How to find a BLM monument
HOW TO FIND A BLM CORNER
In the latter part of 2007, a full township grid was created along with the Mojo Report. The grid is based on the original measurements shown by the BLM township survey. Different section lines on the Mojo Grid has measurements from all subsequent surveys found to compare against the BLM measurements and field notes. The field notes for our township outline location bearings of witness trees in relation to the light wood stakes used as the BLM Section corners and ¼ section posts. BLM Section corners located in swampy areas frequently used witness trees found in swamps such as Titi and Bay. Pine trees were generally used as witness trees on dry land or high ground.
A theory came into play that if most pine trees on high ground were harvested over the course of history for the local lumber mills, than most or all of the lightwood stakes placed by the BLM could have been destroyed or obliterated by the harvest. If this were the case, then perhaps we should be looking into Section corners identified by the BLM field notes located in swampy areas, since pine trees do not grow well in the swamps. BLM field notes were checked for the nearest Section corner to our proximity identified with witness trees typically found in swamps. The nearest area was referenced by 4 bay witness trees at the SW corner of Section 17, on the same line as our property. In early 2008, we hired Brian Pascoe #7237 to survey the area of the SW corner of Section 17. A calculation and instruction was given to Mr. Pascoe to look in an area around 96.37’ west and about 38’ south of the ACC concrete monument currently used by others as the location for the Section 17 SW corner. This calculation was made from the Mojo grid comparing the BLM measurements against measurements shown on other surveys. The comparison of measurements showed a difference of where the potential true corner location could be. Mr. Pascoe surveyed for 3 days. On the third day, an old lightwood stake was discovered in the swamp. Mr. Pascoe found the stake 95.94’ west and 28.36’ south of the ACC monument. Evidence of witness trees were also found. Mr. Pascoe filed document #97037 for Corner Certification with Labins and the State of Florida in 2009. The judge in our Walton County case disregarded the testimony of the lightwood stake, and supported the location of the ACC monument as the section corner. The line that the judge ruled on also was not straight, as required by the BLM. No case law was cited in the ruling.
HOW NOT TO FIND A BLM CORNER
The first survey company hired by the family to verify the SE corner of Section 16 was Bannerman Surveyors Inc. The land mass involved in the dispute measured 164' X 660' and the Section Corner corner location could reflect the same difference of at least 164'. An "ACC" concrete monument used by the other party in the dispute was surveyed and an archaeological excavation was performed at the bearings of the 4 pine witness trees identified with the original BLM field notes. Bannerman found potential evidence of residual root mass at one of the four locations. Two of the witness tree locations were thought to be under a county maintained road, and arrangements would be needed with the county to be able to excavate under the road. The was no evidence of a tree at the fourth location. A sample of the root mass was sent to be radio carbon dated. The results were that the tree was likely to be from the 1900 -1910 time frame. The BLM tree would be dated at about 1800-1820, or older depending on the age of the tree in 1825. This indicates at least a 100 year discrepancy involved with the sample.
Bannerman determined that the proximity of an ACC monument was likely to be the original site of the obliterated BLM corner and verified by evidence of the root mass. A "Certification of Corner Monumentation" has been filed through the channels with the State of Florida. The corner is shown on the Labins website maintained by the State of Florida. The form that is used looks as follows: ftp://146.201.97.137/ccr/drawingfiles/ccrform020601.pdf
In the meantime, research for this report indicated that potential to find evidence of a true corner location was likely at about 300 feet or more south of ACC monument that has been certified. We took a tape measure and began looking for evidence in the area of 300' or greater. A lead pipe with a brass cap was found embedded in a county maintained road. There was an indentation in the asphalt that looked as if someone tried to pry it out. The brass capped top was hammered over to the side and into the asphalt. The top of the cap is not visibly accessible to look for a surveyor's mark. Bannerman was asked to come back and look into the location of the pipe found and survey the distance found. A request was also made to look for any monumentation well south of the ACC monument currently used as the NW corner of Section 27 and any sign of monumentation showing the NE corner location on the other side of the 4 Mile Creek, also for Section 27. Greg (didn't catch the last name) came out for two days to complete the tasks requested and the bill for his work was paid. A report from the work done by "Greg" has never been sent to the family. Bannerman Surveyors have been used by the Department of Transportation for the State of Florida on a regular basis for surveys on roadwork, etc.
