Manitoba's Uncommon Sites and Sights
Spotlight #1 --- Section markers (?) in Headingley & elsewhere
Please send your contributions to pjarmstrong@mts.netYour comments will appear at the bottom of this page
under 'Viewers' Comments" .
- Do you have information about either of the
two markers shown below?
- Do they mark the SW corners of sections of land?
- What do the numbers on the markers refer to?
- Have you seen any other similar markers? Where?
Image #1 -- in Headingley at the NE corner of Hwy #1 and Dodds Road (Hwy # 334).
Image #2 -- at the NE corner of Inkster Blvd & Sturgeon Road.
Viewers' Comments
John Ostwald [Victoria, B.C.] -- You have me on the markers. My first thought was the railway land grants. I've seen these all over the prairies. The numbering never goes over 2 on the top and 2 on the bottom. Not much math there, 9999 combinations.I thought maybe section markers, or 1/4 section (free land grants) as I remember more 03 bottoms. Confusing ??? Railway is my guess. I'll check with their webpages.
Harold Reid [west of Teulon] -- Re: Section Markers; prior to the reconstruction of P.R. 415 in front of my residence, there was a marker similar to the photos in front of my property between the ditch and my fenceline.I always assumed that it was a mile marker as the number 9 was on the marker and my property is 9 miles east of Highway # 7. After the road reconstruction this marker was never replaced.
I would enquire with the Department of Highways. Possibly, one of the older employees would know why they were placed. It appears that they are no longer used on Provincial Highways.
Gary Fraser -- They are not survey markers. They appear to be highway markers.
[Gary is an Examiner of surveys with the Man. Gov't.]
Bill Duchart [McCreary, MB] -- These are highway control section markers. In the mid 60's, highways in the province were divided into control sections for administrative and reporting purpose.They were placed along the north or east side of the roadway. The top number indicates the control section and the bottom number the mile in that section. The road number itself was not shown. A number on the back would indicate the Highway District number.
In the mid 80's, 4x4 posts began to be used. Although control sections are still used by the department, it seems the markers are no longer erected or maintained.
Buzz P Koczka [Winnipeg, MB] -- Buzz stated that the comments by Bill Duchart (see above) were correct. Global positioning satellites [GPS] are now used instead of these markers. -- Buzz is continuing to research this topic. [Jan. 2006]