|
Finding Aid of the United States Army Corps of Engineers. Records of the
Geographical Surveys West of the 100th Meridian, 1871-1879
The University of New Mexico, University Libraries, Center for Southwest Research Email: cswrref@unm.edu
URL: http://www.unm.edu/~cswrref/
©2000 The University of New Mexico
|
|
|
|
|
|
Title |
United States Army Corps of Engineers. Records of the Geographical Surveys West of
the 100th Meridian,
|
|
Dates (Inclusive) |
1871-1879 |
|
Creator |
United States. Army. Corps of Engineers
|
|
Collection Number |
MSS 129 BC |
|
Size |
2 boxes ( 2 cu. ft. )
|
|
Repository |
University of New Mexico. Center for Southwest Research. |
|
Language |
English. |
Several surveying expeditions funded by Congress were undertaken by the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers between 1869 and 1879, for the purpose of gathering data upon which to base a
detailed topographic map. The expeditions were directed by Lt. George Montague Wheeler, and
covered 359,065 square miles, including area within the states of New Mexico, California,
Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Wyoming, and Texas. In addition to the detailed
topographic surveys, initial astronomic or geodetic points were established in Nebraska, Montana,
and Washington Territory. These surveys are informally referred to as the Wheeler Survey.
Numerous mountain peaks and geographical areas in the American West are named after
Wheeler, including Wheeler Peak in northeast New Mexico, the highest point in the state; and
Wheeler Geological Area, formerly Wheeler National Monument, in Colorado. Wheeler himself
made annual field trips to Colorado. His trip in 1874 included areas of northern New Mexico but
only reaching as far south as Tierra Amarilla.
This collection contains data for all of the states within the
survey area, with the exception of Idaho and Montana. There are 53 items in the collection, all of
them bound volumes of survey observations. Included are books on triangulation, sextant
astronomical observations, meteorological records, odometer readings, geodetic data, and
observations for time. The bulk of data in the collection pertains to New Mexico and Colorado.
Some observation books are undated.
Access Restrictions
The collection is open for research.
Copy Restrictions
Limited duplication of print and photographic material is allowed for research purposes.
User is responsible for compliance with all copyright, privacy, and libel laws. Permission is required for publications or distribution.
Preferred Citation
United States Army Corps of Engineers. Records of the Geographical Surveys West of the
100th Meridian (MSS 129), Center for Southwest Research and Special Collections, University of New Mexico Libraries.
Astronomy -- Observations Discoveries in geography Geographical Surveys West of the 100th Meridian (U.S.) Meteorology -- Observations New Mexico -- Discovery and exploration New Mexico -- Surveys Southwest, New -- Discovery and exploration United States -- Discovery and exploration United States -- Surveys Wheeler, George M. (George Montague), 1842-1905
|
|
| Description |
Container |
Sextant Observations (No. 3) July 7, 1871, through Aug. 9, 1871,
Silver Peak to Ash Meadows, Nevada. Sextant and chronometer observations, primarily of
Polaris, but with numerous other astronomical phenomena. |
|
Meteorological Records (Book No. 14), Sept. 15, 1872, through Oct. 21,
1872, Cheyenne, Wyoming Territory.
Hourly weather reports at Cheyenne beginning at 7 a.m., Sept. 15, 1872 and terminating at
noon Oct. 21, 1872. Observations include barometric and hygrometer observations as well as
notations on clouds, wind, and rain and snow. |
|
Observations for Time (No. 13) , Nov. 1-26, 1872, Fort Fred
Steele, Wyoming.
Various types of chronometer observations, along with signal reception times and distances. |
|
Observations for Latitude and values of Micrometer and Level (No. 6), Sept.
27, 1872, Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Various astronomical observations. Entries end on Oct. 13, 1872. |
|
Triangulations (Book No. 1), 1873, From Santa Fe to Fort
Wingate, New Mexico.
