PLSO The Oregon Surveyor Nov/Dec 2018

14 The Oregon Surveyor | Vol. 41, No. 6 Featured Article following excerpt is from the field notes: “Made excavation and deposited two sea- soned mtn. mahogany stakes 12 in. x 1 ½ in. Erected a 7 -foot juniper post 6 in. sq. at top. Deeply marked in sides “O” “I” “1876” “106M”. Built mound of earth, dug trench and pits.” This juniper monument stood against the harsh eastern Oregon elements for 66 years until it was replaced. In 1933, the GLO contracted A.T. Harris to conduct a retracement of the State line between mile 102 and mile 107. The following is taken from the field notes of that survey: “The 106 mile cor., which is a juniper post, 6 in. square, 6 ft. long, firmly set in a mound of stone, marked. and witnessed as described in the offi- cial record. In place of post; set an iron post, 3 ft. long, 2 ins. Diam., 36 ins. In the original mound of stone, for the 106 mile corner…” The notes contain the names of Harris’s field assistants, which include Duane’s uncle Warren Watt (Principal Assistant) and uncle Alden Watt (Flagman). Duane’s Father, Melvin Watt (Principal Assistant), was also on a GLO survey crew in the Idaho area during the 1930’s. The top of removed juniper post was sawed off and mounted for display by one of the Watts, undoubtedly, and resided with the fami- ly for 75 years. Melvin Watt’s Surveying Days Melvin Watt worked for Frank Maxwell in Idaho in the 1930’s. Duane recounts his father telling him that Mr. Maxwell was organized and very precise. He would wind his watch every day like clockwork. Mr. Maxwell was also hard of hearing. One day, Mr. Maxwell sent Melvin on ahead to scout for the best route up a hill. Melvin ascended the hill and was standing on a boulder, when he realized he was surrounded by rattlesnakes. He was stuck on the rock and as he shouted for some help to escape, you can imag- ine that Mr. Maxwell did not understand what all of the commotion was about. Melvin was stuck for quite some time before they Mr. Maxwell was able to get to him and see the problem. On another expedition, the survey crew was advised to keep an eye out for a battlefield that had never been found. In the late 1800’s (probably during the Idaho Indian Wars), there had been a skirmish between the US Army and Na- tive American Indians, in which all the soldiers had been massacred. The sur- vey crew did come across the battlefield during their survey, and found brass but- tons, leather and belt buckles from the soldiers. Rumor has it that the findings from that survey expedition are on dis- play at the Idaho State Museum in Boise. To his credit, MelvinWatt was also helped survey Craters of the Moon and Yellow- stone National Parks.  x continued from page 13 T