Reference Monuments

Ordinarily, reference monuments have been set in situations where the actual corner point was, or could have been, occupied. In fact, reference monuments were often set while the surveyor and his instrument were at the actual corner point.

A reference monument is an accessory to a corner. As such, when found intact, the actual corner point can be located and there is no lost corner — which rules out the possibility of proportioning the corner.

Reference monuments are generally set (located) as if they were bearing trees or bearing objects.

CAUTION: When more than one reference monument is set to witness a corner point, they are often set at equal distances; but not always!

Some reference monuments are set at right angle offsets from the centerline of a highway or railroad.

The actual corner point can be located from one or more reference monuments in the same way it would be located from bearing trees.