Sometimes a stone bound is found with no visible mark. In such cases tradition calls for the center of the back face to be the point at which measurement is to be made. Both state and county engineering departments used this standard. The record drawings show that by drawing the entire bound inside the right-of-way boundary line.
In a recent project three of these bounds were found marking the boundary of a 1930 county highway layout. It is assumed they were set flush with the surface, but, over time composted material covered them. Preliminary coordinates, probing the ground and some digging uncovered the marks enough so that the back face was visible.
The center of the back face mark is reconstructed using a ruler and a lumber crayon before making measurements. The crayon will not harm or permanently mark the surface of the stone.
Unfortunately, we sometimes find marks made at the center of these stones that were made by others who are not aware of the method used in setting the stones long ago.
