Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1915-08-26
u. 8. COAST SURVEY.
station Located just East of jerome
by the U. s. Coast and
Geodetic Survey.


Butte. about six miles due east OF
This place and many surmises have
been made as to the use It is being
nut to. An interview with Mr.. l.. w.
Wakefield, the man in charge OF the |
station by Times representative,
elected the information that Mr.. |
Wakefield was member of the U. S. |
Coast and Geodetic Surveying crew |
which are running line from Og |
den. Utah, to the coast, a continual
ton on the line already established
between ogden and the Atlantic
coast.
This survey is being carried on by
triangulation, which is explained fur
ther on No chains or tapes are used.
the distances being ascertained by a
code OF lights that are flashed from
one station to another. These sta
tions are located some distance apart
the one next west of here being To-
Gated at what is known as Green
Butte a distance of about 60 miles.
from which Mr.. Wakefield expects to
receive his signals. These signals
will be flashed directly over the town,
and will be visible for several miles
around the town. and they may be
expected to be seen about Sept. LIST,
although OF course these signals can
not be interpreted without a code. In
the meantime Mr.. Wakefield is In
communication with six other sta
tions from this point. one OF which is
located at Picabo. another at Cash
Mountain, and one due east OF here
about 95 miles The signal man
here remains at his post until he re-
ceives the signals from the station
next established. when he moves on
still farther west. after making his
records OF the findings at this point.
The system is very correct and
interesting one. and is explained In
leafiet furnished by the government
from which We take the following
Triangulation is an accurate de-
termination OF the distance and di-
rection between the various perma-
nently marked points of survey
scheme laid out on the surface OF
the earth To cover certain area
without the actual measurement OF
the various lines by chain or tape
Triangulation Is skeleton survey
and serves to coordinate and adjust
the local surveys within its area, and
to connect them in their proper rela
tion with the remainder of the sur
yeyed portions of the country. II II
done by measuring with great ac
curacy the distance between two sur
yey stations, and also measuring a
each station the angles between thu
adjacent stations of the survey plan
when by trigonometry the distance
between all the stations may be com
puted.
The direction OF the line joining
the first two stations, or the azimutl
OF the line, as II is commonly called
is found by observations on Polaris
the North Star. Similar observation
10 check the directions are made a
various points as the work pre-
crosses.
In measuring the angles betwee
stations. some OF which may be
much as 100 or $50 miles from tn
observer, It is necessary to use light
at the various stations, each mar
aged by lightkeeper whose bushes
It is to keep the light directed towar
the observers station. These ligh
are either acetylene lamps or heli'
tropes, the latter being an arrang
ment of mirrors for rejecting the ra,
of the sun In any desired direction
The lights are also used for sigma
ing purposes. whereby. with II
Continental Morse code, instruction
and other necessary informatie
about the work are sent between Il
observer and the lightkeepers.
To make it possible to see fro
one station to another 1t Is often ne
essary to build towers higher thu
the surrounding trees, or to enab
the observer to see over some dii
ant intervening obstruction.
In any locality which has been CO
cred by triangulation many perm
nent marks. other than those speci
ly prepared, are located for the u
of the engineer and surveyor, such
church spires, water tanks, belfr
on school houses and court hous
large prominent trees and other
jects. These are located by obser'
tions from two or more stations
the main scheme.
Special care is given to the ma
ing of the stations to secure tn
against destruction. The surf
mark is usually a small blass di
cemented into a hole In rock lei
or set In the top of concrete p'
while reference marks are set
various distances to assist In find
the station. A description Of e'