THE NEVADA TRAVERSE - Nevada Association of Land Surveyors

The Nevada 

Traverse 

Institutional Affiliate 

National Society of Professional Surveyors 

Member Western Federation of Professional Surveyors 

Vol. 39, No. 2 Journal of the Professional Land Surveyors of Nevada 2012 

Terra Incognita - Surveying On New Spain’s 

Northern Frontier Part I ... See Page 5 

2012 CLSA/NALS Joint Conference Wrap-up... See Page 10

Who’s Who in NALS 

2012 State Association Officers Lahontan Chapter 

Ray Hebert, PLS, President 

Tri State Surveying, Ltd. Bus. 775- 358-9491 

1925 E. Prater Way Fax: 775-358-3664 

Sparks, NV 89434 

Email: rhebert@tristateltd.com 

Vern Little, PLS, President-Elect 

VTN Nevada Bus. 702- 873-7550 

2727 S. Rainbow Blvd. Fax: 702-362-2597 

Las Vegas, NV 89102 

Email: vernl@vtnnv.com 

Glen Armstrong, PLS, Secretary 

U.S. Geomatics, Inc. Bus. 775- 786-5111 

227 Vine Street Fax: 775-786-5114 

Reno, NV 89503 

Email: garmstrong@usgeomatics.com 

Trent Keenan, PLS, Treasurer 

Diamondback Land Surveying, LLC Bus. 702-823-3257 

1091 Cimarron Road, Suite A1 Fax: 702-933-9030 


Email: tkeenan@diamondbacklandsurveying.com 

The Nevada Traverse 

Terry W. McHenry, PLS, Editor, The Nevada Traverse 

14710 Rancheros Drive Bus/Fax: 775.852.7290 


Email: editornvtraverse@sbcglobal.net 

Central Office 

Executive Secretary position is currently vacant 

P.O. Box 20522 Bus: 775.624.6257 

Reno, NV 89515 Fax: 775.624.6257 

Contact Individual Board Members (above) 

NSPS Governor for Nevada 

Paul Burn, PLS 

G.C. Wallace, Inc. Bus. 702.804.2060 

1555 South Rainbow Blvd. Fax: 702.804.2299 


Email: PBurn@gcwallace.com 

Great Basin Chapter 

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 944, Elko, NV 89803 

Carl C. deBaca, PLS, President and Chapter Representative 

Alidade, Inc. Bus. 775- 777-8587 

P.O. Box 1586 Fax: 775-777-8587 

Elko, NV 89803 

Email: alidade.nv@sbcglobal.net 

Norman M. Rockwell, PE, PLS, President-Elect 

Bureau of Land Management Bus. 775- 753-0321 

3900 E. Idaho Street Fax: 775-753-0246 


Email: nrockwell@nv.blm.gov 

John Grange, PLS, Secretary 

Grange Surveying, Inc. Bus. 775-753-3610 

218 Holyoke Drive 

Spring Creek, NV 89815 

Email: jgrange2001@yahoo.com 

Bill Nisbet, PLS, Treasurer 

Chilton Engineering Bus. 775- 738-2121 

421 Court Street Fax: 775-738-7995 


Email: wnisbet@chilton-inc.com 

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 20522, Reno, NV 89515 

David Crook, PLS, President & Chapter Representative 

Tri State Surveying, Ltd. Bus. 775- 358-9491 

1925 E. Prater Way 


Email: dcrook@tristateltd.com 

Jason Caster, PLS, President-Elect 

Wood Rodgers Bus. 775- 823-4068 

575 Double Eagle Court 


Email: jcaster@woodrodgers.com 

Kevin German, PLS, Secretary 

CFA, Inc. Bus. 775- 856-1150 

1150 Corporate Blvd. 


Email: kgerman@cfareno.com 

Halana Salazar, PLS, Treasurer 

NDOT Bus. 775- 888-7470 

1263 S. Stewart St. 

Carson City, NV 89712 

Email: hsalazar@dot.state.nv.us 

James Bedard, PLS, Chapter Representative 

Stantec Consulting Bus. 775- 398-1211 

6980 Sierra Center Parkway, Ste. 100 Fax: 775-850-0787 


Email: james.bedard@stantec.com 

Southern Nevada Chapter 

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 572152, Las Vegas, NV 89157 

Alan Dill, PLS, President and Chapter Representative 

Stanley Consultants, Inc. Bus. 702-534-2150 

5820 S. Eastern Ave., Suite 200 Fax: 702-348-8364 


Email: dillalan@stanleygroup.com 

Gary Hancock, PLS, President-Elect 

City of North Las Vegas Bus. 702-633-1310 

50 East Brooks Ave. Fax: 702-633-1909 

North Las Vegas, NV 89030 

Email: hancockg@cityofnorthlasvegas.com 

Sean Corkhill, PLS, Secretary 

Las Vegas Valley Water District Bus. 702-875-7074 

100 City Parkway, Suite 700 Fax: 702-822-3350 


Email: sean.corkill@lvvwd.com 

Jonathan Wooten, PLS, Treasurer 

Las Vegas Valley Water District Bus. 702-875-7075 

100 City Parkway, Suite 700 Fax: 702-822-3350 


Email: jon.wooten@lvvwd.com 

WFPS Delegates from Nevada 

Nancy Almanzan, PLS 

City of Las Vegas Bus: 702.229.6343 

333 N. Rancho Dr. Fax: 702.804.8582 


Email: nalmanzan@lasvegasnevada.gov 

Matt Gingerich, PLS 

NVEnergy Bus: 775.834.4567 

PO Box 10100 S4B2O Fax: 775.834.4189 


Email: mgingerich@nvenergy.com

This publication is issued quarterly by the Nevada Association of Land 

Surveyors (NALS) and is published as a service to the Land Surveying profession 

of the state of Nevada. The Nevada Traverse is an open forum for 

all surveyors, with an editorial policy predicated on the objective of NALS 

Constitution and Bylaws, Article II, which reads: 

“The purpose of this association shall be to promote the common good and 

welfare of its members in their activities in the profession of Land Surveying; to 

promote and maintain the highest possible standards of professional ethics and 

practice; to promote professional uniformity; to promote public awareness and 

trust in Professional Land Surveyors and their work. 

This organization, in its activities and in its membership, shall be non-political, nonpartisan, 

non-sectarian, and non-discriminatory.” 

The publication is mailed to NALS members and similar organizations on a complimentary 

basis. The Nevada Traverse is not copyright protected. Articles, except 

where specifically copyright noted, may be reprinted with proper credit. Written 

permission to reprint copyrighted material must be secured either from the author 

directly, or through the editor. 

Articles appearing in the publication do not necessarily reflect the viewpoints of 

NALS, its officers, Board of Directors, or the editor, but are published as a service 

to its members, the general public, and for the betterment of the surveying 

profession. No responsibility is assumed for errors, misquotes, or deletions as 

to its contents. 

Advertising Policy 

(Effective January 1, 2012) 

The Nevada Traverse is published quarterly by the Nevada Association of Land 

Surveyors and accepts advertising. Contact the editor for submittal specifications 

for advertisements. The rates per issue are as follows: 

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Deadlines for submittals are the middle of January, April, July, and October. 

Business cards of the members will be published in each issue unless otherwise 

requested. 

Running an ad does not imply endorsement of that advertiser by NALS, and 

the editor reserves the right to not accept ads which may be in poor taste or 

objectionable to the policies of NALS. 

Send ad requests to: 

Terry W. McHenry, P.L.S. 

Editor, The Nevada Traverse 

14710 Rancheros Drive, Reno, NV 89521 

Phone/fax: 775-852-7290 

email: editornvtraverse@sbcglobal.net 

2 The Nevada Traverse Vol. 39, No. 2, 2012 

The 

Editor’s 

Corner 

by Terry W. McHenry, PLS 

2012 CLSA/NALS Joint Conference 

The March 2012 joint conference with California was a 

grand success in every sense of the word. Attendance was 

up from recent years, the scholarship auction set new 

records, the speakers and presentations were all top-notch, 

and the facilities at the Silver Legacy Hotel and Casino in 

Reno were a perfect fit for our needs. Details and statistics 

of the conference will be found in our President’s Report 

on Page 4, and in the Conference Wrap-up by Carl C. 

deBaca in the center section of this issue of The Nevada 

Traverse. Accompanying the Wrap-up on the conference 

is an extensive photo collage, a listing of the conference 

sponsors, scholarship donors and purchasers, and NALS 

award winners for 2011, with photos. There is a full page 

copy of the Nevada Professional Land Surveyors Week 

Proclamation issued by Governor Brian Sandoval, which 

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE u 

Table Of Contents 

The Editor’s Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 

About the Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 

The President’s Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 

Boundary Relic Has a New Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 

Terra Incognita Surveying On New Spain’s Northern 

Frontier Part I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 

2012 CLSA/NALS Joint Conference Wrap-up . . . . . .10 

Conference Photo Gallery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-16 

2012 CLSA/NALS Conference Conference Sponsors 

Scholarship Auction Donors and Purchasers . . . . . .17 

Nevada’s Four Year Degree Surveying/Geomatics 

Program Part III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 

Sustaining Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 

Professional Listings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28-29 

Lahontan Chapter Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 

Southern Nevada Chapter Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 

Great Basin Chapter Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 

Meeting Minutes, NALS BoD, 01/13/2012 . . . . . . . . .32 

BLM Accepted Surveys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 

NSPS Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 

WFPS Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 

NSPS Area 9 Director’s Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 

Governor’s Proclamation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39 

Advertiser Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44

The Editor’s Corner continued from previous page 

was read at the opening ceremonies of the conference. 

Don’t forget! Next year, this grand event will be repeated 

March 23-27, 2013, again at the Silver Legacy Hotel 

and Casino in Reno, with the California Land Surveyors 

Association. Mark your calendars. 

George Davidson Monument Rehabilitation Completed 

Dedicated in conjunction with the 2012 CLSA/NALS Joint 

Conference, the George Davidson 1872 granite column known 

as Verdi East Base, has reached its resting place. In this issue 

of The Nevada Traverse, Paul S. Pace, PLS, puts the finishing 

touches on a multi-year effort to preserve and memorialize the 

significant history behind Davidson’s work in Verdi, Nevada. 

Our cover photo for this issue serves as an introduction to the 

article written by Paul Pace, and entitled “Boundary Relic Has 

a New Home.” Paul’s tireless work on this project was in part a 

factor in his selection as the NALS Surveyor of the Year Award 

for 2011. 

National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) 

Update 

Encouraging news has recently come down from the national 

scene of NSPS, as a result of the latest spring meetings 

held in Charlotte, N.C., May 4-5, 2012. Our two national 

representatives each report to us on these significant meetings. 

First, Paul Burn, PLS, Nevada’s NSPS Governor, recounts 

for us the results from the perspective of Nevada’s NALS 

members, and individual practitioner representation at the 

national level. Next, our NSPS Area 9 (California, Hawaii 

and Nevada) Director, Carl C. deBaca, PLS, brings us his 

observations and evaluations from a more regional viewpoint, 

but nevertheless how the merger with ACSM (which is no 

longer an entity) and NSPS has progressed, and how the 

future of national representation and its commensurate dues 

structure is playing out. Be sure to read both of these reports, 

because while there is some overlapping, the information is 

of such importance that it is good to grasp the perspectives of 

both of our dedicated representatives. 

Great Basin College Survey/Geomatics Program, Part III 

Dr. James A. Elithorp, Ph.D., PLS, head of the GBC Land 

Surveying/Geomatics Program in Elko, Nevada, brings to 

the readers of The Nevada Traverse the third installment 

of a multi-part series on Nevada’s only four year degree 

program in land surveying. In this particular article he covers 

Preparation for Study in Nevada’s Online Four-Year 

Degree Program. 

This Editor had the privilege to meet and dialogue with Dr. 

Elithorp during the recent CLSA/NALS Conference regarding 

the unique program at GBC. As practitioners in Nevada 

we need to understand the full implications of what this 

program offers, and to be supportive in these times of economic 

hardships and dwindling student enrollments, not to mention 

scrutiny of college program student head count. Dr. Elithorp 

has developed a very unique program here in Nevada, probably 

the only one of its kind nationally. He is dedicated to meeting 

the unique needs of not only Nevada students, many of whom 

are simultaneously working while pursuing their degrees, but 

also to out of state students, who account for a large percentage 

of the program’s enrollees. 

Terra Incognita, Part I 

With this issue of The Nevada Traverse we introduce another 

of Paul Pace’s historical research projects, this time 16 th 

Century exploration and mapping on the northern frontiers 

of South America, which eventually made its way up and into 

the southern areas of North America. Aptly entitled Terra 

Incognita, Surveying on New Spain’s Northern Frontier, 

join Paul once again as he takes us back in time to some roots 

of our heritage as land surveyors and explorers. Part II will 

appear in the next issue of The Nevada Traverse. 

About the Cover 

by Terry W. McHenry, PLS 

U 

The cover photo for this issue of The Nevada Traverse was 

taken March 27, 2012 by Steve Shambeck, PLS, of PLS 

Photography. The occasion was the formal dedication of the 

1872 George Davidson monument, Verdi East Base, and 

its rehabilitation and relocation in Boomtown, at the front 

entrance of the Boomtown Hotel and Casino in Verdi, Nevada. 

The dedication was conducted March 27, 2012 in conjunction 

with the 2012 CLSA/NALS Joint Conference and Exhibition 

held at the Silver Legacy Hotel and Casino in downtown Reno, 

Nevada. A large number of conference attendees from Nevada 

and California attended the dedication ceremony, many of 

whom were contributors and supporters of the monument’s 

preservation effort. 

Please refer to the article entitled “Boundary Relic Has 

a New Home,” by Paul S. Pace, PLS, in this issue of The 

Nevada Traverse. Paul Pace who took the lead on this effort a 

number of years ago, and was the primary motivator behind a 

successful completion. 

The individual on the left, back row is Paul Pace (with 

sunglasses). Also a few others who were significant 

contributors to the effort were Matt Gingerich, PLS, third from 

right, back row; Aaron Smith, PLS, of CLSA, furthest right; 

and Steve Parrish, PLS, standing between the granite column 

and the plaque. 

U 

The Nevada Traverse Vol. 39, No. 2, 2012 3

The 

President’s 

Report 

by 

Raymond R. Hebert, PLS 

I would like to thank all of you for a great 1 st Quarter. 

The Nevada Traverse went out as an “all surveyor’s” issue 

March 1, 2012, on time and along with some poignant articles 

gathered by our illustrious editor and chief, Terry McHenry. 

Now that the board is in its respective place for the year I 

would like to thank you all for your hard work. While there 

are a few hiccups in the runnings without an Executive 

Secretary, most issues have been worked out and have set 

the underpinnings of a new beginning. Trent Keenan and 

Terry McHenry have combined efforts to sort out the data 

base issues and migrate to an Excel format. For the 2012 

year, an effort is underway to clean up long standing issues 

with the last inherited reporting system. Trent disbursed the 

funds to the local chapters in early March. The tax forms for 

the organization are virtually finished by J&W Enterprises 

(Trent’s Accountant) at a fee of $750, with no resulting tax 

payment necessary. Vern Little has, with the help of Chris 

Marini, migrated the website to Network Savants. It is my 

understanding that Vern is trying to work out a way to upgrade 

the site and/or re-write the script to allow for placement of past 

issues of The Nevada Traverse as a historical data base. Glen 

Armstrong has filed with the Secretary of State a current list 

of Association officers. 

Major kudos go out to Dorothy, Crissy and Nancy for 

putting on a near flawless conference at the Silver Legacy. 

The Executive Board has reviewed and signed an MOU for 

2013 with CLSA to repeat the performance at the Silver 

Legacy next year. The 2012 conference was well attended 

by approximately 500 attendees; 33 percent were Nevada 

personnel. Approximately 46 sessions were held addressing 

LS Review, easements, Technology, Geodesy, Boundary, Nevada 

and California Law, zoning, communication, NV and CA state 

boards, FEMA, subsidence, water rights, solar, business and, 

topped off with a wonderful presentation of a Mock Trial, 

scripted by Gary Kent and featuring a real judge and attorneys, 

with the following cast of players: the Honorable David Hardy, 

2 nd Judicial District Court, Michelle Stone and Agnes Hanley 

from Chapman law firm, Curt Chapman, Carl C. de Baca, 

Armond Marois and Matt Vernon. I can hardly wait for next 

year. The NALS scholarship Auction netted in the area of 

$16K, which is a new benchmark for our association. 