Entries begin, "June 13, 1873, started preliminary base line," 10:45 a.m. and end with
"Rendezvous Camp near Fort Wingate, August 2" 1873. First few pages show horizon maps drawn
in pencil; several pages are give over to mathematical computations without precise entries,
including last several pages. |
|
Meteorological Records (No. 60) June 19, 1873, through Dec. 1, 1873, Rio Tesuque, New Mexico to (La Bajada) Arizona.
Barometric, aneroid barometer, hygrometer, clouds, wind, rain or snow entries taken at
various times during the day. |
|
Triangulations, Baseline near Fort Wingate, July 26, 1873, Fort
Wingate, New Mexico.
Northwest and southwest ends of the baseline near Fort Wingate, including Mt. Taylor. |
|
Odometer Readings and Profile of Road (Party No. 1), June 20, 1873, through
Aug. 30, 1873, Santa Fe, New Mexico, to Camp Apache, Arizona.
Original title was "Aneroid Stations and Profile of Road." Hand drawn topographical map of
elevations along with aneroid barometer observations. |
|
Sextant Astronomical Observations (Book No. 13), Aug. 21, 1873, through
Nov. 23, 1873, Camp Apache, Arizona to Camp Divide, New Mexico.
Sextant and chronometer observations, primarily of Polaris. |
|
Sextant Astronomical Observations (Book No. 8), June 16, 1873, through
Oct. 28, 1873, Santa Fe to Camp Bayard, New Mexico.
This volume begins with the pencilled notation that many of the observations cannot be used
because of various errors. Sextant and chronometer observations, primarily of Polaris. |
|
Triangulations (No. 57), Oct. 17, 1873, through Oct. 19, 1873, Mt.
Tularosa, New Mexico.
Triangulations are by chain length observations. |
|
Copy book Triangulation (No. 42) (No. 180D), 1873, Fort
Wingate, New Mexico.
Mixed entries include data from Fort Wingate to Santa Fe. Dates are not consecutive. |
|
Topographical Records (No. 42), June 26, 1873, through July 8, 1873, New Mexico-Santa Fe Base.
Volume begins with the notation, "The base line was a preliminary one, the angles were taken
with an imperfect instrument, and the whole work will be done over again next fall." Longitude,
latitude and elevation observations in the Santa Fe area, including the Sandias (Zandias) and Mt.
Taylor. |
|
Astronomical Party No. 3, Book No. 1, May 19, 1873 (through July 1, 1873).
Includes unsigned diary entries. Primarily observations between Green River, Wyoming, and
Salt Lake, Utah. |
|
Odometer (Book No. 127), June 18, 1873, through Dec. 6, 1873, Santa Fe to Caon Citas, Arizona.
Added observations in Las Vegas, New Mexico. Odometer observations. |
|
Meteorological Records (Book No. 37), June 20, 1873, through Sept. 20,
1873, Santa Fe to Fort Wingate, New Mexico.
Barometric, aneroid barometer, hygrometer, clouds, wind, rain and snow observations. |
|
Odometer (Topographic Records) (Book No. 118), June 20, 1873, through
Nov. 30, 1873, Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Odometer observations from Santa Fe to Camp Apache, Arizona, and back to La Bajada, New
Mexico. |
|
Observations for Time (Book No. 42), 1873, Santa Fe to Fort
Union, New Mexico.
Astronomical and chronometer observations. |
|
Topographical Meander and Data (Book No. 39), June 18, 1873, through
Aug. 26, 1873, Santa Fe, New Mexico, to Summit Springs, Arizona.
Note: final dated entry is Oct. 21. Odometer and magnetic observations. |
|
Meteorological Records (Book No. 30), June 14, 1873, through Aug. 1, 1873,
Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Hourly observations of barometric pressure, temperature, wind, clouds, etc. |
|
Time and Longitude (Book No. 23), June 24, 1873, Santa Fe, New
Mexico.
