X marks the spot... well, sort of: Four Corners Monument expects tourism increaseA miscalculation in the location of the Four Corners Monument likely will not deter visitors to the only place in the country where four states meet.
The number of tourists who want to stand on the intersection of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah has decreased steadily during the past decade, Park Manager DeWayne Johnson said, but recent media coverage exposing a surveying error is expected to increase tourism to the monument and the nearby community of Teec Nos Pos, Ariz.The nature of the error:
The Associated Press reported last week that the initial 1868 survey placed the monument as much as 2.5 miles west of where it should be. Days later, the AP issued a correction stating the monument actually is about 1,800 feet east of where it was intended.Comment: You can see my pix of the Four Corners Monument
here.
Its ok, the monument is not "off". It's in the correct place, the geographic coordinates do not hold over the physical monument, they are subservient to it. Think of them as directions on a treasure map. The coordinates help you get near to the treasure but then you need to look around. Same with monuments, the math is only an indication of where the monument is, like directions, the math does not move the monument only helps to find it. It's why the original law stated 32 degrees west of the Washington Meridian. The people setting up the PLSS knew precision was impossible and therefore didn't demand it. So stand on the monument and you're in four states at once.
ReplyDeleteFor the real story go to this link:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ngs.noaa.gov/INFO/fourcorners.shtml