As you all are aware we owe many “thanks” to Marty and 

Rhonda for being the driving forces behind funding, and finding 

and repairing instrumentation to be sold on behalf of the 

students. Added to the NSPS Foundation we have the following 

amounts to draw from for our students: 1) NALS Endowment 

Account $72,741.47(can use $7,741.47); 2) NALS Scholarship 

Account $38,826.53(can use $3,826.53);3) NALS Equipment 

Account $29,672.19; 4) Tom Foote Scholarship Fund $10,220. 

Consideration is being given to distributing the $16K so that 

we can support our GBC College program, and Scholarship 

Account. In addition to this amount the Monsen Scholarship 

was upped to $2,000 for the next deserving student. 

It is my understanding that all three local chapters have been 

active and have had a cross-section of excellent speakers, 

drawing members to meetings in the neighborhood of 30-40 for 


Photo by Steve Shambeck 

Lahontan and Southern Chapters, and 10-15 attendees to the 

Great Basin Chapter. Thank you to the local chapters, and keep 

up the good work. 

Education wise, Trigstar and Career Days are drumming the 

beat of getting students interested in surveying as a profession. 

Collectively, Trigstar has presented the examination to 

approximately 350 students north, south and east in Nevada. 

Career Day presentations have presented to approximately 

1400 students in Las Vegas area, 200 students in the Reno area 

and about 100 students in the Elko area. Needless to say we 

need to continue to search out opportunities of exposure to land 

surveying as a viable profession, given that ours is an aging 

profession with declining numbers of licensees, coupled with 

the affects of supply and demand. Thank you to all that are 

participating. 

The NALS Board is currently exploring two possible venues 

of presentation this fall to support PDH requirements: 1) A 

Round Table on RS2477 (Brett Lane and Steve Parrish), and 2) 

NRS and Subdivision Map Act (Michael Kidd). Speak up if you 

know of other opportunities for PDH credits. 

Membership wise we are sitting at about 200 members strong. 

The following is an approximate breakdown: 70 Southern 

Chapter Members; 58 Lahontan Chapter Members; 9 Great 

Basin Chapter Members; 11 LSI Members; 4 Corresponding 

Members and 3 Associate Members. The balance of membership 

is made up of sustaining members and student members. 

NALS Lapel Pins and Shirts are for sale, along with other 

items. See the back pages of The Nevada Traverse for the 

recently revised order form. 

Legislatively, we are in an off year. Brett Lane has encouraged 

the Board to stay vigilant regarding review of upcoming 

legislation for the 2013 legislative session. Brett encouraged 

the chapters to discuss with their legislative chairs any 

proposed legislation of concern. NALS will soon be opening 

dialog with Bruce Arkell for lobbying services for the 2013 

Session. 

The Davidson monument was officially “Christened” on the 

north side of Boomtown Casino. The monument and plaque 

lie in a fenced off area along side of a period bronze horse and 

cowboy (how fitting). A group of approximately 75 people from 

the NALS/CLSA Conference attended the event, which included 

board members from both associations, plus the Boomtown 

manager, with Paul Pace presiding. 

We were well represented at the recent Western Federation of 

Professional Surveyors meeting, as Nancy Almanzan and Matt 

Gingerich attended. It is interesting to note the membership 

status for each of the 14 states, as well as CLSA’s direction 

towards a PDH requirement. 

NSPS is in the throes of assimilating ACSM. In doing so, 

we may be looking at a re-structuring of the dues in terms of 

affiliation with the national organization. Paul Burn and Carl 

C. deBaca are keeping a close watch on this process. NALS is 

working on how to address this change as it affects Nevada. 

Dialogue on this matter will be continuing. See the latest NSPS 

Report in this issue of The Nevada Traverse, from our Nevada 

NSPS Governor, Paul Burn, PLS. 

The next NALS Board of Directors meeting will be held in Elko 

on Friday, July 20th , 2012. I ask that everyone plan accordingly, 

and try to attend the Great Basin Chapter picnic the following 

day, Saturday, in support of your eastern chapter. 

U

Terra Incognita 

Surveying On New Spain’s 

Northern Frontier Part I 

by Paul S. Pace, PLS 

T 

(End Notes begin on Page 40) 

he Age of Discovery, often called the Age of Exploration, 

quickly became as well an age of colonialism. In the 

New World, European monarchies including Holland, 

England, France, Portugal, Spain and later Russia all vied for 

land in the Americas. So quickly did the rush for territories in 

the New World occur that beginning as soon as 1493 a series 

of papal decrees and treaties1 between Spain and Portugal 

were written to demark ownership. Based on longitudes no one 

could accurately determine, and confused with differing units 

of measure, these treaties were intended to relieve tensions 

regarding title to the new lands. 

Portugal eventually won control over millions of square miles 

in South America, creating Brazil, now the 5th largest country 

in the world. 2 Apart from territories claimed by England and 

France, Spain took the bulk of the New World. In the process 

she became a superpower, demolishing otherwise advanced and 

sophisticated civilizations and creating one of the largest empires 

the world had ever seen. By the middle of the 16th Century she 

had subjugated vast stretches of the three American continents, 

wasting little time exploiting the land and the indigenous 

peoples there to her advantage. After Spain’s conquest, often 

seen as a lethal mix of gold rush and religious zealotry, came a 

dramatic demographic collapse 3 and the inexorable latinization 

of the Americas. 

Vestiges of Spain’s vast empire are today widespread in the New 

World. Indeed, remnants from her American colonies appear 

throughout the globe, as do echoes from their exploitation and 

eventual collapse. Perhaps some of the more ubiquitous, more 

tangible symbols of Spain’s American empire were the eight 

reale silver coins, the famous “pieces of eight”. Coined in their 

millions from the mines of New Spain and above all, Potosí, the 

Silver Mountain in what is now Bolivia, they are found to this 

day virtually around the world. The torrent of silver from Spain’s 

American colonies began as a trickle of 326 pounds in the 1520’s. 

It grew to 661,000 pounds in the 1550’s and over 6,000,000 

pounds by the 1590’s. 4 By the 1570’s the coins were minted in the 

Americas and shipped then to Spain, the Philippines and all the 

other Spanish colonies. And it was used universally, becoming 

the world’s first truly global currency. Widely circulated in the 

United States, the reale was legal tender here until 1857. 5 

The human cost of mining those quantities of silver was fearful. 

Located at 13,000 feet above the sea in the severe Andean 

climate, the mines at Potosí employed the forced labor of the 

indigenous population. When the Indians died in ever increasing 

numbers, African slaves were imported to continue mining. 

They died as well. So much silver was produced that it had a 

major impact on world economies. Importing ever more silver, 

while hemorrhaging pieces of eight to finance her endless wars 

and growing colonial empire, Spain ultimately faced economic 

hardship from the resulting deflation of the reale. Despite the 

flow of silver, she was unable to generate enough revenue to pay 

her enormous armies; Spain was forced to declare bankruptcy in 

1575 and again in 1595. 

But discoveries in the Age of Exploration contributed in other, 

less lethal ways. In fact, the 

CONTINUED ON PAGE 8 u 


Boundary Relic Has 

a New Home 

By Paul S. Pace, PLS 

The granite column known as the Davidson Monument got 

its new home near the front entrance of Boomtown Hotel and 

Casino in Verdi, Nevada in the Spring of 2011. Volunteers from 

NVEnergy moved the column from its storage location to the 

new location near the front entrance to the Boomtown complex. 

Verdi East Base in place on a ranch in Verdi, Nevada, in the late 

1980’s. Photo by author 

NVEnergy volunteers set the column in its new location at Boomtown April, 

2011. Photo by author. 

In the Fall of 2011 a party of NALS and CLSA members retied 

the column into Davidson’s original 1872 triangulation network 

near the 120th Meridian. The column perpetuated the eastern 

terminus of Davidson’s taped base line, Verdi East Base. An 

interpretive plaque and a brass disk, set in the drill hole in the 


top of the column, were in place by the end of the year. During 

this year’s CLSA-NALS Joint Conference, a brief dedication 

ceremony was held after the Conference sessions on March 

27, 2012, to highlight the monument’s new venue. The event 

was well attended by NALS and CLSA members, as well as 

others interested in the state boundary surveys. It was the 

culmination of years of effort by the two state associations, 

Boomtown and others with a passion for history. 

Former NALS President Matt Gingerich, PLS at Davidson’s 

Point of Rocks, during the survey in October, 2001. Photo by author. 

Some of the NALS and CLSA members attending the dedication 

at Boomtown, March 27th, 2012. Photo by Steve Shambeck, PLS 

Photography 

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE u

Boundary Relic.. continued from previous page 

The brass plaque produced by Berntsen and set adjacent to the 

Davidson Monument. Photo by author 

Record of Survey map perpetuating the Davidson Monument filed in 

Washoe County, March 2012 

“You will miss 

everything you don’t 

aim for.” 

- The Mastermind 

Has Your Contact 

Information Changed? 

Change in your address, 

email address, or telephone? 

Please contact NALS with 

your updated information. 

You may email Glen Armstrong, PLS 

NALS Secretary at: 

garmstrong@usgeomatics.com 

Help your NALS Board 

to keep you current. 

Thank you! 


Terra Incognita.. continued from page 5 

Europeans were in the midst of discovering themselves, along 

with new and exotic lands, in an explosion of geography. 

Surveying was becoming an ever more accurate and reliable 

science and in doing so it brought cartography along with it. 

Thanks to rapidly improving printing techniques, map literacy 

improved. Europeans visualized their changing world in new 

and better ways. Still, until well into the 1700’s, and in some 

places the mid 1800’s, maps of vast reaches of the Americas were 

often more the product of fantasy than fact. The maps often 

depicted imaginary lands, rivers and seas, or left large areas of 

empty paper. Much of it remained terra incognita, an unknown 

land, to all but its inhabitants. 

During Spain’s 16th Century colonial expansion, her monarch 

Philip II sponsored surveying and mapping projects in all his 

realms, the Americas in particular. He recognized, as the British 

later did in India, that cartography and imperialism go hand in 

hand. To merely claim a territory, one can do without maps, but 

to govern it requires knowledge and maps are the key. Philip’s 

cartographers in Madrid requested information from colonial 

and military officials regarding cities and towns, fortifications, 

prominent features, measured latitudes, data from indigenous 

peoples, etc. 6 Longitude however remained an unresolved 

problem. But one of the cartographers, López de Velasco, sent 

instructions to colonial officials in all of Spain’s territories to 

observe the lunar eclipses of September 26, 1577 and September 

15, 1578. It was an ambitious but perfectly functional plan to 

determine longitudes around Spain’s far flung empire. They 

were to observe the moon’s altitude above the horizon at the 

start and end of the eclipses 7 together with local times of the 

events, probably with a nocturnal. 8 Included in the instructions 

were plans for making simple instruments to observe these 

phenomena. 

From a comparison of the colonist’s lunar observations, against 

those he observed in Madrid, Valesco hoped to derive time 

differentials and construct longitudes. He could then assemble 

a great mosaic from the other geodetic and geographical data. 

The information sent back by local officials was of value, but 

the larger, state-sponsored surveys in New Spain were a 

failure. These and later eclipse-observation experiments, were 

inconsistent, 9 although longitude for Mexico City was finally 

derived. But mistakes had consequences; erroneous longitudes 

would effect the treaties of demarcation and could give Portugal 

still more land in the Americas at Spain’s expense. 

The tremendous flow of information, and continually updated 

means of gathering it, brought the rise of a new kind of multidisciplinary 

scientist, the Royal Cosmographer. Fusing all the 

incoming data into a coherent picture, this surveyor, astronomer, 

cartographer and general science advisor to the Spanish Court 

turned the collected observations into a vast body of knowledge 

which informed the King as he exerted his will over the empire. 

Juxtaposed to this enormous acquisition of new data was the 

intense need for secrecy. In 1481 the Portuguese monarchy 

imposed a prohibition on the dissemination of nautical maps 

and descriptions of explorations. Later it became illegal for 

foreign pilots to own Portuguese navigational or “portolan” 

charts. The Spanish Crown soon adopted the same mindset. The 

maps and descriptions of the New World were of great economic, 

strategic and political importance and as such became state 

secrets. 10 Royal Cosmographers, already tied to the monarch’s 

bureaucracy, were obliged to limit access to their work. 

In 1572 a new wave of Christian missionaries arrived in 


New Spain, augmenting those who landed earlier with the 

Conquistadores. Jesuit priests 11 from Europe began arriving in 

large numbers and soon opened one of the first universities in 

North America at Mexico City, sixty years before the founding 

of Harvard. Charged with the conversion and welfare of the 

Indians, they acculturated their system to the ways of those 

they sought to convert, paying particular attention to native 

languages. 12 They saw themselves as protection for Indian 

cultures against the devastation that military and colonial 

forces wrought on them during and after the Conquest. The 

areas under Jesuit control became semi-autonomous regions, 

independent of the secular government. This provoked tensions 

with the Spanish military and civil authority, who sought the 

continued exploitation of the Indian population as cheap labor 

or worse. 13 Disputes between Franciscan missionaries and civil 

government in New Mexico over the disposition of the Pueblo 

population were a contributing factor in the 1680 Pueblo Revolt, 

in which hundreds of Indians and Spaniards were killed. 

More or less concurrent with the arrival of the Jesuits in New 

Spain was the start of their efforts in China. 14 Accepted into the 

country by the last rulers of the Ming Dynasty, they exchanged 

information with Chinese scholars and demonstrated western 

scientific theories and instruments. European mathematical and 

scientific treatises were translated into Chinese and conversely, 

Chinese works into Latin. The missionaries argued to their 

western superiors that Chinese classics had core values and 

tenets that matched those of Christian Europe. When Galileo 

introduced his discoveries substantiating Copernicus’ heliocentric 

theories, French Jesuits quickly introduced Copernican 

theory to the Chinese and requested telescopes from Europe. 15 

They conducted surveying, mapping and astronomical work, 

including a 3900 mile traverse of the Great Wall, assisted in 

updating the Chinese calendar and the precise measurement 

of a meridional arc in an effort to better understand the shape 

of the earth and derive a consistent unit of measurement based 

on geodesy. 

Later, the imperial court requested formal mapping of the 

empire. From 1705 to 1759, the Jesuits engaged in three large 

surveying projects, using rigorous survey procedures. 16 From 

a prime meridian established at Beijing, a large triangulation 

network was built from long chains of triangles. They were among 

the first to adopt the use of triangulation rather than purely 

astronomical methods as a means of high-order location. 17 Base 

lines measured with long iron-wire chains, 18 while elevations 

in mountain ranges were developed trigonometrically. All 

the new field data, together with extensive existing Chinese 

cartographic and geodetic data dating back centuries, were 

rendered onto map projections. Maps were printed from wood 

cuts and engraved copper plates. In nearly all respects, the 

Jesuit’s rigorous surveys in China, conducted by about a dozen 

priests and a corps of talented Chinese surveyors, were a great 

success. 19 

By contrast, Spain’s financial commitment to the missionaries 

in New Spain was severely limited by ongoing fiscal crises. With 

the Crown in no position financially to support their work, the 

Jesuits resorted to private donations to fund their efforts. 20 

Particularly on the northern frontiers and the rugged Baja 

peninsula, early efforts to make their work among the Indians 

sustainable were difficult and expensive. In terms of exploration 

and surveying, theirs would have to be a reconnaissance at best. 

That would be adequate for the purposes but well below the skills 


Terra Incognita.. continued from previous page 

and intents of the personnel involved. A similar situation existed 

in New France (eastern Canada and much of the Mississippi 

River watershed in the U.S.), where missionaries like Jacques 

Marquette S.J. conducted lengthy explorations using a compass 

and an astrolabe. They produced some of the first accurate maps 

of the region, but lacked sufficient backing to continue the work. 

