VARD VII. SESSIONAL PAPER No. 145 A. 1909 2 2 7 9 9i RETURN Answer to an Address of the House of Commons of the 22nd March, 1909, praying that His Excellency the Governor General will cause to be laid before the House a copy of all correspondence, reports, documents, Orders in Council, in possession of the Government relating to the establishment of a Geodetic Service Bureau and the commencement of a Geodetic survey in Canada. CHAS. MURPHY, Secretary of State. -^ UNSVERSnrY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES OCT 22 1858 LIBRARY ^OVT, PU3S. ROOM 145—1 8-9 EDWARD VII. SESSIONAL PAPER No. 145 A. 1909 CONTENTS. Sessional Paper No. H5. Pauk 1. Memorial of the Dominion Land Surveyors Association to the Minister of the Interior, March, 1886 1 2. Memorandum of the Dominion Land Surveyors Association presented to the Government in 1888 3 ■i. Chief Astronomer to the Deputy Minister of the Interior, 3rd May, 1897. . 7 4. Chief Astronomer to the Hon. Clifford Sifton, Minister of the Interior, 14th June, 1899 8 5. Memorandum of the Royal Society of Canada, May, 1903 11 0. Chief Astronomer to the Minister of the Interior, 5th May, 1904 13 7. Chief Astronomer and Dominion Geographer to the Minister of the Interior, 25th July, 1904 15 '^. Chief Astronomer and Dominion Geographer to the Minister of the Interior, 25th July, 1904 15 9. Acting Deputy Minister of Militia and Defence to the Deputy Minister of the Interior, 15th April, 1905 19 10. Brig. Gen'l. Lake to the Minister of Militia and Defence, 14th April, 1905. . 20 11. Chief Astronomer to the Deputy Minister of the Interior, 2nd May, 1905. . 21 12. Maj. Gen'l. Lake's Memorandum to the Minister of Militia and Defence. ... 21 13. Memorandum of the Surveyor General re Topographical Survey of Canada, 20th February, 1906 25 14. Surveyor General to the Deputy Minister of the Interior, 17th April, 1906. . 26 15. Memorandimi of the Surveyor General re Trigonometrical Survey, 29th December, 1903 27 16. Deputy Minister of the Interior to the Chief Astronomer, 24th April, 1906. . 29 17. Deputy Minister of Eailways and Canals to the Deputy Minister of the Interior, 6th April, 1906 30 18. Memorial of the Canadian Society of Civil Engineers, 2nd April, 1906. ... 30 19. Chief Astronomer to the Deputy Minister of the Interior, 18th May, 1906. . 32 20. Report of the ' Committee on Surveys ' to the Minister of Militia and Defence, 15th February, 1907 35 21. Extracts from statements or reports showing the practical benefits derived from Topographic Surveys 39 22. Order-in-Council constituting the 'Committee on Surveys' 42 23. Canadian Society of Civil Engineers to the Eight Hon. Sir Wilfrid Laurier- 2nd April, 1906 43 iV CONTENTS 8-9 edward vii.. a. 1909 Page. 24. Objections of the Surveyor General to the report of the majority of the Com- mittee on Surveys 45 25. Objections of Mr. Steckel to the report of the majority of the Committee on Surveys 47 26. Report of Mr. C. A. Bigger to the Chief Astronomer, 5th Angiist, 1908. ... 50 8-9 EDWARD VII. SESSIONAL PAPER No. 145a A. 1909 CONTENTS. Sessional Paper No. IJfOa. Page. 1. Brigadier Gen. Lake to Colonel Reade, Commandant, Royal Military College 1 2. Brigadier Gen. Lake to the Minister of Militia and Defence, 14th April, 1905. 1 3. Acting Deputy Minister of Militia and Defence to the Deputy Minister of the Interior, 15th April, 1905 1 4. Brigadier Gen. Lake to the Acting Deputy Minister of Militia and Defence, 15th April, 1905 1 5. Acting Deputy Minister of the Interior to the Acting Deputy Minister of Militia and Defence, 20th April, 1905 2 6. Colonel Reade to Brigadier Gen. Lake, 22nd April, 1905 2 7. Assistant Director of Intelligence to the Dominion Geographer, 25th November, 1905 2 8. Dominion Geographer to Brigadier "Gen. Lake, 16th December, 1905 3 9. Assistant Director of Intelligence to the Dominion Geographer, 18th December, 1905 3 10. Surveyor General to the Deputy Minister of Militia and Defence, 20th January, 1906 3 11. Deputy Minister of Militia and Defence to the Deputy Minister of Railways and Canals, 8th March, 1906 4 12. Memorandum of Maj. G*n. Lake to the Minister of Militia and Defence on a Topographic Survey of Canada 4 13. Notes on the Memorandum respecting a Topographic Survey of Canada by the Surveyor General 4 14. Deputy Minister of Railways and Canals to the Deputy Minister of Militia and Defence, 9th March, 1906 5 15. Deputy Minister of Militia and Defence to the Director of the Geological Survey Department, 10th March, 1906 5 16. Director of the Geological Survey Department to the Deputy Minister of Militia and Defence, 12th March, 1906 6 17. Canadian Society of Civil Engineers to the Right Hon. Sir Wilfrid Laurier, 2nd April, 1906 6 18. Maj. Gen. Lake to the Minister of Militia and Defence, 20th April, 1906. ... 6 19. Maj Gen. Lake to the Militia Council, 11th May, 1906 7 20. Order- in-Council constituting the ' Committee on Surveys ' 8 21. Maj. G^n. Lake to the Deputy Minister of Militia and Defence. 20th November, 1906 8 yi CONTENTS 8-9 EDWARD VII., A. 1909 Page. 23. Acting- Deputy Minister of Militia and Defence to the Deputy Minister of Public Works, 28th November, 1906 9 23. Director of the Geological Survey to the Acting Deputy Minister of Militia and Defence, 30th November, 1906 10 24. Deputy Minister of Kailways and Canals to the Acting Deputy Minister of Militia and Defence, 30th November, 1906 10 25. Deputy Minister of Marine and Fisheries to the Secretary, Militia Council, 3rd December, 1906 H 26. Deputy Minister of Public Works to the Acting Minister of Militia and Defence, 10th December, 1906 11 27. Maj. Gen. Lake to the Deputy Minister of Militia and Defence, 13tli December, 1906 H 28. Acting Deputy Minister of Militia and Defence to the Deputy Minister of the Interior, 13th December, 1906 11 29. Deputy Minister of Public Works to the Department of Militia and Defence, 20th December, 1906 12 30. Deputy Minister of the Interior to the Acting Deputy Minister of Militia and Defence, 20th December, 1906 12 31. Maj. Gen. Lake to Members of the Committee on Surveys, 26th December, 1906 12 :>2. Report of the Committee on Surveys to the Minister of Militia and Defence. 15th February, 1907 13 33. Extracts from statements or reports showing the practical benefits derived from Topographic Surveys 13 34. Chief Astronomer to the Minister of Militia and Defence, 2nd March, 1907. . 13 35. Maj. Gen. Lake to the Minister of Militia and Defence, 28th March, 1907. . 13 36. Objections of the Surveyor General to the report of the majority of the Com- mittee on Surveys 15 37. Objections of Mr. Steckel to the report of the majority of the Committee on Surveys 15 38. Order-in-Council of the 23rd February, 1909 15 8-9 EDWARD VII. SESSIONAL PAPER No. 145b A. 1909 CONTENTS. Sessional Paper No. IJtdh. Page. 1. Canadian Society of Civil Engineei*s to the Right Hon. Sir Wilfrid Lavn-ier, 2nd April, 1906 1 2. Order-in-Council constituting the Committee on Surveys 1 3. Acting Deputy Minister of Militia and Defence to the Deputy Minister of Public Works, 28th November, 1906 1 4. Mr. Steckel to the Chairman of the * Committee on Surveys,' re surveys undertaken by the Public Works Department 1 6. Report of the ' Committee on Surveys' to the Minister of Militia and Defence, 15th February, 1907 4 6. Extracts from statements or reports showing the practical benefits derived from Topographic Surveys 4 7. Objections of Mr. Steckel to the report of the majority of the Committe<> on Surveys 4 8. Mr. Steckel to the Secretary of the Department of Public Works, 2nd March, 1907 4 9. Mr. Steckel to the Secretary of the Public Works Department, 28th December, 1908 4 8-9 EDWARD VII. SESSIONAL PAPER No. 145 A. 1909 MEMORIAL OF THE DOMINION LAND SURVEYORS ASSOCIATION TO THE MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR, MARCH, 1886. The Honourable the Minister of the Interior: Sir, — The following Memorial is respectfully submitted for your consideration by the Association of Dominion Land Surveyors. The Dominion has arrived at that stage when the wants of the country demand a more exact system of survey than has been in vogue in the past. With the increase in the value of real property — the boundaries of which in the older provinces are in most cases entirely dependent for their stability on the durability of a piece of wood, a few marks on trees or the testimony of a few of the oldest inhabitants, thus often leading to expensive litigation, of which the result is dependent mainly on the preponderance of evidence on one or the other side, which may be, and is often wrong — increases also the necessity for such a survey. Now, were the boundaries — especially those of large areas, such as concessions, townships and counties — connected with, and defined by a geodetic survey, similar to that made by the countries mentioned herein, all doubt as to their true position would be forever set at rest. Also the demands for marine pur- poses of more accurate charts of our coast, and waters, show that an accurate coast and geodetic survey of the country is urgently needed. The question of the value and utility of a survey of this kind has been so. settled by almost every civilized nation, that it is hardly necessary to advance further proof of the fact, but for information the following may be presented. It is stated by an eminent American engineer that ' if the state of Massachusetts had had a good topo- graphical map in 1836, some $20,000,000 would probably have been saved in its public railway expenditure.' Mr. Sandford Fleming, in his report to the Minister of Public Works, dated the 6th of April, 1879, says : ' If the railways of Ontario had to be established de novo, a careful study of the requirements of that province would enable any intelligent engi- neer of ordinary experience to project a new system, which at one-half the cost would far better serve the public, would meet every demand of traffic, would more fully satisfy every expectation and which would not result in disappointment and loss to those who have been induced to invest their means in that which has proved to many an unprofitable undertaking.' The railways of Ontario have cost, according to official returns, nearly one hundred and eighty millions of dollars. If they could have been constructed at one-half the cost, the other half of this enormous expenditure may be assumed to be a wholly unnecessary outlay, if a well-considered and less costly system would have equally met the wants of Ontario. The excessive expenditure can only be considered as superfluous, and so much of it remains permanently unremunerative as to be hopelessly wasted. If public money, the public debt might have been so much the less, or other interests might have been served and developed to the extent of the increased expenditure. If private money, obtained from parties at a distance on fair promises, or on prospects represented as encouraging, there is staring the investors in the face the deplorable and impregnable fact, that much of it will be absolutely lost. If to-day a railroad is projected in England, preliminary surveys such as we are obliged to make are not necessary. From the plans provided by the ordnance survey, the lengths and grades of any proposed line can be laid down with sufficient accuracy to enable a final location to be made. These plans are also very valuable in determining drainage areas; water supply; boundary lines between estates; reclaiming tidal lands, and materially assist in equit- able assessment of real estate for taxes. 