On display in the Washington County Office Building is the Tri-State Monument. In the bottom right corner of the display is a sandstone block. This block is the monument that was formerly the marker that located the boundaries of Arizona, Nevada and Utah.
Between the Utah Council of Land Surveyors (UCLS) 2016 and the 2017 Annual Conferences, the UCLS Executive Board assigned its Color Country Chapter the task of working with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in the re-monumentation project of the Tri-State monument.
Upon arriving at the monument in the remote deserts of northwest Arizona, eastern Nevada and southwest Utah, a red sandstone shaft was found. According to 1901 survey notes, this shaft was six feet long, 16 inches broad, and 12 inches thick. From the top down, it was dressed (or smoothed out) eight inches and was marked with letters one and one-half inch square deeply engraved in the stone. There are four sides to this monument, with Nevada on the northwest, Utah on the northeast, Arizona on the southeast and INTL. MONT 37 N. L. 1901 on the southwest face.
Also, according to the survey notes, there was a raised mound of stones with a five-and-a-half foot base and two-and-a-half feet high surrounding the shaft, which were mostly still there. This monument also stood about three to three-and-a-half feet above the ground. This monument was set in 1901, and when seen on this outing, it showed signs of weathering and some graffiti (engravings from some of its visitors), but all in all, was in decent condition.
After several meetings and collaborating with the BLM, UCLS, the Arizona Professional Land Surveyors (APLS), and the Nevada Association of Land Surveyors (NALS) association boards and interested members, the task of removing the stone shaft and replacing it with the new monument commenced. The team began with a retracement survey where three survey groups were formed, one group heading north on the Nevada and Utah State lines, one group heading east on the Arizona and Utah State lines, and one heading south on the Arizona and Nevada State lines.
The crews to the east and south went out a mile looking for and tying in old survey markers, while the crew to the north went about one-and-a-half miles looking for old survey markers as well as evidence of an 1870 Survey. Each crew used survey-grade GPS equipment, which gives sub-centimeter accuracy. The measurements and descriptions are a part of the Public Land Survey System Plat and the field notes that are recorded for land managers and public use.
After the retracement survey was completed, the team began to remove the stone shaft monument and build the new monument that is in place today. To our surprise, the bottom of the monument was also dressed (or smoothed out) into a triangle shape (1870 Survey). The three sides of this portion of the monument included Arizona on one side, Nevada on another side, and Utah on the third side. This stone is now on display at the Washington County Office Building, located in St. George, Utah at 111 E. Tabernacle Street.
History of the Monument
1870: Under the General Land Office Contract dated Aug. 16th, 1870, Isaac P. James, Astronomer and Surveyor, surveyed the eastern boundary of the state of Nevada. The survey commenced Oct. 17, 1870, and was completed Dec. 26, 1870. During the survey, Mr. James established at the 37th Parallel North Latitude, the corner of Utah, Arizona, and Nevada, at mile 298 and 56.00 chains from his Initial Point to the north on the Central Pacific Railroad.
1900-1901: Under the General Land Office Contract dated Oct. 13th, 1900, Howard B. Carpenter, U.S. Surveyor and Astronomer, was directed to survey the boundary line between the state of Utah and the territory of Arizona. The survey commenced March 24, 1901, and was completed July 1, 1901.
Learning from local people living on the Virgin River near where it is crossed by the line between Nevada and Arizona, old corners on the line were still in existence, and the sandstone shaft that was erected by Mr. James in 1870 to mark the 37th Parallel was still standing. Mr. James proceeded out from St. George, Utah, and Beaver Dam wash, in Arizona and found the 1870 James state line corners. After astronomical observations, it was determined that the “James Monument was 111.51 chains too far north. Therefore, pursuant to instructions, destroy the James corner and proceed to establish the initial corner at the intersection of the 37th Parallel with the James line.
At the intersection of the 37th Parallel North Latitude with the James line, a red sandstone shaft was set. We hope to have the 1901 portion of the stone shaft on display soon.