Eusebio Kino 

While there were several of these explorer-priests working on 

the frontiers of New Spain in the 17th Century, it is perhaps 

most useful to examine the work of the best documented of 

them, Eusebio Kino, S.J. 21 Upon arriving in Mexico in May of 

1681, he was named Royal Cosmographer. In that capacity, he 

accompanied two expeditions to Baja California in 1683-84. The 

first expedition failed quickly. But during a second attempt, they 

established, in typical Spanish fashion, a small presidio and 

mission at San Bruno, about 95 miles north of the present town 

of Loreto, on the eastern shore. Kino accompanied an expedition 

across Baja’s rugged interior to the Pacific, where he mapped 

a portion of the coast and took notice of, among other things, 

unique blue shells on the beach. He explored eastern Baja from 

San Bruno south to the bay at La Paz, and produced a map of 

what he found. (Fig 1) A prolonged drought ended the effort. 

Figure 1. Kino’s 1683 of the eastern shore of Baja California 

The Spaniards made several unsuccessful attempts to colonize 

Baja California’s barren shores, first seen by Europeans in 1533. 

Hernán Cortés attempted to establish a colony there in 1535. 

That enterprise failed, but Cortés continued his explorations. 

In 1539 he sent one of his lieutenants Francisco Ulloa out with 

several ships to explore Baja, at the time still thought to be an 

island. They were in search of the Strait of Anian, the waters 

allegedly leading to the imagined Northwest Passage. Ulloa 

sailed to within sight of the head of the gulf and back, ending 

one would think, the notion of Baja as an island. If that weren’t 

enough, the following year Hernan de Alarcón again sailed to the 

head of the Gulf, braved the huge tidal bore at the mouth of the 

Colorado River and proceeded to sail upstream to the junction 

with the Gila River. Nevertheless, these efforts were trumped by 

the island concept, which persisted in one form or another until 

1820. The island of California remained on most maps. 

In 1542 Cabrillo explored the outer coast of Alta California 

beyond Cape Mendocino, in quest of the same Strait of Anian. 

(Fig 2) He missed San Francisco Bay on the way by, but came 

ashore at what is now San Diego, becoming the first European 

to set foot on the Pacific coast of what became the United States. 

Figure 2. Hugo Allards’s 1685 map depicting California as an 

island and the imagined Straight of Anian 

Following the conquest of the Philippines in the 1570’s, there 

was renewed interest in the Californias as an emergency stop for 

the Manila Galleon. The voyage was long and scurvy decimated 

crews and passengers alike, so a port of refuge on the voyage 

from Manila to Acapulco was envisioned. English privateers too, 

such as Drake and Cavendish, cruised the Pacific in search of the 

Galleon and her cargo of riches. Spanish officials believed the 

Californias would have to be explored, colonized, and fortified to 

ensure the safety of the Galleon. 22 But Alta or Upper California 

was not regularly used by the Galleon, as Spain lacked the cash 

to colonize it at the time. 23 

Eventually, another attempt to colonize Baja California was 

undertaken. The Italian Jesuit Juan Maria de Salvatierra (like 

Kino’s, his name was hispanizied) was sent to Baja, founding 

what is now the city of Loreto on the eastern shore, in October of 

1697. It was the first successful mission in California and others 

were soon established. But due to the perpetual lack of rain 

and resources, the great expense and risks involved in shipping 

goods by boat across the Gulf, sustaining them was a struggle 

from the outset. 

Relinquishing the title of Royal Cosmographer upon returning to 

the mainland, Kino was assigned to the Pimería Alta. Literally 

the “upper lands of the Pima Indians” this area is now northern 

Sonora and southern Arizona. Arriving there March of 1687, he 

established the mission Nuestra Senora de los Dolores on the 



2012 CLSA/NALS 

Joint Conference 

Wrap-up 

by Carl C. deBaca, PLS 

NSPS Area 9 Director 

T 

he 2012 CLSA/NALS conference at the Silver Legacy 

Resort and Casino in Reno, was a resounding success! 

Over 500 attendees from the two states got together 

for four and a half days of fellowship and education. A wellpopulated 

exhibitors’ hall and an excellent staff of CLSA 

and NALS folks together with a group of eager and helpful 

students from Cal Poly Pomona, California State University 

Fresno and Great Basin College, ensured that every event and 

every workshop went off without a hitch. 

The opening ceremonies were outstanding with the Galena 

High School Junior ROTC posting the colors as we recited the 

pledge of allegiance, followed by a beautiful rendition of the 

National Anthem performed by Galena High School freshman 

LaNissa Money. Curt Sumner, the executive director of ACSM 

and NSPS, gave the keynote address in his unfailingly eloquent 

way. He discussed several challenges to our profession and 

expressed many ideas about how we should adapt to these 

challenges. 

Highlights of the workshops included: Saturday’s Evidence, 

Exhibits and Testimony by Chuck Karayan; Sunday’s Charm 

School for Surveyors and Thinking Beyond Technology by 

Dennis Mouland; Monday’s Surveying the Comstock by Steve 

Parrish and Communications Skills for Surveyors by Candice 

Bauer; Tuesday’s Easements by Gary Kent; FEMA by Kim 

Davis and Cynthia McKenzie; Water Rights by Michael 

Buschelman; and, Wednesday’s mock trial moderated by 

Gary Kent and featuring David Hardy, Esq (a real judge) and 

attorneys Michelle Stone, Esq., and Agnes Hanley, Esq. All 

of these workshops were well attended and met with great 

enthusiasm. 

In addition to these longer workshops, there were numerous 

shorter workshops on subjects as diverse as: the California 

Environmental Quality Act and General Plan, Specific Plan, 

Zoning by Michael Durkee, Esq.; Laser Scanning by Jeremy 

Evans; Future Changes in the NSRS and NGS by Marti 

Ikehara and Bill Stone; How to Prepare an Effective RFQ/ 

RFP by Ray Mathe; Tahoe Regional Planning Agency by Gary 

Midkiff and Nick Exline; San Joaquin Valley Subsidence & 

Beyond by Tim Case; Solar Energy and Surveying by Fareed 

Nader; and, Business Aspects of Land Surveying by Ian Wilson. 

That’s a lot of hours of mind expanding discussion! 

LS members of the Nevada Board of Professional Engineers 

and Surveyors Alan Riekki and Robert LaRiviere and 

Executive Director, Noni Johnson, hosted a Q&A session on 

NV enforcement issues. From California, LS board member Pat 

Tami, Executive Director Ric Moore, staff survey consultant 

Ray Mathe and senior enforcement officer Nancy Eissler, 

hosted a similar talk employing a game show format. Using 

Family Feud as a template emphasizing competition between 


CLSA chapters, the group took us through a variety of 

enforcement issues. It was great fun and very enlightening too. 

A multiple-day LS Review tract was also featured at the 

conference. Many thanks go to Debbie Naves, Jim Pilarski, 

Mike Hart, Kevin Akin, Ian Wilson, Neil King, Dave Woolley, 

Robert Reese, David Paul Johnson, Jeremy Evans, and anyone 

else involved in this great endeavor toward helping the next 

generation of Land Surveyors come along. This is a noble 

cause indeed. 

In addition to the numerous educational opportunities 

available throughout the conference, several events provided 

the opportunity to get together and enjoy each other’s company 

or to celebrate the profession or a little of both. First up was 

the CLSA Education foundation bowling tournament, held this 

year at the Grand Sierra Casino on Saturday night. While few 

of the participants are getting their PBA cards anytime soon, I 

did see Jim and Barbara Herrick getting back to back strikes 

at one point! Tasty beverages and gutter balls flowed with 

equal vigor and awards were handed out before the bus ride 

back to the Silver Legacy. Attendance was terrific and it took 

two buses to ferry the bowlers back to the host hotel. 

Sunday saw the Icebreaker Reception in the Exhibit Hall 

followed by packed rooms as both the NALS and CLSA 

presidents hosted hospitality suites. This was a great chance 

to meet new people and have interesting conversation, 

although with NALS president Ray Hebért providing live 

music featuring himself (wicked harmonica) and his way too 

talented guitarist son Tyler, conversation was sometimes 

difficult. At one point Curt Sumner was coerced into picking 

up a guitar and he serenaded the room with four or five songs 

he has written. Donny Sosa from ESRI joined the Hebérts and 

Curt for a jam as well. 

The Monday luncheon featured a performance by the 

Laughingstock Comedy Company whose ‘improv’ style poked, 

prodded and parodied the profession to great effect. On a 

couple of occasions they took volunteers from the audience 

including a Jeopardy-like skit involving 8 volunteers in 

three groups doing silly things and making funny noises. 

The comedians’ take on surveying was definitely one of the 

highlights of this year’s conference! 

The live scholarship auction was an incredibly fun way 

to spend Monday evening! The list of donated items was 

tremendous this year and auctioneer Lightnin’ Williams 

worked the room with his usual humor and zeal. We raised 

over $33,000 in the live auction and at the close of the last 

silent auction table the next day we saw another $12,000, for a 

total of $45,000 and some change, with $16,000 going to NALS 

and $29,100 going to CLSA. 

During the Nevada portion of the awards banquet on Tuesday, 

Tom Foote’s family was in attendance and in a touching 

speech his son Ryan awarded the Thomas A. Foote memorial 

scholarship to Jolene Hoffman of Great Basin College. 

Savannah Winans received the Roger P. Monsen scholarship 

for 2011. Paul Pace took home two awards: the first for Article 

of the Year for his two part series on the life of Butler Ives, 

which appeared in The Nevada Traverse, and he also was 

honored as Surveyor of the Year. Robert Carrington received 

the Meritorious Service Award. Monsen Engineering Supply 

received the Sustaining Member of the Year Award. NALS 

CONTINUED ON PAGE 13 u

CONFERENCE 

AWARDS 

Robert Carrington, PLS Meritorious Service Award 

Walt Neitz, PLS, Life Member Award 

Les MacFarlane, PLS, Life Member Award, accepted by Alan Dill, PLS 

Paul Pace, PLS, Article of the Year Award 

Paul Pace, PLS, Surveyor of the Year Award 

Marty Crook, of Monsen Engineering Supply, 

Sustaining Member of the Year Award 

Ryan Foote presents the Thomas A. Foote 

Memorial Scholarship Award to Jolene Hoffman 

Marty Crook presents the Roger P. Monsen Memorial Scholarship 

Award to Savannah Winans 


CONFERENCE 

PHOTO 

GALLERY 

LIVE AUCTION 


IMPROV 

NALS Officers, Lt. to Rt.: Glen Armstrong, Sec.; Trent Keenan, Treas.; Ray Hebert, 

Pres.; Vern Little, Pres.-Elect. 

STUDENTS

MOCK TRIAL 

Conference Wrap Up.. continued from page 10 

recognized two longtime members with Life Member status: 

Walt Neitz and Les McFarlane. 

During the California portion of the awards banquet on 

Tuesday Annette Lockhart and Jay Seymour received 

the CLSA Member of the Year Awards, the Riverside/San 

Bernardino Chapter received the Chapter of the Year Award, 

the Central Valley Chapter received the Chapter Newsletter 

of the Year Award, the Sonoma Chapter received the Chapter 

Website of the Year Award. Doug Redlin received the award 

for Photo of the Year and the Dorothy Calegari Distguished 

Service Award went to Pat Tami. Congratulations to all the 

recipients from both states! 

The Conference wrapped up on Wednesday with the mock trial 

which was based on a script written by Gary Kent who also 

moderated the proceedings, followed by the closing ceremonies 

where the winners of the grand prize drawing walked away 

with an iPad and a digital camera. 

I want to give a special thanks to the vendors, sponsors, 

representatives of the Silver Legacy, the NALS and CLSA 

officers, the conference committee and CLSA central office who 

put this conference together – Great job everybody! 

This was another terrific conference. If you were unable to 

attend, you should plan to catch the 2013 conference as we are 

again holding a joint CLSA/NALS Conference in Reno in late 

March. See you there! 

U 



CONFERENCE 

PHOTO 

GALLERY 

continued... 


INSTRUCTORS

CONFERENCE 


CONFERENCE 

PHOTO 

GALLERY 

continued... 

16 The Nevada Traverse Vol. 39, No. 2, 2012

Special Thanks to 

the 2012 

Conference 

Sponsors 

Bakersfield Chapter, CLSA 

Central Valley Chapter, CLSA 

CFA 

Channel Islands Chapter, CLSA 

Diamondback Surveying 

First American Data Tree 

Lahontan Chapter, NALS 

Leica Geosystems 

Li Zhang 

Los Angeles Chapter, CLSA 

Nancy & Ray Almanzan 

Northern Counties Chapter, 

CLSA 

NV Energy 

RSB Chapter 

Sacramento Chapter, CLSA 

Santa Clara San Mateo Chapter, 

CLSA 

SNALS 

Sonoma County Chapter, CLSA 

Spencer B. Gross 

Stanley Consultants 

Syntech 

VTN 

Wallace Morris 

Special Thanks 

to Those that 

Donated Items to 

the Scholarship 

Auction 

2012 CLSA/NALS Conference 

Conference Sponsors 

Scholarship Auction Donors and Purchasers 

Alidade Surveying 

Armand & Chris Marois 

Assurance Risk Managers 

Berntsen International, Inc. 

BHA, Inc. 

Bill Hofferber 

Boomers Fountain Valley 

Boomers Modesto 

Brenner & Assoc. 

Brian Smith 

Byron Johnson 

California Surveying & Drafting 

Carl CeDebaca 

Cascade Chapter, CLSA 

Cashe Creek Casino 

Cheesecake Factory 

Claude Hoffman 

Curt Sumner 

Darrel Harness 

David Stanton & Steve Danner 

Diamondback Surveying 

Disneyland 

Dorothy Calegari 

Dr. James Elithorp 

East Bay Chapter, CLSA 

Ed Schillinger 

Elyse H. Mackenzie 

Engineering Supply Company 

Frank Lehmann 

Great America 

Great Basin 

Hal Davis 

Hall & Foreman, Inc. 

Infineon Raceway 

In-N-Out Burger 

Janine Hampton 

Jerry Tippin 

Jim & Barbe Herrick 

John Atwood 

John Wilusz 

Joost Land and Cattle Co. 