145—2 2 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC., RELATING TO 8-9 EDWARD VII., A. 1909 The surveys of this kind which have been made by other countries may be sum- marized as follows: — First and foremost is the Ordnance Survey of Great Britain and Ireland, covering nearly 111,000 square miles, which was begun in 1Y84 and is now nearing completion. The original scale is one inch to the mile, but afterwards six inches to the mile was adopted. Then comes the great Trigonometrical Survey of India, inaugurated at the beginning of the present century by Colonel Lambton, and which is still in progress, and of which the beneficial results have been inestimable. Belgium, with an area of about 10,000 square miles, will have 450 sheets when the survey is completed. The scale adopted is ""/^oooo, and the contour lines are one metre apart. In Prussia, since 1849, new and more perfect methods have been introduced into the government topographical surveys. In Baden a new map was commenced in 1874, on a scale of V20O00, and with con- tour lines 10 metres apart. In Saxony the original survey was commenced in 1780 and completed in 1806, on a scale of %2ooo, and a new map was finished in 1870. Russia, with its enormous territory, about twice the size of the United States, including Alaska, has been for many years actively engaged in prosecuting geographi- cal surveys. Norway, although a comparatively poor country, has set itself on having a good topographical map, on a scale of M.00000, and its work merits praise. Sweden, similarly, is prosecuting such work and has one-half thereof completed. Bavaria in 1868, completed her map in 112 sheets. Wurtemburg has also a map, on a scale of %oooo, of which a new edition is in progress. Austria has completed a new map, comprising 715 sheets. In Switzerland a new map of 546 sheets is being issued. Denmark has a survey in progress. The great map of France is comprised in 276 sheets. Italy is being mapped on a scale of %oooo. Spain has been engaged since 1838 on a new survey, and Portugal since 1856. On this continent surveys of a high order of precision have been made by the United States government along the coast of the United States and along the great lakes. They have also been made over many of the States and territories of the far west, including Nevada, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Montana, Idaho, and part of Arizona. Several States have made similar surveys of their territory, including Massa- chusetts, California, New Jersey and New Hampshire, and in other States they are in progress. All the foregoing surveys both in Europe and America are based upon a triangu- lation. The necessity of such work is proved by experience and is so settled that it can no longer be considered an open question. A similar survey of Canada, especially of the more thickly populated part of her ocean shore line must and will be made, as a natural consequence of her continued development. The loss of a single vessel with her cargo through ill-defined rocks or reefs, or inadequate and unreliable charts would be sufficient to pay for thousands of square miles of survey. The United States coast and Geodetic survey has already made a number of con- necting links into Canada for our future use. Already surveys of more or less precision are being made, and a general coast and geodetic survey is pre-eminently one to be undertaken by the Federal government. In a work of such proportions as a survey of this kind would ultimately assume, it is primarily essential that a well matured and carefully considered scheme be first GEODETIC SURVEY IN CANADA 3 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 145 laid down upon which to develop the whole work, and being guided by the experience of other countries it is evident that a primary triangulation is necessary as a ground work for all detail surveys. For the initiation of the work, and that a beginning may be made in this much needed survey, the following scheme is respectfully submitted: — That the work should be conducted under the direction of the Department of the Interior, which is provided with the expensive instruments required in work of this nature, and is well able to undertake such a survey from the fact, that it has in its employ a number of surveyors who are qualified by the examination provided by the Dominion L^nds Act to undertake extensive topographical and governing surveys, thus rendering it unnecessary to apply to the Imperial government for scientific men to prosecute such work; and also from the fact that very exact surveys of this nature have already been conducted by that department in the Northwest territories. A survey of this sort is most urgently needed in the older provinces, and in con- sideration of the fact that an early survey of the Gulf of St. Lawrence has been pro- mised, the work might be initiated there by a Trigonometrical and intermediate coast, and sounding survey with all necessary tidal observations, as the same would be in- valuable as an aid to navigation. The Department of the Interior being in possession of the instruments required for such work, a comparatively small yearly expenditure would suffice for extensive field operations. A chain of primary triangulation along the St. Lawrence river and gulf, also the great lakes, would provide a basis for the extension of the survey into the interior of the different provinces, as the same become necessary, and could readily be connected with the United States lake survey. In consideration of the foregoing facts, your memorialists respectfully submit that it is to the interest of the country at large that a trigonometrical survey such as is suggested should at once be begun. And as in duty bovmd your memorialists will ever pray. Signed on behalf of the D. L. S. Association. THOMAS FAWCETT, President. Gravenhurst, March 25, 1886. MEMOEANDUM OF THE DOMINION LAND SUKVEYORS ASSOCIATION PRESENTED TO THE GOVERNMENT IN 1888. At the fifth Annual Meeting of the Association of Dominion Land Surveyors, HELD AT Ottawa, on the 14:Th and 15th of March last, (1888), a committee was appointed to consider the question of a Trigonometrical Survey of the Dom- inion, to draft a scheme for its inception, and to take such steps as they might deem advisable to bring the subject under the notice op the Government, and OP others likely to be interested in this much needed work. The Committee beg to submit the following in reference thereto : The Dominion has now arrived at that stage when the wants of the country demand a more exact system of survey than that in vogue. The question of the value and utility of a trigonometrical survey has been so settled by almost every civilized nation, that it is hardly necessary to advance proof of the statement that it would be of immense practical value to the whole Dominion; but for illustration, and in support of the statement, the following facts are offered. The surveys of this kind, which have been made by other countries, may be briefly referred to. First and foremost is the Ordnance Survey of Great Britain and Ireland, covering nearly 111,000 square miles, which was begun in 1784, and is now nearing completion. 145— 2i 4 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC., RELATING TO 8-9 EDWARD VII., A. 1909 Then comes the great Trigonometrical Survey of India, inaugurated at the beginning ■of the present century by Colonel Lambton, which is still in progress, and of which the beneficial results have been inestimable. Belgium is carrying on a survey which, ■when completed, will furnish 450 sheets of map on a scale of 1/20,000 with contour Jinos one metre apart. Prussia is carrying on an extensive survey, and since 1849 has introduced new and more perfect methods. Russia, with its enormous territory, about twice the size of the United States, including Alaska, has been for many years engaged in prosecuting trigonometrical sun^eys. Norway, although a comparatively poor country, has set itself on having a good topographical map, on a scale of 1/100,000 compiled from trigonometrical surveys. Austria has completed a new map of the empire, comprising 715 sheets also com- piled from data furnished by trigonometrical surveys. Denmark, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal and Italy are all carrying on trigonomet- rical surveys to enable them to map their territories accurately. France has completed her survey, and the result is shown in 276 sheets of map. On this continent, surveys of a high order of precision have been made by the United States government, and the work of the Coast and Geodetic Survey is going steadily on, having been extended along the sea coast and also along the Great lakes, and many of the states and territories have been covered by its operations, including some in the far west, viz. : Nevada, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Montana, Idaho and part of Arizona. Several of the states have conducted independent trigonometrical surveys of their OAvn territory, including Massachusetts, California, New Jersey and New Hampshire, and in other states they are in progress. All the foregoing surveys are based on triangulation. It may be asked what are the practical benefits to be derived from a trigonomet- rical survey, and what is there to justify the expenditure of the large sum of money which a survey of this kind would ultimately cost. To make the point of practical benefit clear, the following will be readily understood by all: It is stated by an eminent American engineer that 'if the state of Massachusetts had liad a good topographical map in 1836, some twenty million dollars would pro- bably have been saved in its public railway expenditure.' My. Sandford Fleming, C.M.G., in his report to the Minister of Public Works, dated April 5th, 1879, says : ' If the railways of Ontario had to be established "de novo," a careful study of the requirements of that province would enable any intelligent engineer of ordinary experience to project a new system which at one half the cost would far better serve the public, and would meet every demand of traffic, would more fully satisfy every expectation, and which would not result in disappointment and loss to those who have been induced to invest their means in that which has proved to many an unprofitable undertaking.' If to-day a railroad is projected in England, or any other country possessed of a good (opdtM'j'phical map, preliminary surveys such as we are obliged to make are •unnecessary, for from these plans the lengths and grades of any proposed line can be dcterniined with sufficient accuracy to enable a final location to be made. In carrying on a survey of the character contemplated, it is necessary to run lines of exact levels f r .m station to station, and thus we would have the elevations of points all through the settled portions of the country, and in futvire operations, in which levelling is a feature, all levels could be referred to a common datum line (sea level for instance), and when railway lines are pushed back into the wooded interior, the physical character of which is but little known, we would then have some definite idea of main watersheds and valleys, to guide future operations, instead of relying, as is at jDresent done, on guess work and hearsay evidence. Among other benefits to be derived from a survey of this kind are the following : Our extensive coast line both in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, on the Atlantic and Paci- GEODETIC SURVEY IN CANADA 5 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 145 fie seaboards, and also in our inland waters, has been very roughly determined in many places, and in consequence many disasters happen to shipping, and many valu- able lives are lost annually, which would in a great measure be avoiided were we in possession of reliable charts of our waters; and one of the first requisites in making the hydrographic surveys, necessary to provide the data or compilation of these charts, is that certain points on the shore should be accurately fixed. It may be mentioned in connection with the hydrographic survey of Georgian Bay, at present being carried on under the direction of Staff-Commander Boulton, K.N., that Commander Boulton stated before the D.L.S. Association, at its last annual meeting, that in making his survey he had not been able to connect his work with any point accurately determined by Canadian authority, but had to use points established by the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey. On our inland lakes and waters large sums are annually spent in harbour and other improvements, and yet the geographical positions of these harbours and waters are not accurately shown on any map or chart. A large sum has been spent in building the Murray Canal between Lake Ontario and the Bay of Quinte, but there is no correct chart of the Bay, and a stranger at- tempting to navigate a deeply laden vessel in its waters would probably meet with disaster. This