Surveyors nationwide donating to help “A Gift to the Nation” From the NSPS Learn more online 13 Professional Land Surveyors of Oregon | www.plso.org Is this the most historically-signifi cant surveying instrument in America? Mason & Dixon’s astronomical transit, used on the fi ve-year colonial survey of Maryland, Delaware and Pennsylvania following the French & Indian War is being restored to its full original condition. Th e transit is a masterpiece of science and technology by English instrument-maker John Bird in 1760. All that remains today of Mason & Dixon’s ‘Transit and Equal Altitude Instrument’ are its telescope, trunnions and striding level in deteriorated condition. Th e optics are cloudy. Missing completely are the instrument’s original mounting cradle, degree-rings, rotating shaft , adjusting mechanisms and other crucial parts. Th e remnant pieces are owned by the National Park Service and kept on the second fl oor of Independence Hall—seldom displayed, on a far back table. Following Mason & Dixon, in 1784 David Rittenhouse and Andrew Ellicott used the instrument in western Pennsylvania— the last ‘fi eld job’ it ever saw. Th e fi nest experts in America are completely restoring the transit. Its ‘milky’ optics are being repaired, and all missing parts are being reconstructed by hand. To keep costs down, most of the craft smen are donating their skills and time, charging only for materials. At least $25,000 must be found from private sources to pay for this restoration. A non-profi t NSPS support group, “Th e Friends of Independence National Historical Park,” has been trying since September to raise the money. Taxdeductible private donations are sought from individuals and organizations. Contributions have been coming in from surveyors all across the country. Several professional organizations have made substantial donations, among them the Surveyors Historical Society (SHS), the District of Columbia Association of Land Surveyors (DCALS), the Maryland Society of Professional Engineers (MSPE) and the Maryland Society of Surveyors (MSS), but the goal is far from reached. Once completed, the beautifully-restored instrument will become part of the main public display at Independence Hall, shown to thousands of visitors from around the world. All donors’ names will be inscribed in a large leather book, to be permanently displayed with the transit. Th e book will be entitled, A Gi to the Nation because that’s what this eff ort is. Instead of neglected parts on a back table, the country will once again have Mason & Dixon’s original historic transit, completely restored and prominently displayed on a correct authentic tripod...a gift from the land surveyors of America to our nation. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation if you haven’t already. Every contribution is appreciated, acknowledged, permanently recorded, and greatly needed. » DONATION FORM Th ank you for helping. ◉ ON PAGE 14 October 8, 2015: 250th Anniversary of the Mason-Dixon Survey Th e restored instrument will be unveiled Oct. 8, 2015 at the Maryland Historical Society in Baltimore during a celebration of the 250th Anniversary of the Mason- Dixon Survey. • Contributors will have their names memorialized in a leather bound book entitled “A Gift to the Nation” which will be displayed at Independence Hall. • All contributors will receive extensive recognition for their donation. • Society-level contributors and Sponsors will receive admission to the celebration in October 2015. For more information contact: David S. Th aler, PE, LS dsthaler@dsthaler.com Chas Langelan, LS clangelan@comcast.net Restoration of the Bird Transit www.mdspe.org/?BirdTransit Th e Mystery of the Transit in the Tower By David S. Th aler, L.S. www.surveyorshistoricalsociety.com/MysteryTower.php Th e Friends of Independence National Historical Park www.friendsofi ndependence.org Maryland Historical Society | Museum and Library www.mdhs.org NSPS NEWS
PLSO Issue 1 2015 Jan_Feb
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