Keith Nofield 

Kurt Lehnhardt 

Lake/Mendocino Chapter, CLSA, 

CLSA 

Larry Durfee 

Layton Printing 

Linda Carruthers 

Marin Chapter, CLSA, CLSA 

Mark Adams 

Marti Ikehara 

Martin & Rhonda Crook 

McPheeters & Associates 

Michael Pallamary 

Monsen Engineering 

Nancy & Ray Almanzan 

Norco College 

Northern Counties Chapter, 

CLSA 

Omni Means 

Paul Pace 

Peter Friedman 

Randy Smith 

Reno Convention & Visitors 

Bureau 

Ric Moore 

Rich Stinchfield 

RO Anderson Engineering 

Rolland VanDeValk 

Ron Nelms 

Ron Parker 

Ross Ainsworth/Stan King 

Sacramento Chapter, CLSA, 

CLSA 

San Diego Chapter, CLSA, CLSA 

San Francisco Giants 

SF 49ers 

Silver Legacy Resort & Casino 

Skateland Northridge/Mountasia 

Fun Center 

Snoopy’s Home Ice 

Stantec Consulting Services 

Steve Martin 

Steve Parrish 

Sugar Bowl 

SurvKap 

Tiffany Tatum 

Vic Erickson 

Vista International Insurance 

Special Thanks 

to Those that 

Purchased Items 

at the Scholarship 

Auction 

Aaron Smith 

Adrian Aguirre 

Adrian VerHagen 

Alfredo Mijango 

Allan Baird 

Andrew Hammond 

Armand Marois 

Aundrea Tirapelle 

Beau Immel 

Brian Smith 

Bruce Gandelman 

Bruce Parker 

Carl CdeBaca 

Chad Moser 

Chantel Brown 

Charles Capp 

Charles Krepp 

Crissy Willson 

Derek Hood 

Donald Solheim 

Donna Fujihara 

Dorothy Calegari 

Edward Hunt 

Eric Phillips 

Evan Page 

Frank Lehmann 

Gary Hus 

Harold Davis 

Howard Brunner 

Ian Wilson 

James Crossfield 

James Herrick 

James Turner 

Jeffrey Henkelman 

Jeffrey Thompson 

Joe Pacheco 

John Baffert 

John Burgess 

John Coffey 

John Dodrill 

John Harrison 

John Parrish 

John Snee 

John Wilusz 

Jonathan Wooten 

Karl Sharlette 

Keith Nofield 

Keith Spencer 

Kristie Achee 

Kurt Lehnhardt 

Lance Smith 

Larry Durfee 

Larry Perkins 

Li Zhang 

Lynn Kovach 

Marc Van Zuuk 

Mark Boge 

Mark Molini 

Mark Morberg 

Marty Crook 

Matt Gingerich 

Matthew Stringer 

Matthew VanDeValk 

Matthew Webb 

Michael Jalbert 

Michael Kidd 

Michael Pulley 

Michael Schlumpberger 

Norman Rockwell 

Peter Friedmann 

Peter Perazzo 

Peter Wiseman 

Philip Bray 

Ralph Koehne 

Ramon Gonzalez 

Raymond Almanzan 

Richard Brown 

Richard Moore 

Richard Roper 

Richard Widmer 

Robert Carrington 

Robert MacKenzie 

Roger Frank 

Rolland VanDeValk 

Ronald Holverson 

Ronald Turner 

Ross Kinnie 

Russell Wood 

Ryan Versteeg 

Sean Corkill 

Shawn Eaton 

Stephen Dean 

Steve Dillon 

Steven Hampton 

Steven Martin 

Thomas Hunt 

Tiffany Tatum 

Timothy Rayburn 

Tom Ames 

Travis Bohan 

Victor Erickson 

Vincent Kleppe 

Walter Neitz 

William Hofferber 

William Telling 

U 


Nevada’s Four Year 

Degree Surveying/ 

Geomatics Program 

Part III - 

Preparation for Study in 

Nevada’s Online Four-Year 

Degree Program 

By James A. Elithorp, Ph.D., PLS 

Program Supervisor, GBC Land 

Surveying/Geomatics Program 

In the last issue of The Nevada Traverse (Vol. 39, No. 1, 

2012) we traced the role of online course delivery in survey 

education. In Part III - Preparation for Study in 

Nevada’s Online Four-Year Degree Program, we look at 

the educational preparation necessary to gain the four year 

degree from Great Basin College. It would be easy to simply 

list the entrance requirements to the Program, but students, 

mentors, professionals, and those managers of survey firms 

and departments reimbursing student expenses deserve an 

explanation of typical curriculum design found in survey 

education. 

Let us begin with a big picture view. I believe a fair estimate to 

be that over 90% of surveyors do surveys involving boundaries, 

construction layout, or land development. Technical 

knowledge and experience in these areas is not enough. To be 

competitive, surveyors need to be able to understand and apply 

the various tools provided by technology. A short tool inventory 

is computer-aided drafting software; least squares adjustment 

software; GIS software; GPS systems and software; and in 

the developing area of remote sensing-- terrestrial scanners, 

orthophotographs, and/or LIDAR imagery. Many of these tools 

are associated with training on their use. But education is 

more than training. Training focuses on the use of a specific 

tool/or measurement system to do a specific task. Education 

provides an understanding of the underlying concepts and 

principles used by the tool to accomplish the task so that the 

tool can be used again for un-related tasks. The professional 

land surveyor is expected to apply fundamental concepts 

and principles to associated problems presenting a new and 

different challenge. This is the nature of our profession. 

Each task or problem can present a new face requiring the 

application of basic principles and concepts for a solution that 

meets the standards of practice and a satisfied client. 

What are these fundamental concepts and principles: 

1. The knowledge and application of law, regulations, and those 

survey instructions and practice used to create the boundaries 

to be retraced. For example, the Standards of Practice for 

Surveying in Nevada are regulations containing specific 

positional tolerance requirements. To understand positional 

tolerance requires a fundamental understanding of statistics. 


2. Geodetic positioning is facilitated by the use of the Global 

Positioning System (GPS). To understand geodetic positioning 

requires the study of mathematics, statistics, geodesy, least 

squares adjustment, and physics. 

3. Unless you are using rules of thumb for survey design, 

actual survey design to meet contractual specifications requires 

the determination of how the error in the field measurements 

will propagate into computed products. Survey design requires 

the use of calculus which is used to map the mathematical 

relationships between the measurement errors and the 

resulting precision of the computed products. The problem 

with using heuristics or ‘rules of thumb’ is that they may 

not provide the best outcome for your particular problem or 

application. 

4. Least squares adjustment is rapidly becoming an 

indispensible tool in the surveyor’s toolbox. The use of offthe-shelf 

least squares programs requires an understanding 

of statistics, the ability to determine a reasonable estimate 

of measurement precision, and the understanding of 

measurement science. To program specific least squares 

applications requires the additional application of linear 

algebra, calculus, and computer programming skills. 

Although the above list of fundamental concepts associated 

with survey practice is not exhaustive, it begins to dimension 

the typical survey curriculum created to satisfy the educational 

requirements for the licensure of professional land surveyors. 

Before we discuss the preparation needed to gain the four year 

degree, we need to approach these educational requirements 

from another perspective. What do we expect from a graduate 

with a four year degree? 

We expect the graduate to pass the NCEES and Nevada 

State Specific licensure examinations on the first attempt 

demonstrating minimum competence as a licensed 

land surveyor. We expect that graduate to demonstrate 

such potential that surveying and mapping firms find it 

economically feasible to invest the time and resources 

necessary to bring the new hire into a profitable relationship 

with the firm. 

We have waited long enough--let us get on with the list of 

fundamental knowledge and skills needed to study surveying 

and mapping. This list corresponds to the list of required 

lower division prerequisites detailed in the attachment. The 

attachment is a statement of the course requirements for the 

Great Basin College Four Year Degree in Land Surveying/ 

Geomatics. 

1. Computer-aided drafting 

2. Trigonometry 

3. Geographic Information Systems 

4. Physics 

5. Statistics 

6. Classical Survey Fundamentals 

7. The Urban Development Process 

These requirements are ideally gained in the first two years of 

college. The courses taken in the first two years of college are 

typically referred to as ‘lower division courses.’ The completion 

of the first two years at most two-year colleges results in an 

earned associate degree. At four-year colleges and universities 

the path is similar. The first two years of lower division 

courses focus on required general studies and prerequisites to 

the upper division courses in 


NV Four-Year Degree Program... continued from previous page 

the student’s chosen major area. The student may or may not 

be offered an associate degree at the conclusion of the first two 

years of study. 

The Nevada Program is a 2+2 Program. This offers the 

maximum flexibility for students wishing a four year 

degree in Land Surveying/Geomatics. Great Basin College 

(GBC) accepts all associate and baccalaureate degrees from 

regionally accredited institutions of higher learning. Regional 

accreditation is gained from one of six accreditation entities 

serving the six geographic areas of the United States. 

GBC possesses regional accreditation from the Northwest 

Commission on Colleges and Universities( www.nwccu. 

org ). Accreditation will be a topic for a later article in this 

series. Potential students should always verify that the 

institution of higher learning has regional accreditation 

before taking courses intended to be transferred to 

GBC. Lack of regional accreditation will result in the inability 

to transfer the courses or degree to GBC. 

The following degrees are routinely transferred to or earned by 

students at GBC: 

1. Associate of Science (AS) The AS degree 

is the preferred degree as it typically contains the 

mathematics and science foundation necessary for 

study in the Nevada Four-Year Degree Program. It 

is considered a transfer degree as it will typically 

transfer without question to any U.S. college or 

university. 

2. Associate of Arts (AA) The AA degree is not 

your first choice as it typically lacks the mathematics 

and science foundation necessary for the Program. 

It is considered a transfer degree as it will typically 

transfer without question to any U.S. college or 

university. 

3. Associate of Applied Science (AAS) The AAS 

is considered a terminal degree in that the student is 

expected to go out to the workplace upon graduation. 

This is not considered a transfer degree as it reduces 

the traditionally accepted general studies requirement 

to offer more courses related to survey practice. GBC 

is one of the few institutions of higher learning that 

possesses an institutional program allowing the 

acceptance of AAS Degrees for the first two years of 

college. To my knowledge GBC is the only college or 

university with a Land Surveying/Geomatics Program 

in the United States that can accept the AAS degree. 

Students in AAS degree programs are advised to 

take additional courses in mathematics, science, and 

statistics to insure the lower division prerequisites are 

satisfied upon transfer of the degree to GBC. 

4. Associate of General Studies (AGS) The 

AGS degree is not a transfer degree. It has very few 

general studies course requirements. Many students 

with college credits and no degree chose to earn the 

AGS Degree directly from GBC in order to enter the 

upper division Program as quickly as possible. 

5. Baccalaureate degrees are routinely 

transferred to GBC to satisfy the 2+2 requirement. 

These students are rewarded by the waiver of 15 

semester credits of general studies courses listed 

in the upper division Program (Emphasis Area 

Requirements in the Attachment). 

When an associate or baccalaureate degree is transferred to 

GBC, a template of lower-division prerequisites corresponding 

to our list of fundamental knowledge items is overlaid on the 

coursework in the transcript(s). Lower division prerequisites 

not satisfied in the transfer degree become required courses in 

addition to the Emphasis Area Requirements. 

Let us take a closer look at each of the lower division 

prerequisites: 

1. Computer-aided drafting 

The minimum requirement for CAD proficiency is the 

ability to correctly setup and create simple survey 

plats with bearing and distance annotation at scale. 

Additionally the student should be able to import a data 

set, create a surface model, and produce a topographic map 

with labeled contour lines. This minimum facility with 

CAD is necessary to satisfy the various course assignments 

and projects which may require platting and mapping in 

the upper division coursework. 

This requirement can be satisfied with one directed course 

using CAD to produce survey drawings such as CADD 121, 

CAD for Land Surveyors offered within the GBC service 

area, or two courses in AutoCAD: CADD 100 and CAD 105 

offered by most Nevada institutions of higher learning. 

This requirement can also be satisfied with experience. 

Many times this experience can be documented on your 

resume submitted with your request for advisement. If a 

question exists about your CAD experience, you may be 

asked to provide additional documentation for the record. 

2. Trigonometry 

A college-level course in trigonometry is required. 

Research has indicated that this course is the gateway 

into any engineering discipline. I believe that every 

licensed land surveyor, with whom I have discussed the 

use of mathematics, has assured me that 99% of the 

work can be accomplished with the use of trigonometry. 

A sound foundation in mathematics is necessary 

to perform satisfactorily in upper division survey 

courses. As mentors all professional land surveyors need 

to advise their charges that progress in mathematics is 

necessary to master the basic concepts and principles in 

this field. Experience has demonstrated that the mastery 

of trigonometry cannot be overlooked in the business of 

bringing new licensed members into the profession. 

3. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) 

An entry-level course in GIS is required as a prerequisite 

for the upper division course in land management (SUR 

320 GIS for Surveyors). If you have yet to take this course, 

a course including the use of ESRI’s ArcGIS software is 

recommended. GBC offers GIS 205 Applications which 

will satisfy this requirement. 

4. Physics 

One year of General Physics is required. Typically 

the second semester will cover the propagation of 

electromagnetic energy. This knowledge base is important 

as the Electronic Distance Measuring Instrument 

(EDMI) and the Global Positioning System (GPS) use 

electromagnetic energy to measure distances. Additionally, 

the study of photogrammetry and remote sensing focus 

on the properties of reflected and emitted electromagnetic 

energy. Physics is key to the understanding of geodesy as 

the earth’s gravity field has moved to center stage as the 

means to gain usable elevations from GPS. Appropriate 

general physics coursework will require trigonometry as 

a prerequisite. Calculus-based physics is acceptable and 

recommended for those students who wish to allow for the 

opportunity to undertake graduate study. 

5. Statistics 

An entry level course in statistics containing a study of 

the normal distribution and its statistics is required. 

The Standards of Practice for Surveying in Nevada as 

well as the ALTA/ACSM Land Title Survey Standards 

require the land surveyor 



NV Four-Year Degree Program... continued from previous page 

to understand and apply positional tolerance standards. 

Statistics are routinely used in surveying to apply 

precision and accuracy standards. 

6. Classical Survey Fundamentals 

Two courses in classical survey fundamentals are required. 

Many survey programs refer to these courses as ‘Beginning 

and Advanced Surveying’. These courses may transfer 

to satisfy this requirement if a course in trigonometry is 

required as a prerequisite. Typically, an associate degree 

in surveying, land surveying, and/or geomatics provides 

the coursework in classical survey fundamentals to satisfy 

this requirement. 

To facilitate the transfer of earned associate and 

baccalaureate degrees containing no coursework in 

surveying, GBC offers two online courses in classical 

survey fundamentals. These courses are SUR 280 

Fundamentals of Geomatics I and SUR 281 Fundamentals 

of Geomatics II. These courses have a laboratory 

requirement. The problem of handling the hands-on 

lab requirements for an on-line program was one of the 

significant problems to be solved. The solution will be 

discussed in detail in a later article in this series. 

7. The Urban Development Process 

This requirement can be satisfied with lower division 

survey coursework containing an introduction to land 

development and construction surveying. Typically, an 

associate degree in surveying, land surveying, and/or 

geomatics provides coursework in construction surveying 

and land development to satisfy this requirement. 

To facilitate the transfer of earned associate and 

2175 Green Vista Dr. 

Suite 207 

Sparks, Nevada 89431 

Tel: 775-673-6000 

Fax: 775-673-6010 


baccalaureate degrees containing no coursework 

in surveying, GBC offers an online course in urban 

development which consists of an overview of construction 

surveying and land development. This course is SUR 290 

Introduction to Urban Development. 

This preparation provides a sound foundation for students 

beginning their study in the upper division coursework in 

surveying at Great Basin College. 

Any questions about your preparation for study can be 

answered in the advisement process. Advisement is offered 

to all potential students by office appointment or by email. 

Simply email an unofficial copy of your transcript from each 

college/university for which you have completed college 

coursework and a short resume detailing your survey 

experience to me at jamese@gwmail.gbcnv.edu. I will provide 

you a plan of study detailing the coursework required for you 

to gain the four year degree plus recommendations on how to 

proceed to satisfy any lower division prerequisites, if required. 

Let me end with a short discussion attempting to dimension 

the responsibility of mentorship for professional land 

surveyors. Our profession is in transition. Approximately half 

the states require a four-year degree for licensure. Due to a 

increasingly complex world, partly due to the relentless press 

of technology, I predict that this trend will continue. 

It is also important to realize that the knowledge and skill base 

needed to enter the profession is a moving target. A person 

entering the profession now faces a different world. We have 

to be sensitive to the fact that survey education is becoming 

increasingly important because it is becoming more difficult for 

one working survey professional 


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Tel: 702-646-1732 

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Tel: 303-792-5510 

Fax: 303-792-5512


banks of the San Miguel River. For 24 years it would be his home 

and base of operations for exploration of the Pimería Alta. He 

began his reconnaissance of Arizona in 1691 24 , establishing the 

Mission San Xavier del Buc at what is now Tucson in 1692. 25 

Kino produced maps of his explorations and sent them on to the 

Viceroy in Mexico City and his Jesuit superiors in Spain. 

Kino had learned at the University of Ingolstadt that California 

was a peninsula, but after arriving in Mexico he was persuaded 

by resident scholars that it was an island. His surviving 1696 

map, depicting his explorations on the mainland and southern 

Baja, includes speculative geography he copied from existing 

maps in Mexico City, showing California as an island. (Fig. 3) 

But beginning in 1698 he made 2 explorations which included 

side trips to Cerro de Santa Clara, a mountain from which he 

thought he could see the head of the Vermilion Sea, the Gulf of 

California. 