has happened time and again, and will continue until we have an ac- curate chart of the Bay, and as has already been said the work of making these charts would be greatly expedited by having points along the shores established by a tri- gonometrical survey from which to begin the hydrographic survey. Numerous isolated surveys have been made under various departments of the Government, at points on the Atlantic coast, the Gvilf of St. Lawrence, and in the Great lakes; it is also proposed by the Militia Department to make a series of re- connaissance surveys at different points; all these surveys, made, or to be made, give valuable results, but they cannot be considered complete until they are connected. To this end a carefully executed tniangulation is necessary. Again, with the increase in the value of real property, any work having in view the permanent marking of points which would definitely fix the positions of boundaries of real estate is for the public good. In many of the provinces the boundaries of valuable properties are in most cases dependent on the durability of wooden posts, a few marks on trees, or the testimony of a few of the oldest inhabitants, and as a consequence expensive litigation often arises, in fact it may safely be said that the amount annually expended in litigation regarding boundaries would go a long way towards paying for the cost of the trigonometrical survey. Were the boundaries, especially those of large areas, such as counties, townships, and concessions, accurately defined by a trigonometrical survey, similar to that made by the countries herein referred to, all doubt as to their position would be forever set at rest. At the present time, throughout the Dominion, every city and many of the towns and villages are looking about for means of obtaining a good water supply or of im- proving the supply they have. Gravity being the best method of utilizing a water supply, is generally first sought after, but the information necessary to determine the availability of a supply by this means, can now only be had by expenditure of large sums in surveys, as has been lately seen in Toronto. Had there been a good topographical map in existence, that expenditure would have been unnecessary. In drainage work the information derivable from a survey of this kind would be invaluable, and as our agricultural population is waking up to the benefits arising from proper drainage, no time should be lost in giviing them this aid. The maps would enable any engineer to determine by a simple calculation the area of any basin to be drained and to know accurately the size of drain necessary, and its proper location, and the survey would do away with all litigation arising from parties claim- 6 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC., RELATING TO 8-9 EDWARD VII., A. 1909 dng that their lands do not lie in the basin to be drained, as a reference to the map ■would show at a glance the natural drainage outlet for any piece of land. These maps would also be exceedingly valuable in assisting an equitable assess- ment of real estate for taxes, and in providing the necessary information required in locating and building public highways, and would save large sums of money which are now expended in finding out where roads should be built; and the sum so saved might be expended in making the roads more solid and permanent. The information afforded by the maps provided from a survey of this kind, in reference to our inland waters, and the possibility of their utilization for navigation "which is becoming every day of more importance, woiald be of vast benefit to the country. Many large public works are now being agitated, and will no doubt in the near future be undertaken, as, for instance, the "Ottawa Ship Canal," "The Trent Valley Canal," &c., the possession of good topographical maps would very naturally assist in settling the question of the feasibility of these and many other schemes for the improvement of navigation, &c. Instances might be cited indefinitely to prove the value, not only to the Govern- ment, but to the people at large of a trigonometrical and accompanying detail survey of the kind herein referred to, but it is thought that enough has been said to conclusively show the benefits which would accrue therefrom. The survey should be undertaken by the Federal Government, as it is pre- eminently a Dominion work, and we now come to the important point of a basis or scheme for its inception. In a work of such proportions as a survey of this kind would ultimately assume, it is primarily essential that a well matured and carefully considered scheme be first laid down, upon which to develop the whole; and, being guided by the experience of other countries, it is evident that a primary triangulation is necessary as a ground work for all detail surveys. For the inception of the work, and that a beginning may be made, it is suggested that the work should be commenced on the St. Lawrence river near Cornwall, where the U.S. Lake survey ended, and be continued down that river to the gulf. The work would first consist of a primary triangulation, with sides of from ten to thirty miles in length, as circumstances permitted, and would then be extended by carrying on a greater or less amount of interior topographical work, levelling, &c. COST. The cost would of course vary with the extent of survey, but it is thought that a sum of, say, fifteen thousand dollars would be sufficient to start the primary triangula- tion, which is the basis of survey. This amount would cover the cost of two observers, one on each side of the main chain of triangulation, and two station setting parties, and would pay all expenditure of the above for transport and travelling expenses. Of course a much larger sum than that mentioned could be advantageously employed, but the annual expenditure of this small amount would provide a large quantity of valuable information, and would lay the foundation for more extensive prosecution of the work, when the circumstances warranted it. The advantage accruing to the country by a geodetic survey would not be confined to the definite material advantages gained in topographical knowledge, and the coast and sounding surveys based upon the triangulation. An additional and not inconsiderable advantage would be the stimulus given to scientific research. It has been the experience of other countries that men employed on geodetic surveys, having their attention drawn to the numerous branches of science involved, have, by their scientific and mechanical inventions, added greatly to the sum of knowledge in these branches, and indirectly to the material wealth and progress of the countries. GEODETIC SURVEY IN CANADA 7 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 145 The Association of Dominion Land Surveyors has long felt that the time had arrived when a trigonometrical survey of the country should be begun, and the question has frequently been discussed at their annual meetings. In 1886 they took action in the matter by preparing a memorial on the subject, and submitted the same to the Hon. the Minister of the Interior ; and recognizing the necessity for keeping the matter alive, they appointed this committee, as has already been mentioned, to prepare a memoran- dum on the subject. In submitting this memorandum for your consideration, the committee feel the subject is one which should appeal strongly to all who are interested in the weKare of our Dominion, and they think the facts herein contained should be sufficient to show the necessity for a beginning being made towards a geodetic survey of our country. They earnestly ask you to do anything you can to assist the Association in bringing this matter to the notice of any who are likely to be interested in seeing this much needed work begun, all of which is respectfully submitted. 1 W. F. KixG. O. J. Klotz, W. S. Drewry^ ^Committee. E. J. Rainboth, I J. S. Dennis^ J Ottawa, April 13, 1888. Chief Astronomer to the Deputy Minister of the Interior May 3, 1897. Dear Mr. Smart, — I inclose herewith a memorandum drawn up some years ago by the Dominion Land Surveyors Association dealing with the question of a trigono- metrical survey of the Dominion. This is a matter which has frequently been discussed among the technical officers of the department and which has more than once been brought before the Minister of the Interior, but which has never reached the point of governmental action. I now take the liberty of bringing it up again to ask con- sideration of it as a matter, as I believe, of importance in the interests of the Dominion. The advantages of such a survey are pretty clearly set forth in the pamphlet inclos- ed. In the first place, the extensive use of trigonometrical surveys by civilized nations in itself is a proof of their utility. No doubt the advantages increase with the density of population, and it may be argued that Canada is not in that respect, so favoured as the countries named, and that the expense of such a work would be too great to warrant the Government undertaking it. However, the beginning of a survey and its full com- pletion are two different things. Canada could certainly well afford to undertake the work proposed in the memorandum, the triangulation of the more thickly settled parts of the coimtry along the main waterways. In the second place the argument in favour of triangulation surveys does not rest solely on the fact that other countries have tried them. There are many very evident advantages of such surveys. These are dealt with in the memorandum, and it is not necessary for me to discuss them here at length. To be short, a trigonometrical survey means the establishing with accuracy of the absolute positions of a number of points scattered over the country, forming a frame- work upon which are based, wherever they are needed, detail surveys showing the hills, valleys, rivers, islands, &c., in their true relative positions. Such surveys of detail have heretofore been made in Canada in many places, both on land and water, but without the connecting framework they lose much of their value as regards permanence, as well as accuracy. As an illustration of the advantages of system, I may cite the Dominion Lands Surveys in the Northwest. The outlines of townships were first laid down with accuracy as controlling lines at a 8 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC., RELATING TO 8-9 EDWARD VII., A. 1909 cost of say fifteen dollars to twenty dollars per mile. Then the interior lines of sections were surveyed at say seven dollars per mile. The more expensive survey of the outlines permitted the cheap surveying of the interior. Had the outlines not been previously laid down, it would have been necessary either to survey the section lines with accuracy and cost equal to that actually applied to the outlines, or to have permitted errors to accumulate, which would speedily have deformed altogether the rectangular form of the surveys, and led to endless confusion of boundaries. I would suggest that a beginning could be made on the lower St. Lawrence river. The work would become immediately available in assisting the hydrographic surveys of the Marine Department. Attention is now being particularly drawn to the St. Lawrence as a water highway and it seems desirable that an accurate survey should be made of it. The triangulation work would properly come under this department, as it is a matter of land surveying, and not engineering. The proposed work would include a main triangulation following the course of the hills parallel to the river; a secondary or minor triangulation to establish points of reference on the river bank or elsewhere where needed and astronomical deter- minations of longitudes of important points, such as Father Point. Magnetic obser- vations would also be made, for the determination of the variation of the compass and information of value as regards the meteorology, tides, and currents would also be obtained. The estimated cost of the first year might be put at $20,000. Although I have laid more stress here upon the desirability of a survey of the St. Lawrence, I would repeat that the triangulation is not to be considered as a marine or river survey only. It would equally have