mini concrete obelisk marked "SP..."

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Chip Down
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mini concrete obelisk marked "SP..."

Post by Chip Down » May 27th, 2017, 6:24 pm

When out bushwhacking in a remote area today, I noticed a Longview Fibre marker on a tree, then another, and another. From where I stood, they were surrounding me in a circular pattern. It felt a little spooky. I was clearly in the center of a circle. But why?

There was a fence post next to me (one of those steel posts that you might use to support a simple wire fence).

Then I noticed this little concrete obelisk marked "S" on adjacent faces. A little digging revealed a "P" under each S. There were very faint roadbeds in the area, and I saw at least one large tree that appeared to be sawcut, but it was so old and decayed that I couldn't be 100% certain.

Any ideas?
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Peabody
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Re: mini concrete obelisk marked "SP..."

Post by Peabody » May 28th, 2017, 9:23 am

My best guess would be it's a survey marker of some sort. The road beds you saw could also be railroad beds. If that's the case the SP might refer to the Southern Pacific railroad.

"The Southern Pacific Transportation Company (reporting mark SP)"

Can you provide the location of the marker?
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Don Nelsen
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Re: mini concrete obelisk marked "SP..."

Post by Don Nelsen » May 28th, 2017, 11:08 am

Neat fine! I'd like know where that is too.

dn
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Chip Down
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Re: mini concrete obelisk marked "SP..."

Post by Chip Down » May 28th, 2017, 4:56 pm

Hi Peabody. I wondered about Southern Pacific, but in an area this steep and remote, I think a rail line would likely be owned/operated by miners/loggers. But maybe in those days the major rail lines got into the natural resource extraction business too. Whatever it is, odd that it's marked on just two faces. My first thought was "south" but that didn't hold up to scrutiny.

Don, glad to see you spotted this topic. You know you've found something cool when DN doesn't know what it is. :D

I think there's a very low risk of theft, so I'll post location below.
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adamschneider
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Re: mini concrete obelisk marked "SP..."

Post by adamschneider » May 28th, 2017, 5:59 pm

Well, then, mystery solved: that's the corner of the Beacon Rock State Park boundary.
BRSP.jpg
(I originally thought maybe it stood for "State Park," but it seemed too obvious somehow.)

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Chip Down
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Re: mini concrete obelisk marked "SP..."

Post by Chip Down » May 28th, 2017, 7:49 pm

Oh!
Almost disappointing that it's not something more exotic and historic, but good to know. Most bushwhackers in the gorge (and elsewhere) have encountered SP signs on trees, but I guess this was oddball. Somebody really exerted some effort to mark that corner.

Interesting to note that this marker would only work on a ninety-degree junction, but I imagine most SP borders are like that. If I'd really thought this through, I would have observed the orientation of those faces (I'm old school, still carry a compass).

I wondered if this topic would grab any attention buried down in this forum. Thanks for all the feedback and comments.

Damn...looking back at the map I posted, I'm embarrassed I didn't notice my yellow x is right at a green corner. It's a wonder I don't get lost more often. :lol:

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retired jerry
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Re: mini concrete obelisk marked "SP..."

Post by retired jerry » May 29th, 2017, 5:37 am

I was going to say "State Park" just as a smart axx comment :)

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Peabody
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Re: mini concrete obelisk marked "SP..."

Post by Peabody » May 29th, 2017, 2:30 pm

Peabody wrote:My best guess would be it's a survey marker of some sort. The road beds you saw could also be railroad beds. If that's the case the SP might refer to the Southern Pacific railroad.

"The Southern Pacific Transportation Company (reporting mark SP)"

Can you provide the location of the marker?
Swing and a miss. :)
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Lurch
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Re: mini concrete obelisk marked "SP..."

Post by Lurch » May 30th, 2017, 7:43 am

Even if it was a miss this time, not necessarily a bad one. They had remote survey reference points that were used for triangulation during large scale construction all the time.

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Re: mini concrete obelisk marked "SP..."

Post by aiwetir » October 12th, 2018, 10:46 pm

Since railroads were given every other section in places, it's not too far out in left field to think a railroad marker would be out of expected terrain. Good guess.
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