Figure 3. Kino’s 1696 compilation map “Theater of Apostolic 

Work of the Society of Jesus” showing areas he had explored on 

the Sinaloa coast and the California peninsula 

In 1699 Kino undertook an expedition north to the junction of 

the Gila and Colorado Rivers, to what is now Yuma, Arizona. The 

Yuma Indians there presented him with a gift of blue shells, the 

same he had seen on the Pacific coast of Baja in 1685. Later, the 

Indians told him that the shells could be found on the Pacific 

coast, perhaps a 8 or 10 day pack from there. That suggested that 

Lower California was peninsular. If a land route to Baja were 

feasible, he could supply Salvatierra’s missions by an overland 

route, saving enormous effort and expense. Kino also envisioned 

expanding his work into Alta California, so he was determined to 

investigate further. In 1701 he was finally able to see the actual 

head of the Gulf and estimate a latitude. “California no es ysla,” 

he wrote in a memoir, “sino penisla.” From that he produced his 

most famous map. (Fig. 4) In 1702 he made his last trip to the 

Gila River, following it to the Colorado River, then downstream 

to the Gulf itself. 

An examination of Kino’s numerous letters, journals and diaries 

reveals the instruments he used during his explorations, as 

well as his field methods. The instruments had to be compact 

and robust, as he conducted numerous explorations on foot 

or horseback during his 24 years at Dolores. So unlike our 

modern GPS equipment, which in most situations can quickly 


Figure 4. Tracing of Kino’s original 1701 Map “The Passage 

by Land to California” which was plagiarized for 50 years by 

numerous European cartographers 

produce latitude and longitude to centimeters, or for that matter 

unlike the much more elaborate Islamic astrolabes, Kino relied 

on a simple mariner’s astrolabe to observe latitude. Kino’s 

astrolabe has not been found, but it was not likely to be much 

over 8” in diameter, and perhaps smaller so it could easily be 

accommodated in a saddle bag. A typical 8” diameter astrolabe 

would show single degree graduations on the circumference at 

about 0.07” in width, would not carry a vernier, and so would not 

provide great precision. In addition he carried a small refracting 

telescope, with an objective of 2 inches or so, perhaps 10 power 

with a resolution of about 3 arc seconds. 26 

Kino also carried a small compass for direction, likely fitted with 

a gnomon so it could also be used as a sundial. Some Southwestern 

researchers, Dr. Ronald L. Ives in particular, attempted to 

determine if Kino corrected for magnetic declination. There 

appears to be no direct evidence that he did so. However, an 

examination of the historic magnetic declinations 27 in Pimería 

Alta, not available to Dr. Ives, shows a swing from about 3 

degrees west declination in 1650 AD, to about 5 degrees east 

declination in 1700 AD. Kino’s observations for direction and 

time then were not wildly in error from a failure to correct for 

magnetic declination, while still subject to systematic error from 

it. Taking a single solar observation on the apparent meridian is 

risky. A better method would be to observe the sun through its 

arc in the sky and note its highest apparent ascent. There is no 

need to predetermine the meridian. But without an instrument 

with tangent screws that could traverse from side to side, taking 

a shot on the meridian is next best. 

CONTINUED ON PAGE 26 u

Sustaining Members 

Following is a listing of sustaining members of the Nevada Association of Land Surveyors. Please 

remember that these firms and businesses, through their NALS membership, are supporting the aims 

and objectives of our association. 

Bruce L. Gandelman 

California Surveying & Drafting Supply 

4733 Auburn Blvd. 

Sacramento, CA 95841 

(916) 344-0232 

� 

H&S Positioning Nevada 

4445 S. Valley View Blvd. No. 2 


(800) 432-8380 

� 

North American Mapping 

4011 W. Cheyenne Ave., Ste. B, No. Las Vegas, NV 89032 

(702) 646-1732 

2175 Green Vista Dr., Suite 207, Sparks, NV 89431 

(775) 673-6000 • Toll Free: (800) 473-0627 

� 

Kenney Aerial Mapping Inc. 

3470 E. Russell Rd., Suite 208 


(702) 260-3033 

� 

Dave Hamlin 

Nevada Department of Transportation 

1263 S. Stewart Street 

Carson City, NV 89712 

(775) 888-7256 

Spencer B. Gross, Inc. 

Andy Daniels, President 

1010 Caughlin Crossing, Suite #3 


www.sbgreno.com • (775) 826-4240 

� 

Surv-Kap, Inc. 

P.O. Box 27367 

Tucson, AZ 85726 

(800) 445-5320 

� 

Cartwright Aerial Surveys, Inc. 

Executive Airport, 5979 Freeport Blvd. 

Sacramento, CA 95822 

(916) 421-3465 

www.casmap.com 

� 

Seco Manufacturing Company, Inc. 

4155 Oasis Road 

Redding, CA 96003 

(530) 225-8155 • Fax (530) 225-8162 

� 

Monsen Engineering, Inc. 

5115 S. Valley View Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89118 

(702) 220-6505 • Toll Free: (800) 821-0672 

1140 Financial Blvd. #400, Reno, NV 89502 

(775) 359-6671 

Mitchel E. Bartorelli 

Tri-State Photogrammetry 

1925 E. Prater Way 


(775) 358-9491 

� 

Ben Mallen 

Trimble Navigation Limited 

10355 Westmoor Drive 

Westminster, CO 80021 

(720) 587-4576 

� 

Berntsen International, Inc. 

P.O. Box 8670 

Madison, WI 53708 

Toll Free: (800) 356-7388 

surveymark@berntsen.com 

� 

AeroTech Mapping 

2580 Montessouri St., #104 


(702) 228-6277 • Fax (702) 228-6753 

� 

Joe Schmidt 

Holman’s of Nevada 

4445 S. Valley View Blvd., Ste. 2 




Kino’s ephemeris was prepared by Adam Aigenler, S.J., 28 a well 

known polymath whom Kino studied under when he was a 

student at Ingolstadt. Aigenler’s tables for declination29 differ 

from modern ephemerides, which are keyed to the Greenwich 

meridian. Typical for the time, Aigenler’s were keyed to the 

location of the sun in the zodiac. The zodiac has 12 “houses” of 

30° of sky each and identified by the prominent constellation 

they contain. This method, according to Dr. Ives, eliminated the 

need for equation of time corrections, when used in conjunction 

with local sun time, and partially corrected for differences 

in longitude, since Aigenler’s tables, which likely carried 

computational errors in any case, were derived in northern 

Europe in 1668, and used by Kino in the Sonoran Desert many 

years later. 30 Figure 5. Diagram of Mariner’s Astrolabe. 

After a drawing by Donald Ives. 

Kino used the Meridian Altitude Method for 

latitude determination, a method well known to navigators 

since the 15th Century and still appropriate today for optical 

determination of latitude. 

Kino himself describes the method in this way: 

At midday (on March 3, 1702) we took the altitude of the sun 

with the astrolabe, and found it to be fifty-two degrees which 

adding to it the six and a half of southern declination of that 

day, made fifty-eight degrees and a half (the co-latitude). The 

complement to ninety degrees is thirty-one and a half, and this 

was the...geographic latitude in which we found ourselves. 31 

Here, Kino is two days’ ride south of the confluence of the 

Colorado and Gila Rivers (the location of modern Yuma, Arizona) 

riding south along the Colorado River, headed downstream 

toward the Gulf. He would have had no idea of his longitude. 

As he needed to observe the sun at local noon, that is, when 

the sun is due south and on his local meridian, he would have 

determined “midday” using the compass/sundial. Eyeballing the 

meridian to align his astrolabe, he would have projected the 


sun’s disc onto the rear vane of the astrolabe’s alidade (Fig. 6), 

much the same way we would conduct a solar observation today 

and read the vertical angle. An error in time is not particularly 

critical, as the rate of change in the sun’s declination is on the 

order of 0° 01’ per hour. But the apparent motion of the sun in 

the sky is another matter. If he were, say, 7° off on his meridian 

one way or the other, missing apparent noon as the sun rose 

or set, he could easily reduce his co-latitude by 0° 20’ or more, 

resulting in a higher value for latitude, by that amount. 17th 

Century surveyors were also aware of the effects of refraction 

and parallax, but those were generally small, about 0° 01’ on 

average, when compared with the angular precision of handheld 

astrolabes. 

At the angular resolution of his instrument it seems unlikely he 

could have consistently read it to much closer than, say +/- 0° 

06’ under good conditions. Dr. Ives spent an enormous amount 

of energy examining Kino’s maps and journals and retracing 

his routes through the Sonoran Desert during the 1950’s and 

60’s. He concluded that Kino’s astrolabe had an index error of 

about 0°11’ near the 60° mark. 32 He also notes that comparing 

all of Kino’s observed latitudes against known points, the mean 

deviation of his latitudes is about +0° 09’, after applying the 

index correction. Guessing at Kino’s supposed latitude along the 

Colorado in 1702, based merely on an average day’s ride for him, 

and plotting on a modern map at about 31° 58’, we see an actual 

difference of about 0° 28’, or roughly 30 miles. In this case, Kino’s 

latitude was lower than actual, something untypical for Spanish 

maps of New Spain. Dr. Ives stated that latitudes in New Spain 

were generally recorded as too high, compared to modern values. 

He attributes this largely to systematic errors that 17th and 18 

Century explorers introduced in their observations, principally 

the failure to account for magnetic declination. Local attraction, 

which skewed the apparent meridian, as well as index errors, 

wear and tear on the instruments and, though small, the effects 

of refraction and solar parallax all contributed to the problem. 33 

Figure 6. Astrolabe with observer projecting sun’s image onto 

rear vane of alidade, from a 1563 Spanish navigation handbook 

Lacking the means to determine accurate time, hence 

longitudes 34 , Kino and those who followed him estimated 


Terra Incognita.. continued from previous page 

distances and with compass directions calculated rough 

latitudes and departures in order to plot locations. The unit 

of measure indicated on Kino’s maps is the Castilian League. 

However, despite Spain’s best efforts to standardize weights 

and measures in the Americas, there was confusion regarding 

linear measure. Numerous variations of the league were in use 

around the world and in New Spain, including the legua lega or 

short league of 5,000 varas used by law for land surveying, and 

the common or long league of 6666.67 varas, sometimes used to 

define travel distances and often cited as the amount of ground 

covered on foot in one hour. 35 The basic unit of linear measure, 

the vara, was interpreted in numerous ways in various areas 

of New Spain, adding to the confusion. So much uncertainty 

persisted that in 1854, after the Mexican War, the Commissioner 

of the U.S. G.L.O. issued instructions on the length of the vara in 

former Mexican lands. A portion reads: 

“This office...has sanctioned the recognition, in California, of the 

Mexican vara, as being equivalent to 33 American inches. The 

Mexican vara is the unit of all the measures of length...which 

are taken from the Castilian vara of the mark of Burgos 36 , and is 

the legal vara used in the Mexican Republic. 50 Mexican varas 

make...a cordel, which instrument is used in measuring lands. 

The legal league contains 100 cordels, of 5000 varas...Anciently, 

the Mexican league was divided into 3 miles, the mile into 1000 

paces of Solomon and one of these paces into 5/3 of a Mexican 

vara...” 

But in 1864, the U.S. Surveyor General for California issued 

Instructions for Deputies with the following explanation: 

“In all cases, you will consider the Judicial League equal to 5000 

Spanish linear varas or...210.6818 chs. and consequently the 

vara equal to 33.372 English inches...” 37 

In 1874, W. & L. E. Gurley began offering 100-link, steel wire 

vara chains in their catalogs, noting that the Spanish or Mexican 

vara “is in very general use in Texas, Mexico, Cuba, and South 

America.” 38 They could have added California. 

At all events, Kino’s longitudes are in question. They are indicated 

on his maps, but his origin is uncertain. The Spanish variously 

used the cities of Toledo and Madrid, as well as two islands in 

the Canaries, as a prime meridian. 39 Spanish cosmographers 

were obliged to use lunar eclipses to determine longitude, 40 but 

there is no indication of that in Kino’s writings, though there 

were numerous opportunities to do so. The Spanish typically 

ran longitude eastward from their prime meridians, unlike 

modern convention in the western hemisphere. Kino’s 1701 map 

indicates the confluence of the Colorado and Gila Rivers at 250° 

00’. Reckoned from Toledo, it falls roughly at 249° 28’. But from 

the Canary Islands it is closer to 262°. What can be said is that 

his depiction of the barren ground in the Pimería Alta is at least 

proportional to reality. 

Reconciling distances is also difficult. Assuming Kino’s maps 

have been reproduced proportionally, scaling the distance 

from the great bend of the Gila River to its confluence with the 

Colorado in Figure 4, using the statute league puts his distance 

about 6% short in roughly 108 miles. Other features do not scale 

as well, and he apparently made no effort to correct for the 

convergence of the meridians. Ives states that Kino’s distances 

area-wide are off on the order of 5%. Referring to Kino’s own 

writings, he drafted 31 maps during his career in New Spain. 41 

Including his most important work showing the Colorado River 

entering the Gulf of California, only 8 of his maps have been 

found. Researchers continue to look for more. He was a prolific 

writer and diarist; the possibility exists that someday more of 

his manuscripts may be brought to light, as well. 

The Second de Anza Expedition 

In addition to the life’s work of Eusebio Kino, two other 

expeditions into the northern frontiers of New Spain bear 

mention, each taking place about the same time and recording 

historical geographic data. As part of Spain’s belated expansion 

into Alta California, a mission and presidio were established at 

San Diego in 1769. Others soon followed, as fears of a Russian 

claim on Alta California finally moved Spanish colonial officials 

to action. In the vanguard with the military were Franciscan 

priests42 from Mexico, who eventually established 21 missions in 

Spanish Alta California, from San Diego to Sonoma. 43 

The city of San Francisco was established in 1776 by a large 

party of settlers who came from Mexico for that purpose. They 

were under the leadership of Lieutenant-Colonel Juan Batista de 

Anza, a Spanish cavalry officer, who had led an earlier expedition 

to California in 1774. De Anza’s route west from Tucson was 

based on an earlier expedition to California by Father Francisco 

Tomás Garcés, O.F.M., a Spanish born Franciscan based at 

San Xavier del Buc. He explored south to the Gulf, north as far 

as the Grand Canyon and reopened Kino’s trails to the Gila. 

Garcés escorted de Anza for a portion of his 1774 and 1775-76 

expeditions. Accompanied by Mojave guides, Garcés crossed the 

desert into California in 1775, and on toward the coast. He went 

without instruments, but added another diary to the growing 

Spanish data base. 

De Anza’s party left Culiacán, Mexico in September of 1775 

with over 200 people. Traveling north they picked up Kino’s 

trail to Tucson. They turned west, past the head of the Gulf of 

California and on to San Diego. They continued up the coastline 

or near it to Monterey, the capitol of the Californias, and then 

on to the Bay of San Francisco. The chaplain for the expedition 

was a Catalán from Gerona, Spain, named Pedro Font, O.F.M. 

Regardless of whatever ecclesiastical talents Font may have 

been, he was responsible for mapping the route to San Francisco 

and the environs of the Bay once they got there. The de Anza 

party arrived at the Bay of San Francisco in March of 1776. 

They missed Lt. Juan Manuel de Ayala y Aranza, a Spanish 

naval officer, who sailed there hoping to meet de Anza’s overland 

party. De Ayala was the first European to sail into the Bay, 

arriving there in August of 1775. 

For the purpose of this discussion, it is interesting to note the 

increase in precision and improved field procedures between the 

end of Kino’s work in the early 1700’s and that of Font’s efforts 

70 years later. In the introduction to his official diary of the 

expedition, Father Font describes his astronomical tables. They 

were the work of the Spanish geodesist Jorge Juan Jorge Juan y 

Santacilia. 44 Font pointed out that the tables were for the years 

1756-1759 and the meridian of Juan’s observatory in Cadiz, 

Spain. But he indicated he adjusted for these circumstances. 