its use as regards surveys on the land. W. F. KING, Chief Astronomer. Jas. a. Swart, Esq., Deputy Minister of the Interior. The Chief Astronomer to the Hon. Clifford Sifton, Minister of the Inzenor: Hon. Clifford Sifton, Minister of the Interior. June 14, 1899. Sir, — Having been directed by you to explain the methods and objects of Geodetic surveys, with especial reference to conditions existing in Canada, I have the honour to present the following report : The question has been raised at the present time by an invitation from the United States Government to join in the measurement of the 98th Meridian. The Koyal Society of Canada has also presented a memorial to His Excellency the Governor General in Council on the same subject. In the present report it is proposed to discuss not only this special work, but also the general subject of trigonometrical surveys in Canada. It may be remarked that this is not altogether a new question ; the question of the trigonometrical survey of Canada was discussed many years ago by the Association of Dominion Land Surveyors, who, in 1888, presented a memorial on the subject to the Minister of the Interior. A copy of this memorial is inclosed. The Association of Ontario Land Surveyors at Toronto, also has lately brought before the Ontario Government the question of a trigonometrical survey of that Pro- vince. A geodetic survey may be defined simply as a survey made with great accuracy. This accuracy is attained by limiting the linear measurements to one or more base- lines, from which a chain or net work of triangles is sprung, covering the country to be surveyed. The angles of the triangles are read with the theodolite, and the lengths and directions of the sides are thence computed. Hence, a geodetic survey is often called a triangulation, or trigonometrical survey. The exact levels of the triangula- GEODETIC SURVEY IN CANADA 9 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 145 tion stations are also determined. The survey is placed in position by means of astronomical observations. Thus a number of points twenty or thirty miles apart are accurately determined as to position and elevation. When the object of the survey is (as it usually is) the making of an accurate map, the 'filling-in' process follows. An interior net work of smaller or 'secondary* triangles may be based upon the primary system, and the details of the topography placed by means of the plane-table, or otherwise. The complete survey therefore affords exact data: — For charts of the coast and inland waters. For engineering works of all kinds; such as location of highways, railways, canals, di-ainage works, water supply and estimation of drainage areas therefor, &c. For military purposes; for geological and other investigations, and for sur- veys relating to the boundaries of private lands, municipalities, &c., or cadastral surveys. And affords, generally, to every branch of industry the information needed as to its surroundings without the expense of making a personal tour of inspection. The memorial of the Royal Society, however, does not contemplate a complete topographic survey, but merely a primary chain along the 98th Meridian, without the filling-in (at the present time) of the^ topographic details, and their estimate of cost is made accordingly. As regards the advantages of a primary triangulation alone, it may be said that it affords an accurate basis for the investigations and works indicated above. The work of the engineer and surveyor can then proceed wherever the needs of the population require, and the constant recurrence of duplicated work is avoided. The triangulation, when once made with proper refinement, will, for all time, fill the requirements of every project where accurate information as to position, distance and elevation is required. That the utility of geodetic surveys is real, and not fictitious, may be seen from the fact that they have been made, and are being made, by almost all civilized countries; all the nations of Europe, Cape Colony, and Natal, New South Wales, India and New Zealand, the United States (and some of the individual states). In India and New Zealand, moreover, the trigonometrical survey has even been a preliminary to the survey of individual holdings of land. Besides the utilitarian applications of geodetic surveys, results of high scien- tific value are derived fron^ extended triangulations. The measurement of an 'arc' is the comparison of a distance measured (by triangulation) on the earth's surface with the observed difference of astronomical latitude or longitude of its extremities, thereby giving the earth's curvature in direction, and, by a proper combination of such meas- ures, the dimensions and figure of the earth as a whole. The determination of the dimensions of the earth is of service in astronomy, for the earth's diameter is the ' yard-stick' with which astronomical distances are meas- ured. The form of the earth's surface also finds a very practical use in surveying. For instance, the Dominion Land Surveys in Manitoba and the Northwest Territories have been systematized by tables (published in the Manual of Instructions to Survey- ors) giving the lengths and directions, latitudes, longitudes, &c., of all section lines. To this system is due the accuracy (unequalled for surveys of that class) with which these surveys have been made. We computed these tables from the ' Elements of the figure of the Earth,' deduced by Col. Clarke, R.E., as the result of an abstruse inves- tigation of the data furnished by a large number of geodetic surveys. An indirect application to other sciences may be suggested as follows : The earth was at one time probably a mass of fluid, having, from its rotation, a symmetrical spheroidal form. During the process of solidification and subsequently contraction it has been deformed by various tidal and other forces, so as to be no longer of symmet- rical ficnire. The exact determination of its present form would help towards an un- 10 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC., RELATING TO 8-9 EDWARD VII., A. 1909 dcrstanding of the forces which have been acting and those which are now acting upon it, and thereby throw light upon many branches of science, such as geology, terrestrial magnetism and meteorology. Most of the measurements hitherto made have been in the Eastern Hemisphere; for a complete investigation more data is wanted from the Western Hemisphere. The 98th meridian passes over the greatest extent (north and south) of land in North America. Hence the importance of the work proposed. Moreover, there is special advantage in measurements in high latitudes, and the Canadian part of this arc is correspondingly important. In considering the advisability of a geodetic survey in Canada, however, account must be taken of the fact that the population is small, and the national wealth is needed for development of resources. Hence more stress must be laid upon the prac- tical than upon the scientific advantages. This is the more allowable because the great triangulation systems in Europe and elsewhere (including the United States) have been designed to serve practical and not theoretical ends. Very little has been done solely for the sake of science, although it has usually been fovmd possible so to shape the plans of triangulation as to secure scientific in addition to the practical results which have been the first consideration. Looking at the measurement of the 98th meridian from this point of view, it is to be regretted that its practical is not commensurate with its scientific value. Northward from the 49th parallel this meridiaii runs for one hundred miles or there- abouts over the plains of Manitoba, which have been already surveyed by the Domin- ion Government with sufficient accuracy for present purposes. Thence it passes be- tween Lakes Manitoba and Winnipeg and across the northern end of the latter. Here the triangulation would be vaseful for an accurate survey of the lake, which will, no doubt, be needed sooner or later for purposes of navigation. But north of Lake Win- nipeg it would run through a country where the possibilities of local utility of such a work are very doubtful. The cost of the work would be between $100 and $150 per mile, or from $35,000 to $52,500 for the portion south of the north end of Lake Winnipeg, and the smallest rate of expenditure, consistent with efiiciency, would be in the neighbourhood of $10,- 000 per annum. The results to be obtained can hardly be held to justify such exi)endi- ture, when so much of the coast and well settled parts of the Dominion is in need of accurate survey. There is another scheme of triangulation which, while important from a scienti- fic standpoint, is even more so from a utilitarian one, and is therefore worthy of care- ful consideration. It has been suggested by Dr. Pritchett, Superintendent of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey. The survey has completed the measure- ment of an arc over 1,500 miles in length, from Mobile, Alabama, to Calais, Maine. The proposition is that Canada should extend this arc a further distance of about 350 miles to the extremity of Cape Breton. This triangulation would extend along the Bay of Fundy, and would serve as a basis for accurate surveys in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, as well as for hydrographic surveys of the coasts of these provinces. It is believed that this survey would so exhibit the practical value of geodetic sur- veys that the triangulation would afterwards be extended past Prince Edward Island along the south shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence to meet the survey which will doubt- less eventually be made along the St. Lawrence and north of Lake Ontario to and through the western peninsula of the province of Ontario. In support of the scheme thus roughly outlined, it may be said that the annual expenditure need not be large, the advantages to be secured are many, and the scheme follows a reasonable line of development. The United States Coast and Geodetic Sur- vey has been developed on very similar lines. Beginning on the Atlantic coast, it has gradually been extended over all the coasts of the United States and into the interior as the need of accurate survey became more and more apparent. Besides the geodetic GEODETIC SURVEY IN CANADA 11 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 145 surveys made by the general government, of which the principal are the coast and lake surveys, topographical surveys have been made by individual states, always based upon the primary triangulation of the coast survey. Thus, for instance, nearly all of New England (except the northern part of Maine) has been covered with a triangulation network ; also a large part of the state of New York. The states of New Jersey, Mary- land, Ohio, Illinois and many others have made or are making trigonometrical surveys. In carrying out a survey of this kind in Canada, it is believed that the provinces would find it to their advantage to co-operate, so that, while the Dominion government executed the primary work, the topographical filling in, where necessary, would be done by the province. Many of the useful applications, such as engineering works, bound- aries of lands, &c., are properly provincial matters, while others, such as hydrographic surveys, belong to the Dominion, Department of Marine, or other departments. The cost of producing the ' oblique arc ' from Calais to the extremity of Cape Breton by a triangulation chain 25 miles wide is estimated at $35,000, or about $100 the running mile, or $4 the square mile. Of this amount $5,000 is for theodolites and other instruments which would be available afterwards for other work. The remainder of the cost would be spread over three years. W. r. KINO, Chief Astronomer. MEMOEANDUM OF THE KOYAL SOCIETY 'OF CANADA, OTTAWA, MAY, 1903. The committee appointed at the last meeting of the Eoyal Society for the purpose of ascertaining what action, if any, the govermnent of Canada is willing to take in the direction of extending the triangulation system of the United States Coast and Geo- detic Survey into this country as urged by the Royal Society in a memorial presented to the Governor General in