The surveyor's chain was subject to wear between the links, and could 
become longer. In the USA, there are scattered around the country, 
accurately spaced monuments, where a surveyor, or others can check the 
length of there linear measuring devices. In my earlier years, used one 
located in the lower level of a county courthouse. Was a pair of brass 
rods with center punch marks in the marble floor. Early surveyors used 
magnetic compasses, and it was important to know whether he was left or 
right handed. The steel sidearm (gun) would affect the compass.

Peter Wilson wrote:
> Couldn't let this pass ..
>
> A yardstick is a yard which is 3' (3 feet) -  3' 3" is a approximation 
> of a meter.
>
> Interestingly a chain was a surveyors chain which comprised 100 links 
> and was 22 yards long. A link was used as a measurement - 100 links to 
> the chain.
>
> Yep - I've learned both imperial and metric
>
> Peter W
>
>
>
> cdb wrote:
>   
>> :: The yard and foot were standardized
>> :: somewhat long before the meter by using the king as the standard.  
>> :: I'm not
>> :: sure how they then dissemminated that standard measurement.
>>
>> This is where the term Yardstick comes from - a stick was made that 
>> represented the official 3' 3". Same as a Chain was a physical piece 
>> of kit.
>>
>> Ah you can tell I was born in the era of Libra, Shillings and Denari.
>>
>> Colin
>> --
>> cdb, colin@btech-online.co.uk on 27/07/2009
>>  
>> Web presence: www.btech-online.co.uk  
>>  
>> Hosted by:  www.1and1.co.uk/?k_id=7988359
>>  
>>
>>  
>>  
>>  
>>  
>>
>>   
>>     
>
>   
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