Hall County NEGenWeb
Reminiscences & Narratives of Pioneers
UNCLE SAM'S SURVEYORS

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Transcribed from
the ©1920 "History of Hall County," by Buechler, Barr, and Stough

In 1866 the government sent out land surveyors through Nebraska and two or three of them stayed at our place for several days going over their figures. They gave us quite a little information concerning section corners and half mile stakes and told us what amount of labor would be necessary to provide for steam boats to go up the north channel to the Platte River. This channel was called the meandering stream of the Platte River. Their figures showed that the north channel put out ten miles east of Fort Kearny, which formed Grand Island. This channel went to the Old Long Tree Stage section. Their figures showed that Grand Island was sixty miles in its length, and ranged from half a mile to two miles and half in width. This had been known as Grand Island since the early 'fifties. In 1867 a company of surveyors came through and made three surveys, saying they were surveying for the railroad. Their second line of survey was selected for the route of the railroad.