Council in the year 1898, and to again urge the importance of the work, have the honour to submit the following report : In December, 1898, the Royal Society brought to the attention of His Excellency the Governor General in Council a proposal by Dr. Pritchett, at the time superintend- ent of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, to measure an arc along the 98th meridian from Acapulco, Mexico, to the shore of the Arctic Sea in Canada. The mea- surement of the meridian had been in progress for some time as part of the general survey of the United States; the object of Dr. Pritchett in urging its extension through Canada and Mexico was to provide data for the determination of the figure and dimensions of the earthy and while from this point of view the work would be purely scientific, the Canadian portion of it would also be of great practical utility in forming the basis of a thorough geographical survey for the Dominion. The govern- ment of Mexico had announced its readiness to undertake its part of the work; the successful execution of the project as a whole therefore depended entirely on the co- operation of Canada. It was suggested by the Royal Society that a limited grant for this purpose would be regarded as a contribution to aid in the general researches of the nations of the world, while at the same time, it would serve to inaugurate a very much needed work and one of great practical importance to the future of the Dominion. The answer of the government was that while they fully appreciated the impor- tance of the project from a scientific and practical point of view, they were not in a position then to recommend the co-operation of Canada in the suggested work. 12 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC., RELATING TO 8-9 EDWARD VII., A. 1909 During the five years elapsed since this naenKjrial was presented to His Excel- lency the Governor-General-in-Council, the work has been more than half completed in the United States and the cost has been reduced to little more than $50 per mile of progress along the axis of the triangulation, this vtry low figure being due to excep- tionally favourable circumstances and furnishing a probable lower limit of cost. In Mexico, the work has been pushed rapidly forward by the Mexican Geodetic Commis- sion. The most difficult part of the triangulation, across the two main chains of the Grand Cordillera, has been completed and connected wdth the National Observatory at Tacubaya. A preliminary survey for locating the triangles has been made as far as Acapulco on the Pacific coast, towards the south, and Tampico, on the Gulf of Mexico, towards the north. Director Angel Anguiano, under whose skilled guidance the work is being executed, expects to finish the triangulation from Acapulco to Tam- pico in a little more than a year, leaving only a short interval from Tampico to a point near Matamoros for completing the whole of the work in Mexico. While considering the advisability of again bringing this matter before the gov- ernment, it has occurred to your committee that the time has arrived when the larger question of a geodetic survey as a basis for systematic surveys in Canada, should receive earnest consideration. In our memorial of 1898, it was represented that without such a basis, there is no finality in results; the same ground is being surveyed over and over again, as is the case in the Dominion, by the land surveyor, the geologist, the railway or canal engineer, the hydrographer, &c. For every new object a new survey has to be made. The labour and expenditure on these surveys would be considerably reduced and often entirely unnecessary, if we had a systematic triangulation carried out as in other countries. This fact has long been recognized in Europe where every country has been ac- curately mapped. Outside of Europe may be cited the United States whose triangu- lation is well advanced; India which offers a striking instance of extensive and well conducted surveys, the Cape oJ Good Hope and Natal which have executed a joint triangulation of South Africa; New Zealand, where triangulation has preceded all other surveys. It must not be supposed that there were no objections raised in these countries to the inception of the work; on the contrary it was frequently opposed by those who did not understand its practical value, but their opinions changed after they had been in a position to appreciate its usefulness. Of the survey of South Africa, Mr. David Gill, Her Majesty's astronomer at the Cape, says: — ' The influence of the geodetic survey has made itself felt by raising the whole tone of survey operations in South Africa. Strongly as it was at first opposed and grudgingly as it was maintained, its advantages are now fully acknowledged and by none more warmly than the sun^eyor generals of the Cape Colony, Natal and Bechuanaland.' There are few countries, if any, where the . expenditure for surveys per capita of population is as large as it is in Canada. The Department of the Interior is sub- dividing lands in Manitoba, the Northwest Territories and British Columbia, the Geological Survey Department is surveying and exploring in all parts of the Dominion, the Department of Marine and Fisheries is making a hydrographic survey of our navigable waters, a military survey of the country is in course of execution under the direction of the military authorities, the Department of Public Works and the Depart- ment of Railways and Canals are also conducting extensive surveys. In these opera- tions, ground already covered by one department is often gone over again by some other department. The same distribution and duplication of work is repeated in each province, where almost every department of the local government and many of the great corporations are making surveys for some purpose or other. Were this great mass of information bound and connected together by a triangulation, it would become possible to take a broad and comprehensive view of great questions affecting the coun- try, instead of considering them only under the few aspects presented by local sur- GEODETIC SURVEY IN CANADA 13 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 145 veyors. That the practical value of accurate maps is not overestimated by your com- mittee is shown by the experience of the British army in South Africa: millions "in money and many valuable lives would probably have been saved, had accurate maps of the country been available. One of the first acts of the British government after the war, and even while it was going on, was to commence an elaborate survey of the country. The Dominion of Canada, controlling an area surpassed only by that of Russia, but of which the greater portion is still unsurveyed, would be distinctly benefitted by a triangulation as a means for the extension of further surveys. The explorations inci- dental to the establishment of the triangles would afford an opportunity of collecting information for which any special demand may arise, such as the heights of water- falls and the volume of water, for determining their commercial value. While thus advocating a rational basis for the surveys madi. in Canada, your committee is not blind to the fact that owing to the immense extent of the country and its sparse population, the question presents peculiar difficulties. Were it pro- posed to organize a geodetic survey on the same lines as in the small, thickly popu- lated European states, the cost would probably be beyond the resources of Canada and the government might well hesitate before undertaking a project of such magnitude. It is believed, however, that a scheme may be devised which, while within the means of Canada, will give to the country, or at least to its most populated parts, the benefits of a geodetic survey. For this purpose, it is respectfully recommended that the gov- ernment be asked to appoint a commission to collect information and to inquire and report upon the subject. With the material furnished by the Commission, the gov- ernment will be in a position to decide what is required in the interests of the country and for the development of its resources. Chief Astronomer to The Minister of the Interior. May 5, 1904. Hon. Clifford Sifton, Minister of the Interior. Dear Mr. Sifton, — In returning to you the Memorial of the Committee of the Royal Society and other papers concerning the proposed survey of Canada, I wish to be permitted to make a few remarks upon the subject. The Royal Society suggests that a commission be appointed to inquire into the organization and methods in use in other countries, and to formulate a scheme of survey suitable to the conditions existing in Canada. I submit that this is not the best way to arrive at the information which the Gov- ernment needs for intelligent action. Organization and methods are only of secondary interest in this connection. Methods of survey are well known. They can be found stated very fully both in the reports of survey organizations and in the text books. The principles are simple, slight variations only can be made from certain general lines in their applications, and the variations which it is advisable to make to suit different conditions ai-e only to be discovered in practice, that is, while the survey is being made. The conditions which call for these modifications are Canadian conditions; they are not to be predicted by inquiry into conditions which have existed elsewhere. Methods, therefore, are for the consideration of the Superintendent of the Survey, after it has been determined to proceed with it, and have only secondary interest to the Government, in deciding whether the survey is to be made. Similar remarks will apply to the organization. 14 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC., RELATING TO 8-9 EDWARD VII., A. 1909 As for a scheme of triangulation for Canada, all authorities are agreed that the aim should be to extend it over the settled parts of the country. (See the Memorial, also Major Hills' Report). The only question is how much should be done at one time, and where, and what it will cost. This last, the cost, appears to be the question which is the practical one for the Grovemment to consider and the most important. If this is ascertained, the inquiry as to the extent and locality of the operations is greatly simplified. I would suggest that the way to arrive at the cost is not to make an academic investigation into what it has cost in other countries, under other conditions, but to make an actual survey here in Canada. A small piece will suffice as a basis upon which estimates may be founded. jiixperiment is the best m.ethod of obtaining knowledge. It is necessary to mn.ke an exact survey to connect the new Observatory with the old one on Cliff street. I have been intending to do this this spring, and have provided for it in my scheme of work. This survey will have to be made by a triangulation, which will extend to the lower of the Gatineau Hills. There will be an "expansion from a base" to sides of considerable length, approximating to the lengths of the sides of a primary triangulation. It will be easy and inexpensive to extend from these sides a triangulation along the Ottawa valley a sufficient distance to exhibit the methods, and the cost, of a triangulation. The cost of the detail which is a separate operation could be ascertained, if desired, in like manner. Anything done in this way would not be lost, as any general scheme of triangula- tion must pass through Ottawa. Major Hills in his scheme makes Ottawa the central point for the work in the east. I may add that another part of Major Hills' scheme is already in progress. I refer to his recommendation that a line of triangulation be carried near the 49th parallel eastward from the Pacific Coast. This is being done in connection with the boundary survey, along the 49th parallel, with the practical purpose of making the measurements along the line, which in that mountainous country cannot well be done in any other way. About 100 miles has already been completed, with an accuracy not far from that of a "primary" or geodetic triangulation. As half the work is done by the United States, Canada is getting a basis for future accurate surveys very cheaply. In conclusion, I wish