Bulletin 674; Spirit Leveling in the State of Washington, 1896 to 1917, Inclusive

Ex-library. Possible copy of R. B. Marshall ("(Sgd) R. B. Marshall" black ink stamp on a front flyleaf). Original publisher's maroon cloth binding with gilt lettering on spine (including number "674"). 6" x 9 1/4." 204 pages, complete. One black-and-white plate, complete. Index in back. Pages are virtually pristine and intact except for "U.S. Geological Survey, Topographic Files" black ink stamp on a front flyleaf, tiny stain on a few of the back leaves, and light age toning. Covers are very clean and intact except for slight wear to extremities, a few small scratches, light rubbing, and a few small stains and marks on front and back. A Very Good, almost Near Fine copy. This is Bulletin 674, a report by the United States Department of the Interior and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) about "spirit leveling" in the state of Washington from 1896-1917, inclusive. The Introduction clarifies that this work, Bulletin 674, contains both previously published information from Bulletins 457 and 557 as well as results from later work. The benchmarks used in Washington spirit leveling are briefly described as having two forms, a circular bronze or aluminum tablet cemented in a drill hole in the rock wall of a public buildings, bridge abutment, or other architectural structure or, in the absence of rock or architecture, a wrought-iron post set into the ground. The numbers stamped on the benchmarks show the "elevations to the nearest foot as determined by the levelman." The Introduction also explains the differences between primary and precise leveling. The report is principally a list of "primary leveling" and "precise leveling" benchmarks with about a line or two per entry describing where that benchmark is located in Washington (in this Bulletin, the types of leveling are interspersed together). The list is alphabetical by location (town, landmark, and the like) within a specific quadrangle or region. Example entry associated with primary leveling: "Blalock Island Quadrangle. [Region] From Castlerock west along Spokane, Portland & Seattle Ry. to McCredie (2 lines). Primary leveling in 1906 by John R. Evans and in 1913 by D. S. Birkett. [Constituent location] Castlerock, in NW. 1/4 sec. 8, T. 4 N., R. 24 E., north bank of river, opposite rock 100 feet north of river, 30 feet north of shack at ferry landing; aluminum tablet stamped '247'; Feet: 248.299." Example entry associated with precise leveling: "Ellensburg Quadrangle. [Region] From Ellensburg along Northern Pacific Ry. to Thrall and from Wenas to Yakima. Precise leveling by the U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey. [Constituent location] Yakima, in vertical face of stone wall at northeast corner of Sloan's drug store, 0.32 meter east of door, 0.33 meter from edge of wall, 1.2 meters above sidewalk; red metal disk (C. & C. S. 'A2'); Feet: 1,067.730." Appendix ("Secondary elevations") in the back. Small printed note in back says additional copies of this book may be procured from the Superintendent of Documents at the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C. Credits on title page: Franklin K. Lane as Secretary of Department of the Interior; George Otis Smith as Director of USGS; and Henry Landes as State Geologist (in connection with "work done in cooperation with the State of Washington from 1909 to 1916, inclusive").…