----------------------------Original message----------------------------
I don't know what the specific experience of Eric Mumford has been, in
regard to his use of Sanborn Maps for the "lower east side of New York
City" but my experience over the past 25 years my experience with Sanborn
maps has not been that negative.  The accuracy of Sanborn maps may depend
on the region, and certainly the individual out in the field doing the
original field work.
 
Stan Stevens, UC Santa Cruz
 
 
On Wed, 4 Aug 1993, Johnnie D. Sutherland wrote:
 
> This message was sent to MAPS-L by Jack Mount.  It has been downloaded from
> the H-URBAN list.  ----  Johnnie
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------
>
>
>       Tue, 03 Aug 1993 14:44:18 -0700 (MST)
>       [log in to unmask]
>          Sanborn Maps:  forwarded comments
>
>             [log in to unmask]"  "H-URBAN Urban History discussion list"
3-AU
>         RE: Sanborn maps: citation and comment (=evry block in every city)
>
>       Tue, 03 Aug 1993 07:01:07 -0500 (CDT)
>       Eric Mumford <[log in to unmask]>
>          RE: Sanborn maps: citation and comment (=evry block in every city)
>         H-URBAN Urban History discussion list <[log in to unmask]>
>
> Re Sanborn map accuracy:
>
> Definitely these maps are not to be relied on for anything except
> property lines and general street layouts. Usually there exist separate
> utility company maps that show gas lines, etc., though even these
> (at least in NYC) often contain errors. In New York even getting access
> to these kinds of maps can be a major chore, especially in the
> outer boroughs like the Bronx, where the relevant companies are often
> not very interested in serving the individual information seeker--though
> sometimes you get lucky and find helpful people.
>
> The Sanborn maps are best used to provide a general picture of area
> development over time, but should never be taken as the last word on
> detailed site conditions. I worked on a tenement renovation on the
> Lower East Side, for example, and two four-story rear tenements didn't
> appear on the map at all. In other cases the shapes of apartment buildings
> were quite inaccurate, or building heights were off by a story.
>
> Eric Mumford
> MUMFORD@MITVMA