to express dissent from Major Hills' statement that the survey must be conducted as a military organization. He bases his opinion on the practice of other countries, and on the supposition that a "rigorous and methodical discipline" is necessary for the successful conduct of survey work. We have little difficulty in securing obedience to orders on our surveys under civilian control. If the discipline is not ' rigorous ' in the military sense, this has an advantage rather than otherwise, in enabling a man to carry out the spirit, rather than the letter of his instructions. As to the appeal to the precedent afforded by other countries, it must be remem- bered that in Europe, there are large numbers of engineer officers under pay. The carrying on of these surveys affords them employment in time of peace, and ti.e expense of the work is lessened in the item of salaries. This condition does not exist in Canada, and Major Hills does not contemplate any saving in salaries, for he estimates for the superintendent and assistant super- intendent together, $7,000 as salary. I suppose this means $4,000 for one, and $3 000 for the other. This, I need not point out, is more than the government pays its civil- ians engaged in superintending surveys. As conditions in Canada are nearer to those in the United States than to condi- tions in Europe, comparison should be made with the United States. Major Hills says that there, a 'mixed system' of control is adopted. This is hardly correct. Exten- sive triangulations are being made there by the Coast and Geodetic Survey, and the GEODETIC SVRYEY IN CANADA 15 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 145 Geological Survey, both absolutely civilian establishments. Triangulations have also been made by the War Department, but of less extent and importance, with the exception of the Lake Survey, made many years ago. The field vpork of this survey ■was I believe largely in the hands of civilians. W. F. KING, Chief Astronoviet . Chief Astronomer and Dominion Geographer to the Minister of the Interior: July 25, 1904. Hon. Clifford Sifton, Minister of the Interior, Sir, — Herewith we have the honour to transmit our discussion of Major Hills* report on the survey of Canada. Our conclusions, based on reasons fully set forth in the appended report, may be briefly stated as follows : 1. Accurate maps are of the greatest value for administrative, military, economic and engineering purposes. 2. While much material for maps has been acccumulated in Canada as the result of surveys, the accuracy of the maps is of an inferior order on account of the lack of systematic control by triangulation. 3. Major Hills does not provide for sufficient triangulation to properly control the detail work he suggests, nor is it, as proposed, of sufficient accuracy to meet future requirements. 4. His scheme of detail work involves duplication of existing surveys. 5. Greater advantage would be achieved by carrying on the triangulation on a wider scheme, and discarding for the present the scheme of detail work altogether. 6. The work should be under civilian, not military management. W. F. KING, Chief Astronomer. JAS. WHITE, Dom. Geographer . Chief Astronomer and Dominion Geographer to the Minister of the Interior: July 25, 1904. Sir, — We, the undersigned, have the honour to report as follows upon the ' Report •n the Survey of Canada,' by Major Hills, C.M.G. We are in thorough accord with him as to the importance and necessity of good maps for administration, military, economic, and engineering purposes. What he says in this resi)ect must, indeed, be considered axiomatic, as also his view that proper maps can only be got as a result of surveys based upon a trigonometrical framework. Of the necessity of this framework, the uniform practice of all countries which have undertaken! systematic construction of maps (including nearly all civilized na- tions) is proof. So also is the experience of Canada in the attempt to make maps from surveys not systematically connected together. Major Hills, in his second chapter, 'Existing survey work in Canada', draws atten- tion to some of the difficulties which the cartographer, under existing conditions has to face. His statement of these is generally correct, though inaccuracies are noticed, gen- erally of a minor character. In one instance, however, to be noticed hereafter, incor- rect information has led to a defect in his proposed scheme of survey. We think, also, that too much is made in the Memorial of the Royal Society of Canada, which he 16 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC., RELATING TO 8-9 EDWARD VII., A. 1909 quotes, of the supposed duplication of work by different departments of the public service. In his general conclusion that the proper remedy for existing difficulties is a systematic survey and that such survey should be initiated vpithout delay we beg to express our concurrence, though we do not agree with him as to the precise nature of that systematic survey, nor in his dictum that the survey should be under military control. We now proceed to consider his recommendations as to (1). Organization and plan of operations. (2). The question of military or civil control. ORGANIZATION AND PLANS. Major Hills provides in his scheme for ' a good backbone of secondary triangula- tion, filled in with tertiary work'. This word 'backbone' seems to indicate that he in- tends to confine the triangulation to narrow strips or chains merely (10 to 30 miles wide he says in the foot note of page 13). His maps at the end of the report bear out this construction of his words. Now this is, in our view, quite insufficient. A 'network' covering approximately the area which is to be surveyed in detail is necessary. On his map No. 1, he shows 'detail' of considerable extent supported on a narrow strip of 'secondary' triangulation. In some places, as for instance on the Vermont border, this detail extends as much as sixty miles or more beyond the limits of the triangulation. By this scheme, the detail survey is extended quite beyond control. The advantage of triangulation methods is lost, and his proposal is in effect to continue the methods practiced heretofore, and to add one more to the surveys which he considers useless for the purpose of accurate maps. That we have not misunderstood his proposal, and that it really means the non- performance of any triangulation except in certain narrow strips, from Detroit to the Gulf of St. Lawrence, from Ottawa to Sault Ste. Marie, &c., is shown by his map No. 2, which shows the ' ultimate development of triangulation', and which does not widen the areas of secondary triangulation shown on Map No. 1. Our view is that a triangulation survey should consist of : 1. A chain of triangulation to form a 'backbone'. This chain would in Ontario and Quebec follow generally the same course as his chain. It should, however, be performed with a higher degree of accuracy than he suggests. Instead of 'secondary* it should be of 'primary' character, though it need not be of the extreme precision of the best geodetic work. 2. Then this chain would be expanded, when required, into a network of 'second- ary' triangles, covering the area to be accurately mapped. This method, we believe to be the only satisfactory one, having regard not only to present but alsd to probable future requirements. Tr base the surveys of such an extensive region as we have to deal with upon triangulation of an inferior order, with- out providing for the stiff 'backbone' which a primary triangulation alone can afford, would lead, when the work is extended to any considerable distance on either side, to accumulated errors of great amount. The result would be that the work would some- time or other have to be done over again. It is surely better to do the work on proper principles from the beginning. Major Hills' scheme then is defective: 1. In that he has too much detail in proportion to the triangulation over the region that he proposes to survey in detail, and 2. In that the triangulation he proposes is not accurate enough to extend from in the future. GEODETIC SURVEY IN CANADA 17 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 145 We have further to say that, in our opinion, the survey of detail is not needed at the present time. The operation should be confined to triangulation. There is plenty of information extant for the construction of maps, derived from the surveys of the Dominion and Provincial Governments. What is needed most is control of errors. The only control at present consists in the latitudes and longitudes which have been astronomically determined at certain points. These points are too far apart, and to multiply them so as to give control comparable to that of a triangulation would be too costly. To make full use of the topographical information which has been accumulated, control points twenty miles apart, or thereabouts, are required. These should be es- tablished by triangulation. To them the existing detail surveys would be connected. Then wherever the existing work was found insufficient, or inaccurate, it would be an easy matter to supplement or replace it, by work of full detail, but this should be postponed until its necessity is proved. To do otherwise would almost certainly involve rejection of former work of as good quality as the new, a duplication of work more inexcusable than that spoken of by the Eoyal Society. With her immense unsurveyed areas Canada cannot afford to risk this. It is further to be observed that accurate triangulation is needed for one of the principal objects of the survey, the acquiring of information of engineering value in relation to railway location, water supply and drainage question, &c. For these a higher degree of accuracy is called for than for maps of the scale proposed. Major Hills' scheme does not appear calculated to achieve the accuracy required. We therefore think that attention should first be directed to the triangulation and that this should be extended rapidly over the country. No detail work should be provid- ed for until existing surveys, as cheeked and controlled by the triangulation, are prov- ed insufficient. Major Hills proposes an annual expenditure of $75,000, of which from $15,000 to $16,000 is for the triangulation. If our opinion is correct, this last sum would be the only useful part of the expenditure. We leave out the salaries at head- quarters, as we believe that the work can be conducted under existing departmental organization. Major Hills estimates that the amount of triangulation he could get for the money would be 250 linear miles per annum. This is $60 to $64 per linear mile, or $3 to $3.20 per square mile, if the triangulation were 20 miles in width. We think this somewhat high and that the cost of a party's work for one season might be reduced by twenty per cent without lessening the amount of work which could be done. Tlie amount of work for a season, however, will vary according to the favourable character, or otherwise, of the country passed over, and so cannot be very accurately predicted. As to the selection of routes for the main chains of triangulation, we would suggest following pretty closely Major Hills' scheme in Ontario and Quebec, that is, from Detroit to the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and, subsequently, from Ottawa to Sault Ste. Marie, with possibly a connecting chain along the western face of the province of Ontario (east of Lake Huron). In the Maritime Provinces there should be a chain alongside the Bay of Pundy, Avhich would be a continuation of the 'oblique arc,' which has been measured by the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey from the Gulf of Mexico to the New Bruns- wick border. Major Hills, under the impression that the work of the Geological survey there was of special accuracy, provides for no triangulation in the Maritime Provinces. With regard to this he has been misinformed; the surveys there are in no more satisfactory state than they are in the other provinces. Major Hills projwsed transcontinental line of triangulation along the 49th parallel is now in part in actual progress, in the course of the operations of the International Boundary Commission. It is therefore unnecessary to provide for it as a part of the scheme now under discussion. 