We specialize in providing legal land surveying services such as ALTA Surveys, Property Surveys, Boundary Surveys and FEMA Flood Elevation Certificates.
   We know that when service is your only product, how well you meet the needs of the client will determine the quality of your business.* * * Jerry L. Webster, Arizona Registered Land Surveyor, Owner

• Home
• Land Surveying
  • Arizona Land Surveying
  • ALTA Survey
  • Boundary Survey
  • Lot Property Survey
  • FEMA El. Cert's
  • Lot Split
  • Plats | Condominium Plat
  • Legal Description
• Civil Design
• Information
  • About Us
  • Property Survey Cost
  • ALTA Survey Standards
  • Arizona Survey Standards
  • Service Area
  • AZ Land Surveying
• Testimonials

Believe it or not, Land Surveying in Arizona Started in 1866. From a report in 1867 by Joseph S. Wilson, Commissioner of the General Land Office : "A contract was entered into with Deputy Surveyor William H. Pierce on the 15th day of December, 1866, for the survey in Arizona of 96 miles of the Gila and Salt River Meridian; 36 miles of the base line and standard and exterior township boundary lines, to amount in the aggregate to a sum not exceeding $7,500. Mr. Pierce completed the survey of the meridian from the initial corner north 24 miles, the base line from the same corner east 36 miles, and the first standard parallel north along the south boundary of township 5 north, east 42 miles, and west 42 miles, when the military protection which had been furnished him was withdrawn, and he was compelled to quit the field, the Indians infesting the country, rendering it unsafe and impracticable to continue the work without military escort. At his request, and by your order, Mr. Pierce has been released from further obligation to prosecute the work under his contract."

Todays Look at Arizona's Past...

Chapter 23 - From #13 : - The Fifth Legislature convened in Tucson on the 10th day of November, and ended on the 16th day of December, A. D. 1868. Cont... On May 29, 1868, an amendment to the Appropriation Bill was introduced by Mr. Windom, reading as follows: For completing construction of irrigating canal on the Colorado reservation, breaking and fencing lands, purchase of seeds, teams and tools, construction of agency buildings, subsistence, etc., $84,500. -- Upon this amendment Mr. Bashford spoke as follows: May 29, 1868. -- Mr. Chairman, I had not intended to say anything upon this amendment proposed by the chairman of the Committee on Indian Affairs. That committee made, so far as they were able, a careful examination into this subject, and although there was not a full attendance, the members present were unanimously in favor of the amendment now offered. Now, Mr. Chairman, as the representative on this floor of Arizona Territory, I wish to state what I know of the Indians of that country after a residence there of some five years. -- The amendment proposes to bring together some ten thousand Indians who now have no local habitation, no home, and put them upon the reservation. During the discussion upon this bill I have heard a great deal about our Indian policy. It has been argued that the policy pursued by the Government is unwise. But, sir, can any better Indian policy be adopted than that contemplated by this amendment, which is to give the Indians a home, to put them upon a reservation where they can be self-sustaining? -- The principal difficulty in making treaties with the Indians has been that when you have made a treaty, the Indians having no home, you have not been able to enforce it. You cannot punish them when they violate their treaty obligations. But when you put them upon a reservation, where they gather about them their families, their horses, their cattle, where they engage in the cultivation of their fields, they always keep their treaties, because they can be punished when they violate them. Sir, the true Indian policy to be pursued by this Government is to place these Indians upon reservations. -- Now, sir, this canal is some thirty miles long, some nine feet deep, and some twenty feet wide. It will irrigate land enough for all these Indians, and some more-not Indians to be picked, as the gentleman from Massachusetts has said-but some Indians known as the River Indians, who are friendly when they are properly treated; who have always been friendly as a general rule. And, sir, they have only been hostile as the result of such a policy as is contemplated by this bill without the proposed amendment. Ever since the acquisition of this Indian country by the United States the Government has, through its representatives and agents, held out to these Indians the prospect that they should be placed upon reservations and cared for, as contemplated by this amendment. By failing to carry out this policy, you render the Indians hostile; and sir, I say, not for the purpose of affecting this vote, that the safety of the people of the country would be endangered if these ten or twelve thousand Indians should join hands with the Apaches. -- Upon this reservation all the Indians of that country can be supported and cared for; and instead of being our enemies they will be our friends. We have heretofore raised companies of Indians to fight the Apaches, who have been our foes, stealing our property and murdering our people. I presume that this amendment was not properly presented and pressed before the Committee upon Appropriation, otherwise they would have been in favor of it. I know that it contemplates the only policy which the United States can wisely pursue in regard to the Indians in that far off country. -- Mr. Windom, in support of the amendment, had the clerk read the following: Plats of survey for canal are on file in the Indian Bureau. Estimated cost about one hundred and twenty thousand dollars, but by Indian labor can be done for much less. The canal, now already under course of construction, is thirty miles in length, twenty feet wide, with an average depth of about nine feet. When completed will irrigate seventy-five thousand acres of land. The work is being prosecuted by the Indians, who work with a will, and it is confidently expected that the entire work will be completed during the present year, affording a home for ten or twelve thousand Indians, and rendering them in the future entirely self-sustaining. Should this appropriation fail fears are entertained that the labor already performed may be lost by reason of rains and overflow of river. This appropriation is asked also for breaking and fencing lands, building of houses, purchase of seed, agricultural implements, etc.

