Lay of the Land: The History of Land Surveying in San Diego County [Paperback]

Michael J. Pallamary (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 408 pages
• Publisher: 1st Book Library (November 11, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1410702847
• ISBN-13: 978-1410702845
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,108,473 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From the Author, November 20, 2003

By 

Michael J. Pallamary - the author (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lay of the Land: The History of Land Surveying in San Diego County (Paperback)

The sightings on a surveyor's transit are far more powerful than those found on a soldier's rifle; the professional Land Surveyor has conquered more land than the world's finest militia.

The Lay of the Land presents an informative history about the development of San Diego. The story begins with the liberation of Texas and continues with the subsequent war with Mexico. The book follows General Stephen Kearny and his corps of surveyors as they mapped and marched their way westward to California. I also cover the controversial actions of The Great Pathfinder, John Charles Frémont along with early encounters between military Surveyors and Native Americans. The book also covers the challenges involved with locating the International Boundary Line between the United States and Mexico as specified by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. I also discuss the creation of the government townships and section lines that govern the location of land throughout Southern California. Additional subjects include the impact of the land squatter movement on San Diego, the influence of the contentious No-Fence Law upon land settlement, the establishment of the San Bernardino Baseline and Meridian, and determination of the county boundary lines.

The Lay of the Land also examines the confusing land grant process and the obstacles involved with validating these claims before the United States Land Commission. Another important subject I covered is the expansion of the transcontinental railroad and its impact upon San Diego. A number of the county's most important engineering projects are also explored, including the relocation of the San Diego River, the transformation of False Bay into Mission Bay and the development of San Diego Harbor. Considerable coverage is provided on the subjects of land fraud, water boundaries, corrupt government Surveyors, and the Great Land Boom of 1887.

The Lay of the Land is a must for Professional Land Surveyors, Civil Engineers, Title Officers, Land Planners, Land Use Attorneys and anyone interested in the development of California. This book represents the culmination of nineteen years of research conducted across the State of California.

I trust my own commentary is helpful to the reviewer. I also hope my awarding of five stars is supported by subsequent reviews.

Michael J. Pallamary, PLS
November, 2003

4.0 out of 5 stars A history of the mapping of San Diego county, January 22, 2009

By 

R. Bagula "Roger L. Bagula" (Lakeside, Ca United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lay of the Land: The History of Land Surveying in San Diego County (Paperback)

Reading this book I learned a lot about how San Diego county has changed.

The fact that land and the exact measurement of it date back to Egypt

where the floods made surveying necessary

and records part of the local life.

The Spanish had already taken the land from the native American when

the USA Army corp of engineers got here, but

their maps weren't really very good.

In my time here I have seem groves of Lemon trees give way to groves of houses and water become more scarce by the year.

Books like this remind us that government has contributed to the degradation of the environment by making accurate development maps

possible in surveys. The way I put this is: we got a paradise and made it into a parking lot. And here we see how it was done historically...

5.0 out of 5 stars The Real Deal when it comes to history, November 22, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Lay of the Land: The History of Land Surveying in San Diego County (Paperback)

Aside from an authoritative account of The historical basis for San Diego county's present land boundaries and surveys, Lay of the Land gives you an in-depth look at the real, often neglected history of what really happened with the settlemement of the Southwestern United States. If you are a history buff who wants to go beyond they typical biased veneer that you get in many college courses, Lay of the Land will give you the facts about what really happened.