145—3 18 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC., RELATING TO 8-9 EDWARD VII., A. 1909 The triangulation of the 98th meridian (through Manitoba) is worthy of con- sideration from the scientific aspect, as a part of the great work now being done by the United States and Mexico, but having little importance from the topographical point of view, compared with the more pressing work in the eastern provinces, may be dismissed for the present. THE QUESTION OF MILITARY OR CIVIL CONTROL. Major Hills argues for military control on two grounds — precedent and essential superiority. 1. As regards precedent, he says, ' practically all great national surveys have been carried out under military direction.' He refers to the example of ' Great Britain, France, Italy, British India, South Africa (in future), and many other countries.' For a fair estimation of the value of these precedents, instances on the other side should be considered. Without going into an exhaustive discussion of this point, it may be sufficient to call attention to the work of the * Geodetic Institute,' founded in Prussia in 1869, which is under civilian control. It has charge of the primary triangulation as well as of the international triangulation for Europe. It stands in the very first rank in geodesy, the world over. The example of other German states might also be cited, such as Hanover, Bavaria Nassau, Baden and Wurtemburg. Thus even in Europe military control is not without its exceptions. In discussing a subject of a scientific nature, or at least having scientific bearings, Germany surely deserves consideration. In fact, military control in Europe has the simple explanation that where a large standing army exists, numerous officers of engineering corps are unemployed in time of peace, and their services can be utilized in national undertakings with little extra expense for salaries. The value which maps have for military purposes is also first perceived, and this naturally throws the surveys needed for their construction into the hands of the engineer officers. When modern requirements, however, show the desirability of accurate surveys for economic, engineering purposes, &c., we find a ten- dency to replace military men by civilians. It is becoming more and more generally recognized that a survey is a scientific operation, and application of a science, geo- desy, and must be carried on as such by specialists, trained men working under scien- tific supervision. It is not an avocation for men whose education and ambitions point in another direction. Major Hills admiis, as an exception to his list of precedents, the case of the iTnited States. This exception breaks all the force of his argument, for conditions in the United States are most nearly like our own. The reasons given above for the employment of military men in these surveys m Europe do not apply in the United States. Accordingly we find there the surveys carried on under civilian management. Neither do these reasons apply to Canada. We have therefore against the practice in the United States, and the practice heretofore in Canada, in very extensive surveys, nothing but the citing of bare pre- cedents, Ihemselves not universal. Major Hills, however, says that in the United States a 'mixed system' of control is adopted. This is incorrect. The topographic surveys of the United States are in the hands of the Geological Survey, unJer ercclusively civilian control. The work of this survey is very similar to that proposed for Canada. The fJiiited States Coast and Geodetic Survey makes triangulation and hydro- graphic surveys along the coast, and also carries on extensive geodetic surveys in the interior. The accuracy and systematic character of its work receives world-wide recognition, yet it is wholly under civilian management. GEODETIC SURVEY IN CANADA 19 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 145 The two bureaus mentioned are among the largest in the world, each expending over $1,000,000 per annum. Surveys by the United States War Department are now a thing of the past. Major Hills speaks of the geodetic survey of South Africa, (which has been car- ried on by Sir David Gill, H. M. Astronomer) as having been a ' disastrous failure.' The difficulties which this survey encountered and which ultimately led to the change in control, were not due to the inefficiency of civilian management, but to financial difficulties arising from a peculiar arrangement by which two indei>endent colonies, Natal and Cape Colony, were to share the expense equally, and consequently demanded an equal division of the woik between them, irresi)ective of the interests of the survey itself. 2. Major Hills further says, 'for the successful conduct of survey work, a rigorous and methodical routine, combined with a quasi-military discipline is absolutely necessary.' From this dictum we emphatically dissent. The essential point in military dis- cipline, in which it differs from what may be called business discipline is unquestioning obedience to orders, regardless of results. We have no hesitation in saying that the less such a principle enters into the relations between headquarters and the chief of a field survey party, or between the latter and the men under him the better. In this country, whether due to education or some other cause, the best work is to be got out of men in a different way. The ordinary ' business' discipline has proved sufficient in Canada (in the execu- tion of most extensive surveys. Dominion and Provincial Land Surveys, the Geologi- cal Survey, railway surveys, &c. If military discipline is ' absolutely necessary' for the proposed survey of Canada lit must be necessary also for these. If so, it should be applied to them. Yet these surveys have been and are being carried on successfully without it. Here in Canada is a precedent against military control vastly stronger than all the precedents Major Hills can cite from the Old World W. F. KING, Chief Astronomer. JAS. WHITE, Geographer. Acting Deputy Minister of Militia and Defence to the Deputy Minister of the In- terior: Oti'AWA, April 15, 1905. The Deputy Minister of the Interior. Sir, — I am desired by the Hon. the Minister of Militia and Defence to forward, for the information of the Hon. Minister of the Interior, the inclosed memorandum whdch has been submitted to Sir Frederick Borden by the Chief of the General Staff. The Minister of Militia is strongly impressed with the importance of the subject considered in that memorandum, and would feel greatly obliged if the Minister of the Interior could see his way to taking action in the directiion indicated by Brigadier General Lake, in the concluding paragraph of his memorandum. E. F. JARVIS, Acting Deputy Minister of Militia and Defence. 145—3* 20 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC., RELATING TO 8-9 EDWARD VII., A. 1909 Brigadier General Lake to the Minister of Militia and Defence: Ottawa, April 14, 1905. The Honourable, The Minister of Militia and Defence, Ottawa. 1. I have already brought to your notice the great disadvantage under which the Militia force of Canada would labour in consequence of the non-exiistence of proper^ maps of the country, in the event of that force unhappily being required to repel in- vasion. 2. That an army should not be able to command the use of good maps of its own country lis not only a reflection upon the progrtess of the jiation, but is a dafect which directly tends to invite defeat, more especially in a case such as ours where a Canadian force would have to face superior numbers and would need every advantage it could get from science to enable at to cope with them. 3. Yet it may with truth be said that, with the exception of a survey of a por- tion of the Niagara peninsula and of one or two other small areas, there as not in existence a map of any part of Canada good enough for military purposes. 4. Canada is probably the only civilized country in the world which does not possess or endeavour to produce a reliable survey representing the topographical features of the main roads within, at least, the settled portions of its area. 5. I know no Canadian map which attempts to delineate the contours of the ground in the manner adopted by the Ordnance Surveys of European countries and of the United States. 6. The main reason for this is that any si;rvey, to be accurate, must be based upon the exact determination — by astronomical observation and triangulation — of certain selected points within its area, on which the actual surveyors can ' close,' i.e., verify their work. These hardly exist in Canada. 7. By your direction the officers employed by the Militia Department have for the last few years been endeavouring to supply the requirements of the country "for defence purposes, by surveying those portions of the country which are of most importance from a military point of view. But progress has been slow, not only because the sur- veyors available have been few, but, largely, because even they have been seriously retarded by the absence of the accurately determined points alluded to in the preceding paragraph. 8. Had a reasonable number of such points been already detennined, their rate of work, as well as its accuracy would have been enormously increased. 9. Such work as has been accomplished cannot be utilized to its full extent with- out having such points to connect up with. 10. In fact, what is known as a primary triangulation is absolutely necessary in order even to inaugurate such a survey as has been referred to. It is a preliminary necessity for all accurate surveys. 11. That a reliable topographical survey of the naore settled parts of Canada — one which showed the natural features, including the contours of the ground, as well as the main roadways — would repay the country its cost within a very few years is a thesis which admits of no question. This, however, is, apart from the military point of view, of course a matter for the government to decide. 12. But in the meantime the military surveyors are iirgently in need of more of the ' fixed points ' referred to in paragraph 6 above. 13. The Chief Astronomer of the Department of the Interior, has already fixed the position of a small number of such points. He has courteously placed the result of his work at the disposal of the Intelligence Division. 14. I gather from this that he has the necessary instruments and the trained observers at his disposal, and that he could, if authorized, carry out a primary triangu- lation, such as that referred to, inexpensively and expeditiously. GEODETIC SURVEY IN CANADA 21 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 145 15. I venture to suggest that the Minister of the Interior be made acquainted with the importance which the Militia Department attaches to this subject, and that he be requested to lend his powerful assistance to further the object in view, by giving his Chief Astronomer necessary authority. P. LAKE, Brigadier General, Chief of the General Staff. Chief Astronomer to the Deputy Minister of the Interior: May 2, 1905. W. W. Cory, Esq., Deputy Minister of the Interior. Memorandum, — The subject of General Lake's memorandum is, I submit, of great importance. A trigonometrical survey of Canada, at least of the well settled parts, would be of the utmost value for administrative, engineering and military purposes,, its function being to furnish for the detailed surveys for these purposes an accurate basis, without which the requisite precision cannot be secured. It does not appear necessary here to enlarge upon the necessity of such a survey, as I have already reported on the matter a number of times to the Minister and Deputy Minister. General Lake forcibly sets forth the military side of the question;, from other points of view, especially the engineering and economic, the importance of the survey may likewise be strongly represented. I respectfully submit that the survey is one which will have to be made some time or other and that an early beginning at the triangulation will be the best economy. I ask, therefore, to be authorized to commence work in the neighbourhood of Ottawa, expanding from a triangulation which I have now in hand connecting the old observa- tory on Cliff street with the new. This triangulation is being paid for out of the appropriation for the astronomical work, which, however, is not sufficient for extended work in this line. I estimate that a sum of $15,000 may be with advantage expended on the work during the coming fis- cal year, and beg to recommend that this amount be provided in the supplementary estimates for the year 1905-6. W. F. KING, Chief Astronomer. Major-General Lake's Memorandum to the Minister of Militia and Defence. The Honourable the Minister of Militia and Defence, , Topographic Survey of Canada. 