Chaining Oregon written by Kay Atwood, first published in 2008 explores the life of the surveying the Pacific Northwest from 1851-1855. In this book, Atwood tells the story of a group of male surveyors who had to use 66 ft. chains in harsh conditions in order to survey the new land, which is quite different from today’s standards of surveying (pointing a laser to a distant point with accuracy). This brings forth the main purpose of this book, which is how difficult it was to survey and travel along this unfamiliar land. The book begins in the spring of 1851 and follows the first group of men who set out to survey the Pacific Northwest. At this time, surveyors were a much needed commodity for those in the area wanted to dived up and sell their land and needed designated claimed boundaries and the surveyors were usually young men looking for a way to get out west. When the surveyor’s first arrived they noted the terrain was unlike anything they had ever seen, ridges were covered with dark trees and ahead of them were the slopes of the Cascades. …show more content…
Using what was invented by Edmund Gunter in the 17th century (four pull chain with 100 links), the men were required to take precise measurements by “keeping the chain horizontally level and stretched as taut as possible over even and rough ground. When handling the chain on steep slopes, the surveyors reduced the chain to half its length in order to retain horizontal, taut position. Finally the chairmen had to make sure the tally-pins were plumbed (dropped) accurately to precisely mark the spot they should be stuck” (Atwood, 38). This lengthy procedure was set in place in order to prevent any