Page 28 - 2023 - 50.1

From the Archives – No. 2 - 1993 (30 years ago) notes, maps and surveys of one hundred or more years ago.
A Letter to the Editor Surveying is “preserving for posterity”.

(Terry McHenry, PLS) Well, that is enough of my soap box lecture. The original
purpose of the letter was to offer my sincere congratulations
to those who, through effort and perseverance have made
Prepared by: Walter L. Neitz, PLS NALS the thriving and professional organization it is today. My
Dear Terry: special congratulations to Mr. Richard Stinchfield, in attendance
Many memories and recollections are going through my mind at that first meeting twenty years ago, and still active in the
on this 20th anniversary of the first formation meetings organization today. I feel it is very appropriate that he be
th
of NALS. Through the years a great many changes have serving as president in this 20 year.
taken place in the surveying profession and a lot has been
accomplished by the membership of NALS. Those of us who After forty years in this business, I am gratified to find that the
remember the days of the transit and steel tape, the days of surveying profession is not only alive and well but is growing
the pencil, peg book, function tables and the Curta calculator and thriving with the times. Once again, my congratulations to
marvel at the technological advances. While techniques have all of you and my sincerest best wishes to NALS.
changed immensely, the role of the Surveyor has not. He (or
she) is still a “finder of facts and an expert in measurement’. The
role the surveyor plays and the decisions made by him effect
property and title lines and hence, effect generations to come.

Fundamentals of surveying, a basic understanding of law and Walter L. Neitz, P.L.S
high self worth (without ego) are still a primary requirement.
As the years go by, I see more and more dependency upon
electronic power for analysis and less on brain power and
common sense. Just think how many of us today rely upon field

26 The Nevada Traverse Vol.50, No.1, 2023