Being a barber in small town Kansas gives me plenty of permissions. I go 3 this week. All are on 1885 Sanborns and along the alley. Interested in finding a soda bottle from a local company, actually bottling companies were in town. Plenty of bottles from the later one, but NO bottles of the 1882 "Osage City Soda Water Works" have ever been found. One permission had the privy central/left in the yard. Using a 100' tape I scaled and measured to find the approximate location. So be it. Using dowsing rods I was able to find and area of interest within 2' of my measurements. Soil was soft below, but no crunching, pops or anything to make me say hmmmmm. Dug this one down 1' or so for test, no rubble, broken glass or debris.
My permission near downtown across the alley from a 1885 Roller Skating Rink would be a fine candidate for soda bottles. Probed my ass off today with a 4' and a 5.5' probe. Being a beginner I'm trying to learn. Yes, Yes I'm supposed to dig, but where? Sanborns are nice, but 127 years makes the dirt change. Here in small town Kansas, no doubt the privies were wood lined a few feet or so. The local soil is too black and rich to support deep holes. No bricks or stones were available in large quantities in 1885.
I feel some soft spots, that seem to probe quickly in the black rich soil, so guess I'll just start digging more. Never did hit something the felt like glass or china. Did a test garden in my backyard with broken coffee cups, 2' deep, got the feel.
I still think people in Kansas didn't throw bottles in the privy, but I'm going to satisfy my curisoity and FIND one and dig the crap out of it!
Comments appreciated. (nice ones) Rick
My permission near downtown across the alley from a 1885 Roller Skating Rink would be a fine candidate for soda bottles. Probed my ass off today with a 4' and a 5.5' probe. Being a beginner I'm trying to learn. Yes, Yes I'm supposed to dig, but where? Sanborns are nice, but 127 years makes the dirt change. Here in small town Kansas, no doubt the privies were wood lined a few feet or so. The local soil is too black and rich to support deep holes. No bricks or stones were available in large quantities in 1885.
I feel some soft spots, that seem to probe quickly in the black rich soil, so guess I'll just start digging more. Never did hit something the felt like glass or china. Did a test garden in my backyard with broken coffee cups, 2' deep, got the feel.
I still think people in Kansas didn't throw bottles in the privy, but I'm going to satisfy my curisoity and FIND one and dig the crap out of it!
Comments appreciated. (nice ones) Rick