Astronomical, chronometer, and signal observations through July 16, 1873. Final entry in book
is a notation that the Cheyenne, Wyoming, office "has been quite indifferent to his longitude work"
resulting in the loss of data. |
|
Latitude of Santa Fe, Astronomical Observations (Book No. 57), June 27,
1873, Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Observations through Aug. 30, 1873. Astronomical observations of numerous numbered stars. |
|
Odometer (Book No. 10), 1873, Santa Fe to Fort Wingate, New
Mexico.
June 21, 1873, through July 21, 1873; Oct. 19 - Nov. 11 (pp. 102-129) includes odometer
observations in SW New Mexico; Nov. 2 - Dec. 5 (pp. 74-87) includes meteorological
observations by the triangulation party but does not give location, also included in these pages are
comparison tests on barometers conducted at Santa Fe. |
|
Summary of Latitude and Latitude Computations, 1873-1874, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and New Mexico.
Latitude and longitude summaries for multiple sites in the listed states. |
|
Meteorological Records (Book No. 38), Sept. 23, 1874, through Nov. 17,.
1874, Santa Fe, New Mexico, to Camp Apache, Arizona, to Albuquerque, New
Mexico.
Note: the first record in this book is dated May 29, 1874, as a comparison of barometers with
the Signal Office in Washington, D.C.; the first meteorological reading is dated June 26 at Pine or
Pino Ranch near Santa Fe and the last reading is at Albuquerque on Nov. 17. Barometric, aneroid
barometer, hygrometer, clouds, wind, and rain or snow records and observations. |
|
Adjustments and Distances (Book No. 5), 1874, Colorado and
New Mexico.
Begins Aug. 10, 1874, at "Gardner's P.O." and ends in 1876 at "Sorras Cone." 33 pages of
entries of mathematical computations and formulas for performing triangulation. |
|
Sextant Astronomical Observations (Book No. 15), July 23, 1874, through
Nov. 4, 1874, Old Fort Reynolds, Colorado, to New Mexico.
Sextant and chronometer observations, primarily of Polaris, but with numerous other
astronomical phenomena. |
|
Computations of Latitudes and Departures [of topographical meanders] (Book No. 169),
1874, Colorado and New Mexico.
July 25 - Sept 4, from Preparation Camp at Pueblo (Colo) via Santa Fe to Tierra Amarilla,
N.M., and from Pueblo to Camp XX at Pagosa, N.M. Odometer and magnetic observations; pp.
57-58 give a recapitulation of data. |
|
Observations for Time, Astronomical (Book No. 47), 1874, Nebraska.
Chronometer, sextant and signal observations. |
|
Computation of Latitudes and Departures (Book No. 161), Sept. 19, 1874,
through Oct. 30, 1874, Nacimiento, New Mexico.
Odometer observations from Nacimiento to Nambe. |
|
Odometer (Book No. 1) Sept 9, 1874, thorough Nov. 29, 1874, Colorado.
Odometer observations. Note: most entries in this book are by camp number without further
explanation as to exact location. |
|
Triangulations (Book No. 17), Sept. 11, 1874, through No. 15, 1874, Base at Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Latitude, longitude, elevations and atmospheric observations in and around Santa Fe. |
|
Time by Single Altitude (Book No. 20) Aug. 8, 1874, thorough Nov. 4, 1874, New Mexico, Colorado, Nevada and California.
Latitude, sextant, chronometer observations at various noncontiguous sites in the four states. |
|
Computation of Latitudes and Departures (Book No. 212), 1875, Taos, Fort Union, N.M., to Fort Garland, Colo.
Note: first entry in book is dated July 19, 1875, however, later entries beginning on p. 4 are
dated from June 12, 1875, at Camp 4 on the Huerfano River, to Nov. 16, 1875, at Camp 85 on the
Arkansas River. Odometer and sextant observations. |
|
Computation of Latitudes and Departures (Book No. 207), 1875, Colorado to New Mexico.
June 19, 1875, Fort Garland, Colo. through Nov. 14, 1875, at "Tequesquita, N.M." Odometer
and sextant observations. |
|
Computation of Latitude and Departures (No. 183), 1875, Pueblo
to Las Animas, Colo.