While his method for attaining latitude was the same as Kino’s, 

he had use of a very high quality astronomical quadrant, 

graduated to seconds, fitted with a means to stand and level it, 

and equipped with a telescope with cross hairs and solar filters 

for direct observation of the sun. 

Using the Meridian Altitude Method for latitude, Font observed 

the lower limb of the sun. In fact, he made nearly 30 such 

observations on the journey, often repeating them until he was 



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Lahontan 

Chapter Report 

by David C. Crook, PLS, President 

A I 

s host Chapter to the 2012 CLSA/NALS we would like 

to thank the conference committee and all its members 

for putting together an outstanding program and conference this 

year. All the attendees I spoke with at the event were enjoying 

both the educational opportunities as well as the entertainment. 

The Scholarship auction was a great hit for both States and 

raised a phenomenal amount to add to the scholarship funds. 

The dedication of the Davidson Monument by Paul Pace to 

the supporters and those involved in making the resetting of 

the monument possible, was attended by 20+ people. Those in 

attendance braved the wind and impending snow storm to listen 

to the dedications and have photos taken at the monument. 

Our thanks go out again to all those involved in this historic 

endeavor. 

The chapter is in full swing this year to provide meeting and 

education activities and some fun functions as well. Our annual 

picnic will be held at Hidden Valley Park again this year on 

June 15, 2012. Bob LaRiviere and I will be cooking some good 

eats and as always there should be some wonderful side dishes 

to feast upon as well. We will also have the survey games and 

hammer toss that has become a favorite of all the attendees. 

We have also finalized the date and location of our annual Golf 

Tournament. This year it will be held on August 10, 2012 at the 

Somersett Golf course. Again, and as always, this should be an 

afternoon full of golf and fun in the sun. 

We are looking for students to apply for the scholarship monies 

we have put aside this year to assist them in paying for their 

classes and books. I would encourage anyone who knows 

someone taking classes in surveying to apply. 

We did not have a student application for our $500.00 scholarship 

last year, so we now have two $500.00 scholarships available to 

a suitable student for the coming semesters. 

We are putting together the arrangements for our monthly 

meetings as well. We are planning to have a presentation on the 

reconstruction of the V&T Railroad at the May meeting, which 

had to be rescheduled from April due to scheduling issues. We 

also are discussing a presentation on a tour of India as well 

as an additional presentation on the resetting on the Davidson 

Monument now that it is complete. 


U 

Southern Nevada 


by Alan W. Dill, PLS, President 

Another good conference is now behind us. It was a big 

success, with excellent presentations, good attendance, 

and great times after hours. Congratulations to the committees 

and all who worked so hard to make it so. Thanks as well 

to the Southern Chapter volunteers who manned the booth, 

moderated sessions, and helped with setup or tear down. 

I would like to recognize Sean Corkill and Gary Hancock for a 

great job at the Clark High School (math magnet school) Trig 

Star event March 21st. Gary gave a great career presentation, 

and Sean simply has the organization of these events down 

to a science. This all could not have occurred without the help 

of Jon Wooten (world’s greatest time keeper), Justin Silva, 

Doug Wood, and Dennis Layton. They all helped set things up, 

collected exams, and graded them. It was another success. 

We are working towards another “Bill Cuddy Memorial Picnic” 

to be held May 5 th , at Centennial Hills Park this year. We 

hope everyone can come join us and participate in the “Survey 

Games,” enjoy some good food and drinks, or just come and 

hang out. Another “Picnic Video” will likely turn up as well. 

Once again we are offering a great price to encourage a good 

turnout. Don’t miss it. 

Our meeting schedule brought another Nevada Caving Survey 

presentation with great pictures and stories by Steve Deveny 

in April. With the picnic in May and the summer season 

approaching we will skip June and have a meeting in July 

featuring William Stone (NGS Advisor), who will present on 

current CORS and NGS issues. 

The goal of getting at least half the Southern Chapter 

Membership to a general meeting is still in effect. Please 

encourage everyone to join us and help work towards this 

goal. We have had good participation so far this year, which is 

greatly appreciated, but we can still improve. 

There has been lots of discussion at the Southern Chapter 

Executive Board Meetings related to new social activities, 

and new ideas to achieve better numbers and participation. 

Your input, ideas, comments, or gripes are critical in helping 

get our membership numbers back on the upswing. This great 

profession and association need’s your support more than ever, 

so come voice your opinions and ideas. 

U

Great Basin 


by Carl C. deBaca, PLS 

T 

he Great Basin Chapter meets on the 2 nd Monday 

of each month at the Gold Dust West Casino and 

restaurant in Elko. We have held meetings in January, 

February, March and April so far in 2012. We typically 

have 8-12 attendees for the meetings, although we had 15 for 

our March meeting. That particular meeting saw Marty Crook 

and Jeff Flamini of Monsen Engineering, along with a Trimble 

representative, give an informative presentation on basic 

equipment maintenance together with a lengthy discussion of 

Trimble’s new Business Center software. 

At each meeting we generally engage in vigorous discussion of 

such topics as LightSquared, TrigStar and the current status 

of the national organization with respect to the NSPS/ACSM 

merger and potential effects on NALS members. At our April 

9th meeting we discussed highlights of the recent NALS/ 

CLSA conference and joined in congratulating the recipients of 

the Roger P. Monsen Scholarship, Savannah Winans, and the 

Thomas A. Foote Scholarship, Jolene Hoffman. Both are GBC 

students and both were attending the meeting. 

Of particular concern to our chapter is the status and well-being 

of the Great Basin College Surveying/Geomatics program. It 

is typically an item for discussion at each chapter meeting and 

given the state of the economy and the status of the program, 

we have been discussing ways that NALS could help the 

program through increased outreach and recruiting efforts, 

possible assistance with teaching and help with software. 

This is definitely a critical issue for NALS, given that GBC 

has made it known that the program has been designated as 

underperforming and that such programs must take steps to 

justify their continued existence. Finding more students for the 

program is imperative. Of course, that would then trigger the 

need for a second instructor, but that would be an okay problem 

to have. 

In the coming months we have several speakers lined up, including 

a Topcon representative, a Cashman/Trimble representative, 

Dave Morlan from the BLM and a representative from NDOT. 

We have been outreaching to the mining community and have 

had a couple mine surveyors begin attending our meetings. 

Through the use of the CST examination, which we proctor 

hereabouts, the GBC mine surveying class and the Elko Mining 

Exposition, we are trying to forge closer ties to this group of 

surveyors with hopes that we can convince many of them to join 

NALS. We look to sponsor 2 local area high schools for the 2012 

TrigStar examination with a third school possibly signing up. 

The Great Basin Chapter is having their annual summer 

picnic this year on Saturday, July 21 in the picturesque town of 

Lamoille. We hope to see you there! 

U 


MEETING MINUTES 

Call to Order 9:00am, Trent Keenan, Vern Little, Li 

Zhang, Alan Dill, Glen Armstrong, Ray Hebert, Dave 

Crook, Matt Gingerich, Carl C. deBaca, Terry McHenry– 

Motion to Approve David Crook, Carl CdeBaca2 nd - 

Approved 

I. Officer’s Reports 

1.01 President - Written Report- 

Ray Hébert 

1.02 

11.02 President-Elect - No Report 

Vern Little 

11.03 Secretary - Written Report 

Glen Armstrong 

11.03.01 January 13, 2012 Minutes - Previously Approved 

via Email Vote 

11.04 Treasurer - Written Report 2013 will be Checks Only 

Trent Keenan 

11.04.01 2012 Budget 

II. Standing Committee Reports 

13.1 Constitution and Bylaws - Written Report 

Glen Armstrong 

13.2 Membership - No Report 

Chapter Presidents 

13.2.01 Membership Renewal - SNALS down a few after goal 

to increase, still trying to incorporate new ideas and new social 

activities and a phone campaign – LH agrees and has done a 

letter campaign as well. GB is sending out emails to personal 

known in the Northeast and putting feelers out to the mine 

surveyors-Corresponding membership could be an option for 

outlying communities. 

13.3 Continuing Education - Written Report. We are 

looking at presenting a June seminar to help our membership 

attain additional PDH’s prior to board submittal. Chapter 

Presidents. 

13.4 Advanced Education - Written Report – GBC is a 

designated low enrollment program and may be on the way 

out unless enrollment doubles. Demographics don’t support a 


NALS Board of Directors Meeting 

Friday, April 20th, 2012 • NV Energy Video Conference • Las Vegas, NV 

continued on campus program – This is national issue - Dr. Jim 

Elithorp 

13.5 Scholarships Written Report – Little interest from 

students. Discussion on using some the funds to educate 

teachers i.e. WFPS Twist Program Seed monies for auction 

being returned to the general account - Li Zhang 

13.6 Legislative - Written Report- Create links to 

NRS - Brett Lane 

13.7 Publications – The Nevada Traverse - Written Report - 

Terry McHenry 

13.8 Conference - Written Report - 

Nancy Almanzan 

13.8.2 2012 CLSA/NALS – Reno, NV-Discussion 

13.8.3 2013 CLSA/NALS-Reno, NV 

13.8.4 2014 NALS 

13.9 Ethics - No Report - Glen Armstrong 

13.10 Communications - Written Report 

Vern Little 

13.11 High School Outreach - Jerry Juarez 

13.11.1 Trig Star –Written Report - Jerry Juarez 

13.11.2 Career Fairs - Written Report - Ray Hébert & Sean 

Corkill 

13.12 Advanced Technology - No Report - Ray Hébert 

13.13 Nominations - Carl C. deBaca has agreed to run for 

Treasurer and be placed on the NALS ballot in November. 

Chapter Presidents 

III. Special Committee Reports 

14.1 Great Basin Chapter - Written Report Carl C. deBaca 

14.2 Lahontan Chapter - Written Report - Dave Crook 

14.3 Southern Nevada Chapter - Written Report 

Alan Dill 

14.4 Western Federation of Professional Surveyors 


NALS State Board of Directors Meeting continued from previous page 

Nancy Almanzan & Matt Gingerich 

14.4.01 TWIST program - Written Report – Potential meeting 

in Las Vegas- TWIST program would need a decision around 

June 

14.5 National Society of Professional Surveyors - Written 

Report - Paul Burn 

14.6 Historical - Written Report - Tim Wolf 

14.7 Past President’s Forum Written Report-Contact list to 

be updated - Li Zhang 

14.8 NALS Executive Board Guidelines - No Report 

Matt Gingerich 

14.9 LSI & Associate Members Forum - Lunches were 

handed out at Exam sites - Alan Dill 

14.10 NSPS Foundation Written Report - Need a succession 

plan for Brett - Brett Jefferson 

14.11 CST Program - No Report - Paul Burn 

14.12 NSPS Area 9 Director - Written Report Carl C. deBaca 

14.13 Web Site Strategic - Vern, Trent, Sean & Terry 

IV. Unfinished Business 

1) Nevada Traverse Scanning Project BOD would still 

like to see this project move forward 

2) “In Progress Worksheet” 

Need to enter in to contract with Bruce Arkell for 

upcoming legislative year 

V. New Business 

1) State Board to contact Michael Durkee to speak on 

Nevada Mapping Laws 

VI. Adjournment Motion to Adjourn – Trent 

Keenan– Alan Dill 2nd 

“Executive Committee Authority” 

The Executive Committee, made up of the President, 

President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer and Executive Secretary, 

is hereby delegated the authority by the NALS Board of 

Directors to act on its behalf in all specific matters delegated to 

it and routine administrative matters relative to the continuity 

of NALS activities and objectives, within NALS Board of 

Directors, provided that all acts of the Executive Committee 

shall be subject to approval by said Board of Directors.” 

U 

BLM Accepted Surveys 

Has Your Contact 

Information Changed? 

Change in your address, 

email address, or telephone? 

Please contact NALS with 

your updated information. 

You may email Glen Armstrong, PLS 

NALS Secretary at: 

garmstrong@usgeomatics.com 

Help your NALS Board 

to keep you current. 

Thank you! 


G 

NSPS Report 

By Paul Burn, PLS 

Nevada NSPS Governor 

reetings Surveyors! By the time you read this, it will 

be general knowledge among the surveyors of Nevada, 

but I’m reporting to you at this writing from Charlotte, 

North Carolina, and there is big news! After several years of 

many Governors petitioning for a drastic reduction in dues, it 

has come to pass. The issue was debated quite a bit, but now 

NSPS is going to provide an Affiliation membership category 

that will enable each state to participate in having 100% of its 

voting members become members of NSPS automatically when 

they join their state society, for an annual dues amount of $40! 

Think of the benefits that your national organization provides 

to each of you, and you will be a member for only $40! In return, 

each state that accepts this status (and there appears to be many 

already) will have their Governor occupy a seat on the Board 

of Directors, giving voting power, beyond motioning function, to 

that state. The details are being worked on immediately, and I 

expect that there will be some presentation materials very soon 

to share with you as we consider this opportunity for our state’s 

NALS members, as all the states will have been doing by the 

time you read this. 

NSPS has been making some rather difficult decisions towards 

austerity, so that the demise of ACSM, and other long-standing 

organizations in these economic times, does not happen to us. 

The main office will be moving up the road from Gaithersburg, 

MD., to a new office facility in Frederick, MD., in late summer, 

when the current lease runs out. The office staff has been 

reduced, and most publications and missives are becoming 

digital, as the cost-savings for mailings is large. These items, 

among others, are demonstrating the sharp focus on remaining, 

and growing, the surveyors of America national presence. This 

is a solid organization. 

At the general membership meeting that preceded the Board of 

Governors assemblage on Saturday, May 5 th , ACSM was merged 

with NSPS by vote. This was the final official action necessary 

for legality, allowing NSPS to move forward in the business 

affairs and representation of our nation’s surveyors. 

In other NSPS activity, many issues and programs are happening, 

proving that the so-far successful demise of LightSquared has 

not usurped all of everyone’s thoughts and energies. (Note: I say 

“so-far” because they are not gone, but they’re on the ropes. We 


must remain diligent in that fight.) Some of these include the 

success of the CST program, which continues to grow both in 

numbers and recognition. Alaska reported that the teamsters 

in that state are now requiring CST certifications for surveying 

field personnel. FEMA, a group that we as surveyors have had 

some difficulty communicating with in the past, has set up a new 

focus on digital, and has formed a committee to implement it. 

They have asked for, and received, input from NSPS in the form 

of a seat on their committee that’s overseeing this important 

step into the future. NSPS also is represented on the National 

Geospatial Advisory Committee (NGAC), providing good 

representation from the surveying profession in the midst of the 

GIS and IT constituents. The Government Affairs Committee 

continues work with STEM at the federal level, which ties in 

with our very successful TrigStar program. A new relationship 

has developed with the Surface Transportation Board (STB), in 

which our continued efforts for railroad abandonment issues 

may have found a somewhat sympathetic ear and the promise 

of aid in passage of required boundary surveys before railroads 

may vacate their interests. The “Map It Once” resolution in the 

House (HR-4233) has seen its proponents talking with NSPS for 

input as it forges forward. 

In new business, highlights include a declaration of support 

for the National Museum of Surveying, located in Springfield, 

Illinois. Look for more information upcoming about this fine 

museum. Also, a letter is being drafted to offer the NCEES 

aid in their current discussions of the definition of the term 

“Engineering Surveys”. This definition has concerned many in 

several states as the NCEES and state boards of registration 

continue to wrestle with what types of surveying engineers can 

actually perform, based on education, testing, and experience. 

Additionally, the Board of Governors voted to form a committee 

to discuss the aspects of developing a “Certified A.L.T.A. 

Surveyor” program. Initial thoughts were that while any 

licensed professional surveyor may perform such surveys, a 

surveyor that has developed expertise in this area could test 

and be issued a certificate. Also, some education arena could 

become developed toward this. More news as this develops. 

