SURVEYING 



21 



Fig. 3. A steel tape wound on a reel. 



100 feet long is usually termed the engineer's tape, and 

 either this length or the 50 foot tape is the most convenient. 



The average width of 

 the steel tape is 5-16 of 

 an inch, and the thick- 

 ness about .02 of an inch. 

 Short tapes are arranged 

 to be carried in metal or 

 leather cases, but longer 

 tapes are carried either 

 on reels or are " thrown" 

 into a coil from which they can be unwound without danger 

 of kinking. 



Arrows, or Marking Pins. For mark- 

 ing points temporarily while measuring with 

 a tape or chain, arrows, or marking pins, 

 are used. These are made of stout wire, 

 pointed at one end, with a large eye or ring 

 at the other. In order that the pins may 

 be easily found in the grass or leaves, a 

 piece of colored cloth should be tied to the 

 rings. Eleven pins are required for a com- 

 plete set, and are best carried on a ring 

 with a. spring catch. 



Range Poles or Flagstaffs are used to 

 locate points in establishing a line. They are rods or poles 

 usually 6 to 10 feet long, made of wood or iron, pointed 

 so as to be easily planted in the ground, and painted red 

 and white alternately in foot sections. 



Flagstaffs should be placed directly over the points they 

 are to mark, and great care should be used to plant them truly 

 vertical. Much skill may be attained by practice in estab- 

 lishing lines with flagstaffs, and this skill will be found very 

 useful in laying out fields, fences, etc. 



Fig. 4. Arrows 

 or pins. 