June 15, 1875, through Nov. 17, 1875. Note: following the Nov. 17 entry there are seven
pages, 82-88, dated in October 1875. Odometer and sextant observations. |
|
Triangulation (No. 32), 1875, New Mexico.
|
|
Transcripts from Meteorological Records, Sept. 23, 1876, through
Dec. 1, 1876, Colorado. Triangulation data. Note: following the dated entries in title, pp. 14-17,
are entries dated Aug. 25-28, giving barometric pressure and temperature data.
Remarks page at beginning of book carries this notation: "This book contains a copy of angles
read during the season of 1875 by the Party No. 3 Colorado Division. The instruments used were
two, an 8 inch No. 7? Wrdemann transit reading to 10" which was soon discarded for its poor
glass; and a Stockpole 6 in 10" transit no 1458 which, though less steady, and not so well divided
gave better satisfaction. The weather generally was exceedingly bad for triangulation, it being the
rainy season, the sky obscured by clouds." Note: entries in this book are out of order, beginning
Aug. 6, 1875, at Cerro Blanco, followed by July entries that are in reverse date order, and then
continuing through September to Oct. 9. |
|
Computation of Distances (No. 19), 1876.
Specific dates not shown, nonspecific location triangulation data (believed to be Nevada). |
|
Computation of Distances, 1876, Nevada.
Specific dates not shown, triangulation data. |
|
Computation of Distances, 1878, New Mexico.
Specific dates not shown, triangulation data. Note: inside cover frontispiece has the notation
"Morrison's-Maxson's Triangles, 1877." |
|
Computation of Geodetic Coordinates, 1878, Nevada and New
Mexico.
Specific dates not shown, three-point station distance measurements. |
|
Computation of Geodetic Coordinates, 1878, Fort Bayard, New
Mexico.
Work of field season 1878, developed from the Fort Bayard base. Three-point distance
measurements. |
|
Computations of Distances, 1878, Nevada and New Mexico.
Sutro base. Specific dates not shown, three-point distance measurements. |
|
Computations of Distances, 1878, Fort Bayard, New Mexico.
Base line near Fort Bayard. Triangulation data. |
|
Meteorological Records (Book No. 116), Aug. 31, 1878, through Dec. 5,
1878, Colorado to Silver City, New Mexico.
Barometric, aneroid barometer, temperature, clouds, and rain and snow data. |
|
Latitude Observations, Aug. 24, 1878, through Sept. 4, 1878, Fort
Bliss, Texas, to Fort Bayard, New Mexico.
"Observations taken during the rainy season and much interrupted by clouds, many stars thus
observed when made faint, bisected after the meridian or lost altogether." Micrometer
observations. |
|
Time observations, Sept. 25, 1878, through Oct. 25, 1878, Fort
Bayard, New Mexico.
Sextant, chronometer observations. |
|
Time by Single Altitudes (Book No. 25), Sept. 5, 1878, through Nov. 18,
1878, Fort Union to Fort Stanton, New Mexico.
Note: following dates in title, beginning p. 24, are entries dated from Aug. 16, 1878, through
Nov. 18, 1878; dates do not run consecutively. Sextant observations. Several entries are crossed
through with the notation "wrong star." |
|
Astronomical Records, Sextant Latitudes, Sept. 18, 1878, through Nov. 20,
1878, Alaniello to Cow Springs, New Mexico.
Note: first observation data recorded begins on July 30, 1878. Sextant observations. |
|
Level Errors, July 25, 1878, through Oct. 10, 1878, Ogden, Utah.
Longitude or latitude observations. |
|
Topographical Records, Computations of Areas of Economic Interest [Features] (Book
No. 476), 1879, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico.
Division of land into water surface, agricultural, grazing, timber, and arid or barren; includes
an "explanation of method of obtaining areas of economic features by squares" and a special
notation with regards to chaparral. |
|
Computation of Distances (No. 6). Specific dates not shown, specific locations not
given (believed to be Nevada). |
|
|