Thank you for your interest in NSPS, and I hope that you’ll 

consider supporting the new 100% membership program. I 

personally have long believed that our national voice should be 

a chorus of all professional surveyors, led by our state society’s 

members. It makes good sense, and the functions of the national 

voice have benefitted all surveyors for a long time. We now will 

have a chance to make this happen. And don’t forget the benefit 

to the Lobby Day efforts - when asked directly by legislators on 

how many people do you represent, being able to answer “all the 

surveyors”! I will try to answer any questions you may have, and 

continue to represent you to the best of my ability. Please contact 

me at pburn@gcwallace.com with any questions you may have. 

U

WFPS Report 

by Nancy Almanzan, PLS, and 

Matt Gingerich, PLS 

WPS Delegates, Nevada 

The Western Federation of Professional Surveyors (WFPS) 

Board of Directors meeting was held Saturday, January 21, 

2012 at the Fiesta Conference Center in Phoenix, Arizona and 

was attended by Matt Gingerich & Nancy Almanzan, Nevada 

Delegates to WFPS. 

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT – HAROLD BALDWIN 

• Chairman Baldwin reported that the focus of this meeting 

will be to address the financial condition of WFPS and 

identify direction and sources of future funding. 

BUDGET 

• The 2012 budget for WFPS was reduced by approximately 

$16,000 to meet current operating expenses. Richard 

Heiren (Alaska), Earl Burkholder (New Mexico) and 

Greg Crites (Oregon) made generous donations to the 

scholarship fund. 

ALASKA 

• Membership: 244 

• Conference: February 13-17, 2012 at the Hilton in 

Anchorage; 2013 – Alaska/Canada Boundary 

• ASPLS has set up a scholarship endowment for the 4-year 

Geomatics program at the University of Alaska Anchorage. 

• ASPLS has committed to 2 teachers for the 2012 TwiST 

Program. ASPLS has donated $1500 and a corporate 

sponsor has donated $500. 

• Alaska Board of Registration 

� A regulation requiring a 4 year degree to become 

a licensed Surveyor was approved and sent to Lt. 

Governor Mead Treadwell for signing. The regulation 

is to take effect on June 30, 2014. 

� Reviewing a statute change lifting the 8 year 

experience and education requirement for LS 

licensure. 

ARIZONA 


• Arizona will not be participating in the TwiST program 

• Arizona will be celebrating 100 years on February 

14, 2012. APLS is currently involved in 2 projects: 

Monument Hill Trail & the geographic center of the state. 

• APLS is working on the following: 

� AD-HOC BTR Liaison to oversee complaints on 

registrants; Arizona Boundary Survey Minimum 

Standards; Number of years required to become 

licensed; Education requirement to become licensed – 

two or four year requirement; Continuing education 

requirement for re-licensure; Arizona state-specific test 

– Is it testing minimum requirements? 

• Board of Registration (BTR) - The Board is currently being 

inundated with complaints on registrants not recording 

surveys. The BTR is currently reviewing APLS’s proposed 

CE requirements for maintaining licensure. 

CALIFORNIA 


• Conference – March 23-28, 2012, Silver Legacy Resort & 

Casino, Reno, NV. Joint conference with NALS. 

• CLSA has developed a right of entry brochure for 

homeowners and law enforcement. 

• CLSA has developed a tri-fold monument conservation 

brochure with laws applicable to California. 

• GIS Committee has developed a brochure addressing the 

relationship between GIS and Land Surveyors. 

• CLSA has committed to 2 teachers for the 2012 TwiST 

Program. 

• Legislation – The CLSA Legislative Committee is drafting 

language to propose at the 2012 Legislature on the 

following: 

Extension for setting monuments; Revisions to Streets & 

Highway Code; Revisions to LS Act to be consistent with 

BLM Manual title; Further define the word “establish” in 

LS Act 8762; Revisions to LS Act 8771; Allowing maps/ 

field notes not previously recorded to be added as an 

attachment. 

• Education Foundation 

� Over $46,000 awarded in scholarships 

� Considering establishing an endowment for a full time 

PLS professor at CSU-Fresno 

• CLSA is looking into enabling language for mandatory 

education for license renewal. The CA governor has 

indicated he will not support any requirement that 

would make it more difficult for practitioners to renew 

their license. CLSA needs different metrics in which to 

measure the benefits of mandatory continuing education 

and requested WFPS member states provide information 

regarding mandatory continuing education – its benefits 

and supporting data. 

• The center of population for California has been 



H 

NSPS Area 9 

Director’s Report 

By Carl C. deBaca, PLS 

ello NSPS members in Nevada! It’s a good day to be a 

surveyor, or so the saying goes. The NSPS just finished 

our spring meeting, held this year in Charlotte, 

North Carolina. There is much to report from this meeting. 

I will defer to Nevada’s governor, Paul Burn, for the details 

and flavor of the meetings, but I do want to discuss two very 

important topics that affect all NALS members, whether you 

are also members of NSPS or not. 

The first issue is an update on the two-year process of merging 

the ACSM and NSPS entities. The process is complete. The 

final step was a general membership vote on Saturday, May 

5. The two organizations, both non-profits, have been merged, 

essentially absorbing the ACSM and all its assets, liabilities 

and programs, into the NSPS. We can now move forward 

with a more streamlined organization. AAGS, the geodetic 

surveying organization has decided to join us as an affiliate 

member, while GLIS, the land information folks, have chosen 

to try to go on their own though they are welcome to join us as 

an affiliate at a later date. This merger protects the integrity 

of the ACSM/ALTA standards (no name change anticipated), 

our seat in ABET - the college accreditation board, our seat in 

FIG - the international surveying organization and our seat 

in COGO – the coalition of geospatial organizations, while 

allowing us to evolve our organization to fit the changing needs 

of surveying and surveyors in the US. There is nothing but 

upside to this merger and I would encourage you to think past 

the ACSM moniker. After all, times change, names change but 

we are still here, to deal with surveying issues on the national 

scene. 

The second issue is much more significant, if that is possible. 

The members of NSPS have for years tried to find a way to 

develop an organization that encompasses all members of all 

state societies, an estimated 30,000 surveyors in the US. If a 

way could be found to combine the memberships of the states 

with the NSPS, without endangering the autonomy of the 


state organizations, many benefits for all would accrue. At the 

national level we would have much more clout on lobby day 

when we bring our issues to the legislators because it’s hard to 

ignore 30,000 constituents. And the extra voices would provide 

more direction to the leadership so that the NSPS would truly 

be answerable to all surveyors who belong to their states. At 

the state level, members would find they had a true voice in 

determining the direction of the national group and would 

receive the various member benefits such as the insurance 

program. 

Over the last six months, a committee has worked out a way to 

make this idea a reality. It involves asking each state to raise 

its dues by the sum of 40 dollars and send that money to the 

NSPS, for which each regular member of that state will become 

a regular voting member of the NSPS. The state will also 

receive a seat on the board of directors, giving it true say-so. It 

is true that there are some details left to work out but the plan 

was fleshed out enough that all 49 governors in attendance 

voted on Saturday to bring it forward to the board of directors 

and on Sunday, the Board of Directors, myself included, voted 

unanimously to adopt this plan. Of course by law changes are 

needed to provide for the extra seats on the board of directors, 

and a few other things, but we have committees looking at 

these details right now and by our fall meeting we will be 

prepared to make this a reality. One interesting detail: once 

all the states in an area, such as Area 9, have come onboard 

and have a director, the area director (my) position would be 

eliminated. 

While some would say that this is not a good time to ask NALS 

members for a dues increase, I ask all of you to consider the 

proposition and the associated benefits with an open mind. At 

the risk of trivializing the requested sum, 40 dollars over the 

course of a year is not that much, about equal to a libation 

a month at your local pub. In exchange you get a voice in 

national affairs, you can belong to committees you think are 

important, you get the SaLIS Journal digitally four times a 

year, access to a good E&O / Liability insurance provider (I am 

a client and very happy with the program), and many other 

resources developed over the years, including the work of the 

Government Affairs Committee, whose members fight tirelessly 

to keep our profession treated fairly by government agencies 

and legislators. 

I cannot stress enough how significant this plan is and how 

good it will be for the surveyors of Nevada and all the states. I 

encourage you to contact Governor Paul Burn or myself with 

any questions, suggestions or other feedback. Email me at 

alidade.nv@sbcglobal.net. 

It’s a good day to be a surveyor! 

U

WFPS Report.. continued from page 35 

established. CLSA will participate and host a dedication 

ceremony near the actual site on the premises of a 

museum in Shafter, CA. 

• California will be going to computer based testing starting 

as early as the April exam. 

HAWAII 

• Conference - 2012 Conference was held at the Hilton 

Waikiki Beach Hotel on February 2 & 3. Speakers 

included John Rinaldi, John Matonich, Matt Vernon and 

Carl CdeBaca. 

• HLSA working with the licensing board to draft a bill 

which will include a new land surveyor definition. 

• A bill has been drafted and sent to the state surveyor for 

review and comment to set in place a statewide coordinate 

system using NAD83 as the basis. Hawaii and Alabama 

are the last 2 states with no standard for a coordinate 

system according to NGS. 

• TrigStar - 28 schools are signed up to participate in 2012. 

IDAHO 

• Membership: 266 PLS, 1 Affiliate, 3 Institutional, 34 Out of 

State, 6 Students & 8 Sustaining. 

• Conference - 2012 – March 28-30, Twin Falls, Idaho; 2013 – 

Boise, Idaho. Featured speaker is Jeffery Lucas, JD, PLS. 

• Membership dues to increase from $80/yr to $100/yr in 

2013 and to $150/yr in 2015. Dues have only increased 

twice since 1978. 

• TrigStar – There are 9 schools participating in 2012. 

• ISPLS awarded $7200 in scholarships to 4 Geomatics and 

2 Civil Engineering Technology students at Idaho State 

Univ. 

• Legislative – ISPLS working on changes to the recording 

of subdivision plats which now require the filing of the 

original mylar as well as a silver image emulsion. The 

change seeks to require only the original mylar. 

MONTANA 


• Conference: 2012 at the Heritage Inn, Great Falls Feb. 

14-17, 2012; 2013 at the Hilton Garden Inn, Missoula Feb. 

20-22, 2013. 

• Group of surveyors in Cascade County donated services 

to lay out an additional 400 plots for veterans in the 

Highland Cemetery. 

• Looking into making available a MARLS license plate – 

takes a $4000 start up fee to DMV. 

• Legislative – MARLS lobbyist recommended approval to 

form a PAC to raise $5000. This would enable MARLS 

to become a member of the existing JOBS PAC. Future 

legislation to include: repeal of the requirement for taxes 

to be paid before surveys/plats are recorded; defining 

qualifications and scope of the examining land surveyor; 

tract of record clarification. 

• The Board of Registration and DEQ determined that 

non-degradation calculations (commonly performed by 

land surveyors) are the practice of engineering. The state 

specific land surveyor exam is being rewritten by 3 board 

members. 

NEVADA 

• Conference - 2012 Conference will be held with CLSA 

in Reno on March 23-28 at the Silver Legacy Resort and 

Casino. 

• Central Office – The board members will continue to 

perform the responsibilities of the Executive Secretary 

until the association is in a better financial situation. 

• Legislative – The Nevada Legislature will not reconvene 

until 2013. 

• TrigStar – Visits to participating high schools will 

commence in early spring. 

• Davidson Monument – NALS and CLSA in a joint effort 

completed the restoration of the monument set by George 

Davidson in 1872 in Verdi. 

NEW MEXICO 

• Conference: March 23-24, 2012 at the Marriott Pyramid 

North in Albuquerque. Featured speakers include Gary 

Kent & Steve Parrish. 

• Education – Central New Mexico Community College has 

formalized offering a 2-year Associate Degree in Surveying 

Engineering designed to permit students to transfer to the 

New Mexico State University BS Surveying Engineering 

Program offered in Las Cruces. 

• Legislative – NMPS in the process of selecting a new 

lobbyist to help track issues in the NM legislative sessions. 

• The Engineering and Surveying Practices Act is scheduled 

to “sunset” on July 1, 2012. It is anticipated that the Act 

will be extended and/or reauthorized during the NM 30day 

legislative session between Jan. 17 and Feb. 16, 2012. 

• The NMPS Board of Directors has approved funding to 

support 2 candidates for the 2012 TwiST Program. 

OREGON 

• Conference -2012 PLSO Annual Conference to be held 

March 12-16, Red Lion Hotel in Portland in conjunction 

with GIS in Action. 



WFPS Report. continued from previous page 

• The PLSO BOD has moved to pursue the creation of the 

PLSO Foundation. 

• The Oregon State Board of Examiners for Engineering 

and Land Surveying is working on developing standards 

relating to the practice of surveying. 

• PLSO has been taking an active role in the opposition to 

the proposed Light Squared network. This remains a very 

important and controversial topic to our profession and 

has major destructive implications to the use of precise 

GPS Equipment. 

UTAH 

• Conference - 2012 Conference to be held February 9 & 10 

at the Dixie Center, St. George, Utah. Featured speaker is 

Dennis Mouland. 

• The UCLS and the Utah Association of Counties (UAC) are 

working together to update the State code that requires 

filing surveying in Utah. Also working on guideline for 

filing corner records in Utah. 

• The Utah Division of Occupational and Professional 

Licensing (DOPL) are on board with making a 4 year 

degree mandatory for licensure in Utah. If the current 

plan proceeds, Utah will require a 4 year bachelor’s degree 

starting in 2012 with a grandfather clause that will expire 

in 2020. 

• UCLS is monitoring a complaint filed with the Division of 

Occupation and Professional Licensing that says a licensed 

Geologist is practicing surveying without a license. 

• The Membership Committee of UCLS is having a 

membership incentive drive which includes winning 

prizes for being an involved member throughout the year. 

Attending the annual conference, monthly meetings, 

writing articles, serving on committees, etc. will earn 

points towards prizes for members. 

WASHINGTON 


• Conference: March 7-10, 2012 in Seattle at the Tulalip 

Resort & Casino 

• LSAW offering a reduction in dues for any member 

working less than 24 hours per week 

• LSAW has committed to sponsor 2 teachers for the 2012 

TwiST program. 

• LSAW Foundation announced the award of 6 scholarships 

totaling $6000. 

WYOMING 



• Conference: February 2 & 3, 2012 with the Wyoming 

Engineering Society. Featured speaker is Curt Sumner. 

• Paul Scherbel was nominated and approved for Life 

Membership with PLSW. 

• PLSW received an award for the PLSW “Lines and Points” 

publication. The NSPS Plaque was presented at the Fall 

Technical Session. 

CONFERENCE COMMITTEE – RON WHITEHEAD, 

CHAIRMAN 

• Ron Whitehead reported the New Mexico Association of 

Land Surveyors and the Utah Council of Land Surveyors 

have indicated interest in jointly sponsoring a conference 

with WFPS in 2013. A conference committee was 

established to review the proposals. 

DIRECTION COMMITTEE- 

• Chairman Baldwin requested several individuals 

volunteer to put together an outline of how to implement 

the following proposed programs: Conference; Speaker’s 

Bureau; Workshops; GIS Education 

NCEES – 

• Fundamentals of Surveying Exam is on track to 

become a computer and academic based test in 2013. 

• NCEES has a free Registered Continuing Education 

Program www.rcep.net which allows an individual to 

track his/her Continuing Education Record. NCEES 

evaluates providers for a nominal fee. 

• The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) 

recognizes the Model Law Surveyor as a standard 

for a Professional Land Surveyor. The full text of the 

MLS standard can be downloaded at www.ncees.org/ 

asd.php 

• NCEES Board of Directors has been approached by 

the EPS (Exam for Professional Surveyors) Committee 

to assist in supporting the TwiST program on a 

national level. 

• Total number of resident licensees in the United 

States as of August 2010 is 44,448. Up from 2009 

when there were 39,632. Inquires made to the 

NCEES staff regarding this information have lead to 

the belief by the staff that member boards have under 

reported for the 2009 number. 