About The Historical Texts

Following is the list of uncopyrighted publications used for the History of Arizona and the Southwest. All can be easily found on-line in PDF format. Sorted by publication date they are:

1. The Memoir of the Proposed Territory of Arizona - 1857 | By Sylvester Mowry
2. Arizona and Sonora - 1863 | By Sylvester Mowry
3. The Territory of Arizona_1874 | By Arizona Legislative Assembly
4. Resources of Arizona - 1881 | By Arizona Legislative Assembly
5. The History of Arizona and New Mexico, Volume 17 - 1889 - (Arizona Portion) | By Hubert Howe Bancroft
6. Titan of Chasms the Grand Canyon - 1906 | By C.A. Higgins, J.W. Powell, Chas.F.Lumins
7. Reminiscences of a Soldiers Wife - 1907 - (Arizona Portion) | By Ellen McGowan Biddle
8. The First Through the Grand Canyon - 1915 | By Major John Wesley Powell
9. The History of Arizona, Volume 1 - 1915 (starting Chapter VII) | By Thomas Edwin Farish
10. The History of Arizona, Volume 2 - 1915 | By Thomas Edwin Farish
11. The History of Arizona, Volume 3 - 1916 | By Thomas Edwin Farish
12. The History of Arizona, Volume 4 - 1916 | By Thomas Edwin Farish
13. The History of Arizona, Volume 5 - 1918 | By Thomas Edwin Farish
14. The History of Arizona, Volume 6 - 1918 | By Thomas Edwin Farish
15. The History of Arizona, Volume 7 - 1918 | By Thomas Edwin Farish
16. The History Of Arizona, Volume 8 - 1918 | By Thomas Edwin Farish
17. The Biographical Memoir of John Wesley Powell - 1915 | By W.M.Davis
18. Arizona the Wonderland - 1917 | By George Wharton James
19. The Story of Arizona - 1919 | By Will H. Robinson

The majority of the publications listed here were written with the intent to be historically accurate. This is not an attempt to make a point of historical fact by providing this information. It is intended to simply share what is documented about the American Southwest, primarily on the Arizona Territorial area.

There are no living people to speak for the time period related here. We must use recorded information to look into that era. The point-of-view of today is different from those living then. The intent here is not to provide an opinion. If one spends time reading the material listed, it will be enlightening as to life in the untamed Territory of Arizona as it was in the minds of the people of at that era.

Regarding the stories of the all of people in the Territory of Arizona it can bring out all emotions. From sympathy to anger and sadness to admiration, you will feel something. It is difficult to imagine what it would be like to be living here, or traveling through, at different times in the past. It is hopeful that all will find a least find some amusement looking through the window of the past provided here.

 

The historical information from the books provided on a page found today will be a continuance of the what was provided yesterday from the same book. Tomorrow the book will be a continuance of what is provided today until the end of the book is reached. At that point, a different book will be started.

It was a rough life for the Land Surveyor of yester-year. The Survey party that was sent out then consisted of a large crew. Usually between 5-7 men. There was a head Land Surveyor along with a couple of Land Surveyor trainees which pulled the chain. The chain was an actual 66 foot long chain, with 100 links, used to measure distance. It looks similar to what holding the flags at the base of the page. There were laborers to help clear trees and brush out of the way. Given the crude equipment of the time, it is amazing how accurate some of the old Land Surveyor's measurements were.