Robert B. Stanton and the Denver, Colorado Cañon & Pacific Railroad Survey

 

In 1889, railroad company president Frank M. Brown, Engineer Robert Brewster Stanton, and several workers embarked upon a railroad survey down the Colorado River to the Gulf of California in Mexico. This was the first major exploration of Grand Canyon since Major John Wesley Powell's expeditions in 1869and 1871-72.

 

The expedition's six boats soon proved to be fatally inadequate.Abandoning the remaining boats and catching their equipment, they trudgedout of Marble Canyon. Returning with much improved boats, they successfully floated and portaged through the Grand Canyon. eventually abandoning the idea of accurately surveying a complete route, they made a detailed reconnaissance supplemented with hundreds of photographs, several of whichare used in the presentation.

 

The rough terrainand raging river limited the amount of measuring done with a chain,and the seminar includes discussion o the triangulation and stadia surveying methods used.

 

Recording password: FrankBrown2020