FUTURE MEETINGS 

• Saturday, May 19, 2012 in Seattle 

• Saturday, September 29, 2012 in Salt Lake City 

U


Terra Incognita... continued from page 27 

satisfied he had a consistent result. He did not mention observing 

Polaris. He added 0° 16’ for the sun’s semi-diameter and applied 

solar declination, made undefined corrections to the tables and 

developed his latitudes. He carried a compass, but wrote in the 

preface to his diary “...I was not able to obtain a good compass... 

although with respect to the directions which I note down I took 

the greatest care, I am not altogether satisfied with them for lack 

of an instrument. And I have even tried to correct them somewhat 

in order to make the map which accompanies this diary in 

keeping with the latitudes observed.” 

Figure 7. Font’s 1776 map of coastal California and the 

Southern Sea 

Figure 8. Font’s 1777 map of the Bay of San Francisco 


He also specified his unit of length: the Mexican League of 5000 

yards or “3000 geometric paces, of which 28 make a degree of 

latitude on the earth’s surface” which he paced off against a 

measured league prior to leaving. 45 His latitudes are generally 

accurate. For example, on February 2, 1776 he observes the 

latitude of the Presidio at San Diego as 32° 44’ 30”. He writes 

that this agrees with his first observation, taken there on 

January 12th. They actually stand at +/-32° 45’ 31”. Observing 

at the mouth of San Francisco Bay in March of 1776, he recorded 

a latitude of 37° 49’, against an actual latitude of +/- 37° 48’ 39”. 

In many cases, however, his values for latitude are somewhat 

high, as with other Spanish explorers of that era. 

In his own words, Font describes an observation for latitude at 

Santa Ana Pueblo, in Sonora, Mexico: 

“I observed the latitude of this pueblo with the astronomical 

quadrant of the expedition, and, according to the tables of Don 

Jorge Juan, without correction I found it to be in 30° 46½’, and 

with correction in 30° 38½’ (in fact, it is closer to 30 32½’) . For 

greater clarity and satisfaction in all the observations I shall 

record the meridian altitude of the sun over the horizon as shown 

by the quadrant, to which are to be added sixteen minutes, which 

constitute the radius of the solar body, and so I say: at the pueblo 

of Santa Ana, October 7, 1775, meridian altitude of the lower 

limb of the sun, 53° 28’.” 

Nowhere in his diary does Font mention the word longitude, 

though it’s possible he had recourse to some methods for finding 

it. Though rough longitude was attainable by the method of 

lunar distances since 1678, reasonably accurate longitude was 

only possible in the field after the 1760’s. But the explorers in 

New Spain were either unaware of the technique or lacked the 

appropriate timekeeping equipment or almanacs. Nevertheless, 

his map (Fig. 7) indicates longitudes, and reflects convergence 

of the meridians. Like Kino’s, Font’s longitudes increase west 

to east. But there is no mention of a prime meridian; they do 

not come near Kino’s values in areas where their maps overlap, 

which suggests different meridians. He shows the mouth of San 

Francisco Bay at +/-252° 55’. Longitude measured eastward 

from the island of Tenerife comes closest at 254° 09’. All that 

can be said is that, like Kino’s, Font’s features are proportional 

with reality in the areas he actually surveyed. Font also noted 

that he borrowed a graphometer 46 from the priests at Mission 

Carmel, near Monterey. With it he mapped San Francisco Bay, 

Point Arena, Point Reyes and the Farallone Islands. He used 

a level to ascertain tidal variations in Suisun Bay. Whatever 

their inaccuracies, his maps of the coast of California and San 

Francisco Bay (Fig. 8) are immediately recognizable. 

Font was an educated man with a flair for writing and a good 

head for mathematics and astronomy. He was named to the 

expedition for those reasons; that he was a talented musician 

was a bonus for the expedition. It is to his credit that, despite 

some personality issues with Colonel de Anza and being ill 

through most the expedition from Sonora to San Francisco and 

back, he took the greatest care in preparing his observations, 

field notes and maps, and produced a diary that is regarded to 

this day as a classic of western Americana and a primary source 

for the history of California and the Southwest. 47 

End Notes 

1 In 1481 the papal bull Æterni regis had granted all land south of the Canary Islands to 

Portugal. However, the voyage of Columbus changed the game. In May, 1493 the Spanish-born 

Pope Alexander VI decreed in the bull Inter caetera that all lands west and south of a meridional 


Terra Incognita... continued from previous page 

line 100 leagues west and south of any of the islands of the Azores or the Cape Verde Islands 

should belong to Spain, although territories under Christian rule as of Christmas 1492 would 

remain unchanged. Portugal or its lands were not mentioned, so Portugal couldn’t claim newly 

discovered lands even if they were east of the line. Another bull, Dudum siquidem, entitled 

Extension of the Apostolic Grant and Donation of the Indies and dated from September 1493, 

gave all main lands and islands then belonging to India to Spain, even if east of the line. The 

Portuguese protested and entered into direct negotiations with Spain to resolve the differences. 

More treaties ensued but without longitude determination, more boundary disputes came as well. 

2 CIA Factbook for Brazil 

3 It is estimated that only 1 in 25 natives peoples survived small pox and other diseases 

European explorers brought with them to the New World. 

4 BBC, History of the World in 100 Objects, 2010 

5 ibid 

6 Mapping New Spain, Indigenous Cartograhpy and Maps of the Relaciones Geograficas, 

Barbara Mundy, 1996 

7 The Viceroy in Mexico City, concerned about cloud cover on the nights of the eclipse, sent his 

cosmographers to observe in several remote locations, as insurance against failure. Ironically, the 

Viceroy’s cosmographers were quite correct with their observations, while Velasco and his team 

of experts experienced difficulties, resulting in errors. See Secret Science: Spanish Cosmography 

and the New World, Maria Portuondo, 2009 and Mapping New Spain, Indigenous Cartograhpy 

and Maps of the Relaciones Geograficas, Barbara Mundy, 1996, both from University of Chicago 

Press. 

8 An instrument, sometimes called a nocturlabe, used to determine the time from midnight 

using stars in the Big Dipper as a clock. 

9 Mapping New Spain, Indigenous Cartograhpy and Maps of the Relaciones Geograficas, 

Barbara Mundy, University of Chicago Press, 1996 

10 Secret Science: Spanish Cosmography and the New World, Maria Portuondo, 2009 

11 Members of the Society of Jesus, founded by Ignatius de Loyola, a knight from a prominent 

Spanish Basque family, in 1541. The Jesuits are today the largest single Roman Catholic religious 

order 

12 California: A History, Kevin Starr, Random House, 2005 

13 Indigenous Agency within 17th and 18th Century Jesuit Missions..., Catherine M. 

Semones, 2010 

14 In 1583 the Italian Matteo Ricci, S.J. arrived in China with the first contingent of Jesuits. 

Later, French Jesuits did most of the geodetic work. They worked continuously in China until the 

suppression of the Jesuits in 1760’s. 

15 The Jesuits in China were enthusiastic about Galileo’s work, invited the astronomer 

to visit and to send telescopes. Johannes Schreck, S.J., the 7th elected member of the Italian 

scientific academy (Galileo was the 6th) and a former student of Galileo’s at the University at 

Padua, requested some of Galileo’s observations so he could revise inaccuracies in the Chinese 

calendar. Galileo pointedly ignored Schreck, because he had issues with Grassi and Scheiner, 

two anti-Copernican Jesuit critics in Europe, and was not disposed to assist the ones in China, 

while he was being attacked in Italy. Ironically, Schreck was able to contact Johannes Kepler, 

requesting the same information. Kepler, a Protestant, quickly responded and continued to send 

Schreck astronomical data. Schreck died before he finished the calendar reform and the Jesuits 

were prohibited from continuing Copernican teachings after Galileo’s injunction in 1616. See 

Galileo in China, P. M. d’Elia, S.J., 1960 

16 The Great Jesuit Surveys of the People’s Republic of China, 1705-1759, C.A. Norton, Dept 

of Geomatics, University of Alaska-Anchorage 

17 Americanized Encyclopedia Britannica, Vol. 9, 1890 

18 The use of very long chains for distance measurement is noted in several works including 

Memoirs of Father Ripa During Thirteen Years Residence at the Court of Peking in the Service 

of the Emperor of China. 

19 China on Paper: European and Chinese Works from the late 16th to the Early 19th 

Centuries, The Getty Research Institute Publications Program, 2007 

20 The Pius Fund was initiated in the late 1690’s to finance Jesuit and Franciscan missions 

in Las Californias through private donations. It was long-lived, even after the Jesuits were 

expelled from New Spain, and Spain herself left the Americas. It was an issue in the terms of the 

Guadalupe-Hidalgo Treaty at the end of the Mexican War and a resulted in a dispute that brought 

Mexico and the U.S. before the Hague in 1902, in search of a resolution. 

21 Father Kino was born near Trent in 1644, in what is now Italian Tyrol, about 30 miles north 

of where my own grandfather was born. His family name was Latinized from the original Italian 

version of Chini. Kino entered the Jesuit Novitiate at Landsberg, Bavaria at the age of 20. He 

completed his Bachelor’s Degree at the University of Ingolstadt, Bavaria in 1670, and completed 

his Master’s Degree there in 1677. That same year he is ordained a priest. In 1678 he received the 

modern equivalent of a PhD in astronomy and natural sciences from Freiburg University; Kino 

then ministered full time at a parish church in Oettingen, Germany for several years. 

Hebert E. Bolton, PhD in the preface of his translation of Kino’s book on the Pimería Alta, 

describes what happened along the way: “Had he chosen to do so Kino might have enjoyed 

an honorable position, and perhaps even won fame in Europe, for during his student career at 

Freiburg and Ingolstadt he greatly distinguished himself in mathematics. In 1676, when the Duke 

of Bavaria and his father, the Elector, went from the electoral court at Munich to Ingolstadt, they 

engaged Kino in a discussion of mathematical sciences, with the result that he was offered a 

professorship in the University of Ingolstadt. But he preferred to become a missionary...To this, 

perhaps, he was inclined by family tradition, for he was a relative of Father Martini, famous 

missionary in the East and author of many works on China.” 

He was assigned to the Mexican missions that year, although he had requested posting to China, 

according to American Jesuits, published in 1934. While waiting 2 years for a ship to Mexico, he 

ministered & taught in Spain. At age 39 after reaching Baja California, he took his final vows as 

a Jesuit priest. Over his career he established 24 missions, many of which remain in use today. 

Kino’s life was the subject of a life-long study by the late Dr. Hebert E. Bolton, PhD (1870-1953), 

history professor and Chair of the History Department for 22 years at the University of California, 

Berkeley. Other researchers who have written extensively on Kino and related topics are the late 

Father Ernest J. Burrus, S.J. (1907-1991) who over a twenty-four year period produced more than 

forty volumes of historical documentation and commentary on Kino and the history of the Jesuits 

in North America. Dr. Ronald L. Ives, PhD, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, 

wrote extensively on Kino and his explorations, as well as collaborating often with Father Burrus 

in his research on Kino. 

22 Padre on Horseback, A Sketch of Eusebio Kino, Apostle to the Pima, Herbert E. Bolton, 

1932 

23 Alta and Baja California were established as separate territories for missionaries, but were 

not administered separately until much later. 

24 The Spanish Borderlands, Hebert E. Bolton, Yale University Press, 1921 

25 The present mission church of San Xavier in Tucson dates from 1783. 

26 Pioneering Padre on Horseback: Eusebio Kino Part II, S. Bedini, Professional Surveyor 

Magazine, 2000 

27 Magnetic Declination Charts for Historical Epochs, from www.staff.science. 

uu.nl/~gent0113/magdec 

28 Adam Aigenler, S.J. was professor of mathematics and Hebrew at Ingolstadt University, 

while Kino was a seminarian there. His various tables, including solar declination, were widely 

used. Aigenler himself left Europe for missionary work in China in 1672. While waiting for a 

China-bound ship in Portugal, he wrote a Portuguese grammar, having previously written one 

for Hebrew. He died enroute to China on-board ship, near Goa, India in August of 1673, tending 

fellow passengers infested with plague. 

29 The book Kino had in his saddle bag was Father Aigenler’s Tabula Geographico- 

Horologio Universalis Within it, among other things, were the solar declination tables Tabella 

Declinationum Solis ab Ǣquatore. 

30 The High Latitudes of Early Spanish Maps, Ronald L. Ives, PhD. Dr. Ives further pointed out 

that solar declination changes slightly from year to year. The introduction (in Catholic countries 

only) of the Gregorian Calendar in 1572 accounted for the 10 day error that had crept into the 

Julian calendar. He also noted that Aigenler’s tables listed the earth’s axial inclination at 23½°, 

when in reality it is somewhat smaller than that. 

31 Kino’s Historical Memoir of Pimería Alta, Herbert E. Bolton, Clark Co., 1919 

32 Navigation Methods of Eusebio Francisco Kino, Ronald L. Ives, PhD, Arizona and the 

West, 

Vol. II, No. 3, Autumn 1960, pp. 213-43 

33 The High Latitudes of Early Spanish Maps, Ronald L. Ives, PhD 

34 The first practical pocket chronometers, suitable for longitude determination on overland 

reconnaissance surveys, began appearing in Europe around 1780, invented by English 

clockmaker John Arnold. 

35 The Castilian League, Fred Roeder, LS, American Surveyor, April, 2009 

36 The Mark of Burgos is a vara standard cut into the side of the cathedral at Burgos, Spain. 

37 For a thorough discussion of the lengths of the league and vara, see Bud Uzes’ book 

Chaining the Land. 

38 W. & L. E. Gurley, Manual of the Principal Instrument Used in American Engineering and 

Surveying (Troy, N.Y., 1874) 

39 At one time the Spanish used the southwestern most of the Canary Islands, Isla del Hierro, 

the so called “Meridian Island”, as their prime meridian, according to Father Polzer, referenced 

below. At other times the largest of the Canary Islands, Santa Cruz de Tenerife is referenced as 

the prime meridian. 

40 As per the Ordenanzas del Consejo real de las Indias, a lengthy codification of laws 

governing cosmographers working for the Spanish crown, published in 1585 

41 Jesuit Mission of Northern Mexico, Charles W. Polzer, S.J., 1991 

42 Franciscans is the popular name of the priests and brothers of the Order of 

Friars Minor, founded by St. Francis of Assisi in 1209. 

43 The Russians established Fort Ross in 1812, as their southernmost base on 

the Pacific Coast. Mission San Rafael Arcángel was founded in 1817, the last and 

northernmost mission created before Mexican independence. It is located 54 miles 

southerly from Fort Ross. Mission San Francisco Solano, located in San Rafael, CA, 

was founded in 1827, after Mexico’s independence. 

44 Font carried two sets of tables, one by an unnamed Franciscan and those of 

Jorge Juan y Santacilia (1713-1773) a Spanish geodesist and astronomer. Juan was 

a naval officer who was appointed by the King to accompany the Paris Academy’s 

expedition to measure a meridian arc in Peru in the 1730’s. In 1757 he founded 

Spain’s national observatory. 

45 The Anza Expedition of 1775-1776: Diary of Pedro Font, University of 

California, 1913 

46 A graphometer is graduated semicircle with a pair of sighting vanes at either 

end, and a movable alidade with another pair of sights at either end. The form was 

introduced in Paris, 1597. Many graphometers have an inset magnetic compass. See 

the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History website. 

47 We are indebted again to Herbert Bolton for translating the diaries of both 

Father Font and Colonel de Anza into English and popularizing the history these 

explorers made. 

U 


NV Four Year Degree Program.... continued from page 20 

to provide the on-the-job education that a surveyor needs to 

become licensed. Yes, I said ‘education’ not training. 

Education involves teaching basic fundamental concepts. If 

you are called to mentor a new member to this profession, 

you may find it necessary to dust off that old elementary 

survey book you have in your library. Survey labs and survey 

computation assignments that are designed to teach concepts 


and fundamentals may not be those routinely found in 

production surveying. 

In the next issue of The Nevada Traverse we will look at a 

profile of those students pursuing their educational objectives 

in the GBC Land Surveying/Geomatics Program. No doubt 

there will be some surprises here. 

U

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o REGULAR MEMBER: Any person holding registration as a Professional Land Surveyor in 

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The Nevada Association of Land Surveyors 

Editor: Terry W. McHenry, P.L.S. 

NALS Central Office 

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