As described by the National Geodetic Survey in 1973 (and its subsequent update in 1986):
"0.2 MI NW FROM CYPRESS. ABOUT 0.2 MILE NORTHWEST ALONG US HIGHWAY 290 FROM THE POST OFFICE AT CYPRESS, 135 1/2 FEET SOUTHWEST OF AND ACROSS FROM THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD FROM THE SOUTHWEST LANE OF THE HIGHWAY, 26 FEET NORTHWEST OF THE CENTER LINE OF A PRIVATE DRIVE AND PIPE CATTLE GUARD OF THE ENTRANCE TO THE JOSEY RANCH, 47.3 FEET SOUTHWEST OF THE SOUTHWEST RAIL OF THE MAIN TRACK, 5 FEET WEST OF A TELEPHONE POLE, 0.6 FOOT NORTHEAST OF A WHITE BOARD FENCE, 0.6 FOOT SOUTHWEST OF A METAL WITNESS POST, 2 1/2 FEET BELOW THE LEVEL OF THE RAILS, AND IS A DISK SET ON TOP OF A 5/8-INCH COPPER COATED STEEL ROD WHICH PROJECTS 1 INCH ABOVE THE LEVEL OF THE GROUND, AND PROTECTED BY A 6-INCH IRON PIPE WHICH PROJECTS 3 INCHES. THE ROD WAS DRIVEN TO A DEPTH OF 16 FEET.
(1986) RECOVERY NOTE BY NATIONAL GEODETIC SURVEY [...] A NEW TO REACH FOLLOWS. IN CYPRESS, AT THE INTERSECTION OF SPRING-CYPRESS ROAD AND U.S. HIGHWAY 290."
The 1973 description is unfortunately pretty obsolete by now; several addendums/revisions might be in order:
* As alluded in 1986, the "reach to" information should simply state: "at the intersection of Hempstead Road (not US Hwy 290!) and Spring-Cypress Road; by the SW corner of Old Hempstead Road and what previously was a private drive of Josey Ranch"
* The references to a nearby cattle guard, telephone pole and white board fence should be ignored; the description should simply state "47.3 FEET SOUTHWEST OF THE SOUTHWEST RAIL OF THE MAIN TRACK, [...and...] 0.6 FOOT SOUTHWEST OF A METAL WITNESS POST".
* The witness post is still there, but significantly damaged.
* With respect to the steel rod being "1 INCH ABOVE THE LEVEL OF THE GROUND, AND PROTECTED BY A 6-INCH IRON PIPE WHICH PROJECTS 3 INCHES": due to significant soil accumulation over the years, the iron pipe is actually BELOW ground by now. About 1-2 inches of soil cover the disk and pipe, which are both still in good condition.
The most recently posted NGS Data Sheet's coordinates seemed to match reasonably well with my own personal observations: it states "N 29 58 07.35 W 095 41 51.63", which was in line with my findings as measured within 15' accuracy and 10+ reading averages: "N 29° 58.122 W 095° 41.861".
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Below are some additional facts, per the NGS database (with some editing for length): (
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AW1821 ***********************************************************************
AW1821 DESIGNATION - D 1222
AW1821 PID - AW1821
AW1821 STATE/COUNTY- TX/HARRIS
AW1821 COUNTRY - US
AW1821 USGS QUAD - CYPRESS (1995)
AW1821
AW1821 *CURRENT SURVEY CONTROL
AW1821 ______________________________________________________________________
AW1821* NAD 83(1986) POSITION- 29 58 07.35 (N) 095 41 51.63 (W) HD_HELD1
AW1821* NAVD 88 ORTHO HEIGHT - 45.690 (meters) 149.90 (feet) ADJUSTED
AW1821 ______________________________________________________________________
AW1821
AW1821_MARKER: DB = BENCH MARK DISK
AW1821_SETTING: 46 = COPPER-CLAD STEEL ROD W/O SLEEVE (10 FT.+)
AW1821_SP_SET: COPPER-CLAD STEEL ROD
AW1821_STAMPING: D 1222 1973
AW1821_MARK LOGO: NGS
AW1821_STABILITY: B = PROBABLY HOLD POSITION/ELEVATION WELL
AW1821_SATELLITE: THE SITE LOCATION WAS REPORTED AS SUITABLE FOR
AW1821+SATELLITE: SATELLITE OBSERVATIONS - February 08, 2008
AW1821
AW1821 HISTORY - Date Condition Report By
AW1821 HISTORY - 1973 MONUMENTED NGS
AW1821 HISTORY - 1978 GOOD NGS
AW1821 HISTORY - 1986 GOOD NGS
AW1821 HISTORY - 1987 GOOD USPSQD
AW1821 HISTORY - 1990 GOOD USPSQD
AW1821 HISTORY - 20080208 GOOD COBB