Back to the Mojo Report
In the latter part of 2007, a full township grid was created along with the Mojo Report. The grid is based on the original measurements shown by the BLM township survey. Different section lines on the Mojo Grid has measurements from all subsequent surveys found to compare against the BLM measurements and field notes. The field notes for our township outline location bearings of witness trees in relation to the light wood stakes used as the BLM Section corners and ¼ section posts. BLM Section corners located in swampy areas frequently used witness trees found in swamps such as Titi and Bay. Pine trees were generally used as witness trees on dry land or high ground.
A theory came into play that if most pine trees on high ground were harvested over the course of history for the local lumber mills, than most or all of the lightwood stakes placed by the BLM could have been destroyed or obliterated by the harvest. If this were the case, then perhaps we should be looking into Section corners identified by the BLM field notes located in swampy areas, since pine trees do not grow well in the swamps. BLM field notes were checked for the nearest Section corner to our proximity identified with witness trees typically found in swamps. The nearest area was referenced by 4 bay witness trees at the SW corner of Section 17, on the same line as our property. In early 2008, we hired Brian Pascoe #7237 to survey the area of the SW corner of Section 17. A calculation and instruction was given to Mr. Pascoe to look in an area around 96.37’ west and about 38’ south of the ACC concrete monument currently used by others as the location for the Section 17 SW corner. This calculation was made from the Mojo grid comparing the BLM measurements against measurements shown on other surveys. The comparison of measurements showed a difference of where the potential true corner location could be. Mr. Pascoe surveyed for 3 days. On the third day, an old lightwood stake was discovered in the swamp. Mr. Pascoe found the stake 95.94’ west and 28.36’ south of the ACC monument. Evidence of witness trees were also found. Mr. Pascoe filed document #97037 for Corner Certification with Labins and the State of Florida in 2009. The judge in our Walton County case disregarded the testimony of the lightwood stake, and supported the location of the ACC monument as the section corner. The line that the judge ruled on also was not straight, as required by the BLM. No case law was cited in the ruling.
HOW NOT TO FIND A BLM CORNER
The first survey company hired by the family to verify the SE corner of Section 16 was Bannerman Surveyors Inc. The land mass involved in the dispute measured 164' X 660' and the Section Corner corner location could reflect the same difference of at least 164'. An "ACC" concrete monument used by the other party in the dispute was surveyed and an archaeological excavation was performed at the bearings of the 4 pine witness trees identified with the original BLM field notes. Bannerman found potential evidence of residual root mass at one of the four locations. Two of the witness tree locations were thought to be under a county maintained road, and arrangements would be needed with the county to be able to excavate under the road. The was no evidence of a tree at the fourth location. A sample of the root mass was sent to be radio carbon dated. The results were that the tree was likely to be from the 1900 -1910 time frame. The BLM tree would be dated at about 1800-1820, or older depending on the age of the tree in 1825. This indicates at least a 100 year discrepancy involved with the sample.
Bannerman determined that the proximity of an ACC monument was likely to be the original site of the obliterated BLM corner and verified by evidence of the root mass. A "Certification of Corner Monumentation" has been filed through the channels with the State of Florida. The corner is shown on the Labins website maintained by the State of Florida. The form that is used looks as follows: ftp://146.201.97.137/ccr/drawingfiles/ccrform020601.pdf
In the meantime, research for this report indicated that potential to find evidence of a true corner location was likely at about 300 feet or more south of ACC monument that has been certified. We took a tape measure and began looking for evidence in the area of 300' or greater. A lead pipe with a brass cap was found embedded in a county maintained road. There was an indentation in the asphalt that looked as if someone tried to pry it out. The brass capped top was hammered over to the side and into the asphalt. The top of the cap is not visibly accessible to look for a surveyor's mark. Bannerman was asked to come back and look into the location of the pipe found and survey the distance found. A request was also made to look for any monumentation well south of the ACC monument currently used as the NW corner of Section 27 and any sign of monumentation showing the NE corner location on the other side of the 4 Mile Creek, also for Section 27. Greg (didn't catch the last name) came out for two days to complete the tasks requested and the bill for his work was paid. A report from the work done by "Greg" has never been sent to the family. Bannerman Surveyors have been used by the Department of Transportation for the State of Florida on a regular basis for surveys on roadwork, etc.
Back to the Mojo Report
