The method of work adopted here, as well as at Olympia and Port Townsend, was the same as that so satisfactorily used by the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, which comprises (1) A system of triangulation, carefully locating a number of signals erected for the purpose, as well as numerous natural objects, such as spires, flagstaffs and telegraph poles, the latitudes and longitudes of these being computed and platted on a sheet carefully projected; (2) a careful topographical survey with the plane table, representing the shore line, wharves and other improvements along the water front, as well as the streets adjacent to the water, and (3) a thorough hydrographic survey extending to a depth of at least thirty (30) feet at low tide. |