1. Referring to our recent conversation on the subject, I have the honour to sub- mit for your consideration, that the time has now come when a systematic and uni- form topographical survey of Canada should be undertaken, and when, also, the various departments of the Domiuion government, who are concerned with survey questions, should consider how they can best co-operate with each other in that work. 2. At the present time the following Dominion Government departments are con- cerned with surveying questions: — (a) The Department of the Interior, which besides the surveys executed under the Surveyor-General has responsibility for the geological survey of Canada. (6) The Department of Militia and Defence. (c) The Department of Railways and Canals. (d) The Department of Marine and Fisheries, and to some extent (e) The Post Office Department. These are in addition to various Provincial government departments. Yet there is no general survey system, common to all departments, in existence. Nor is there 22 CORRESPOXDENCE, ETC., RELATING TO 8-9 EDWARD VII., A. 1909' •with one or two local exceptions in the west, any reliable topographical map of Canada. 3. It should be explained that a topographical map is one which records correctly in graphic form the artificial and natural features constituting the physical conforma- tion of the country, i.e. which shows the height and shape of mountains and rising ground, the position and width of rivers and lakes, the nature and extent of forests and swamps, and gives information concerning villages, roads, railways, canals, bridges, farms, docks, «S:c. 4. For military purposes, a reliable topographical map is absolutely essential. To the general in command of troops in the field such a map is invaluable. To have one or to be without one may well mean the difference between victory and defeat. Hence the interest of the Militia Department in the question of an accurate topographical survey. But it phould be clearly understood that there is no essential difference between a good map made for civil and one made for military purposes. 5. The Survey Branch of the Military Department has been endeavouring in a small way, to meet this want so far as the militarily more important portions of the country are concerned, and gratefully acknowledges the cordial assistance which it has received from the survey officials of all departments, who no doubt give their help equally readily to other departments. Yet I am certain that the many men of ability among these officials will be the first to acknowledge that the different departments are working on separate systems, practically without co-operation with each other, or collaboration of results. From this want of combined effort, there must necessarily result inadequate return for the money spent, in fact waste of power. 6. As is well known, Dominion and Provincial government departments (apart from the Department of Marine and Fisheries, which has its own special maps) spend considerable sums annually for ' geological ' and ' land ' or ' cadastral ' surveys, whose main functions are the production of maps showing geological formations or of large scale property plans, showing boundaries, areas of townships, proi>erties, roads, &c. 7. It is not possible to compile correcaffolds are not needed and the stations may be placed at enormous distances, often exceeding 150 miles. The longest triangle side that has ever been measured is in the United States, between Uncompahgre peak, Colorado, (plate 10) and Mt. Ellen, Utah; its length is 183 miles. At such distances, special means must be resorted to in order to render the stations visible. The device most frequently employed is the ^heliotrope,* a mirror four or five inches square, reflecting the sun's rays towards the observer; the instrument is shown on the left of plate 11. Powerful lights are also employed at night, as for the triangles connecting Spain and Algeria over the Mediterranean. One of the Spanish stations was on Mulhacen, the most rugged peak of the Sierra Ne- vada, 11,420 feet high. After incredible difficulties a steam engine with water and fuel and a dynamo were hoisted on top of the peak and an electric light was started on August 20, 1879. Every night was now spent by the Algerian observers in scanning the horizon for the Mulhacen light ; it was not, however, until September 10 that they discovered it, a red round star-like disc, 170 miles away. This is the primary triangulation. The large triangles are now subdivided into smaller ones, so as to establish stations at an average distance of twenty miles. The operations of the secondary triangulation do not require as much precision as those of the primary triangulation and therefore are less expensive. The secondary tri- angulation is sometimes followed by a tertiary tniangulation in which the stations are placed still closer to each other. The cost of primary tri angulations in the United States varies from $598.00 per station in Maryland and Delaware, a rolling country, to $0,031 in California. The stations of the secondary triangulation cost very much less. In the most populated parts of Canada where it is proposed to commence work the cost would probably not be less than $1,000.00 per station. GEODETIC SURVEY IN CANADA 29 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 145 Be Memorial of Royal Society. The contention of the Eoyal Society that a triangulation is desirable as a basis for other surveys is undoubtedly correct; it would impart to these surveys a degree of accuracy which is lacking at present. The benefit would not be confined to any particular bind of surveys; it would apply to all. Whether Canada has reached that stage of development where such a work can be inaugurated is not quite so clear. Even if restricted to the most populated parts of Canada, the triangulation would cover the Maritime provinces, the whole breadth of Quebec and the Peninsula of Ontario : that is an enormous undertaking. It must be borne in mind that in Europe, in India and un other countries where there are standing armies, triangulations are made by the army engineers whose salaries and maintenance have to be paid whether they are kept idle or employed on survey work. The extra expenditure is limited to the cost of instruments and transportation, which is very small. It is not so in Canada ; the salaries and maintenance of all those employed on the work must be pro- vided for. Before coming to a decision, it will, therefore, be wise to thoroughly in- vestigate the subject, and the suggestions of the Royal Society that a Commission be appointed for the purpose seems to be timely, A trigonometrical survey may not be the only way of improving the surveys of the Dominion. The Land survey, the Geological survey, the Hydrographic survey, the Military survey, &c., have all been developed as separate and independent organ- izations, each doing its work in its own way and without any regard to the require- ments of the other organizations. Could not a Military Survey, for instance, be so made as to fulfil the requirements of the geologist, or is there not some way in which they could help each other? If a Commission were appointed, it might be advisable not to restrict its inquiries to the trigonometrical survey, but to include the whole question of the organization of the surveys under the Dominion Government. After a thorough investigation, it may confidently be expected that the Commission will be able to indicate how the quality of the work of the survey departments and its use- fulness to the public can be improved without any material increase in the expendi- ture. With a commission consisting of men such as Sir Sandford Fleming, Mr. Thomas Keefer, Professor McLeod, Principal Galbraith or other prominent engineers, the re- sult of the investigation should be worth many times the amount spent upon the Commissiion. E. DEVILLE, ♦ Survey Or- G&neral. Note. — Cannot procure copies of the plates referred to in the foregoing memorandum. The Deputy Minister of the Interior to the Chief Astronomer: Ottawa, April 24, 1906. Dr. King, — I am submitting to you a letter which I received some days ago from Mr. Butler, the Deputy Minister of Railways and Canals, with regard to a memoran- dum which has been submitted to the Prime Minister by the Canadian Society of Civil Engineers, in which it is suggested that some steps should be taken in order to secure a better co-ordination of the several survey departments of the government. I have obtained the views of the Surveyor General on the subject, and I would be glad if you would look into the matter and let me liave the benefit of your opinion also. W. W. CORY, Deputy Minister 30 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC., RELATING TO 8-9 EDWARD VII., A. 1909 Deputy Minister of Railways and Canals to Deputy Minister of the Interior: Ottawa^ April 6, 1906. W. W. Cory, Esq., Deputy Minister, Interior Department, Ottawa. Dear Mr. Cory, — You will remember that I spoke to you a short time ago about some steps that should be taken in order to secure a better co-ordination of the several survey departments of the government. In pursuance of this matter, the Canadian Society of Civil Engineers have submitted a memorandum to the Premier. As the working out of the details necessarily must fall on your department, I beg now to inclose to you a copy of the memorial, and besi>eak for it your kind consider- ation. The matter is one of very great public interest, and every department of the government is, more or less,* interested in the subject. Sir Wilfrid will, no doubt, bring it up in Council, and it is certainly desirable that your Minister should be properly informed; and I take this means of reaching him through you, knowing that you will know best how to place the matter before him. Yours faithfully, M. J. BUTLEE. MEMOKIAL OF THE CANADIAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS. Montreal, April 2, 1906. Memorandum to the Bight Hon. Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Prime Mvnister of Canada, Ottawa, from the Council of the Canadian Society of Civil Engineers, Montreal. As already intimated to you, the following resolution was unanimously adopted at the annual meeting of the Canadian Society of Civil Engineers in Toronto on Febru- ary 1 last:— ' Resolved that the council be instructed to represent to the Dominion government the importance of action in the direction of a more complete co-ordination of the various surveys conducted by its departments, and the adoption of such methods as will secure permanent records both in the field and in the office of all such work. In the opinion of this meeting, the complete working out of a scheme will involve very careful study not only of the valuable work now being done, but also of the methods which have been adopted by the governments of other countries, and should lead to the estab- lishment of a general topographical and geodetic survey scheme for the whole Dominion.' In asking your consideration of the foregoing resolution, the Canadian Society of Civil Engineers begs you will understand that the excellence of the survey work which is being done in the various departments of the government is not in any way called in question. The Society is desirous: — (a) That some scheme may be arrived at whereby the work of the surveying branches maj^ be co-ordinated in such a manner as will render the work of each of greater and more permanent value to the country than is possible under existing con- ditions, and it sees no reason why such a result should not be obtained without in any way impairing the independence of the branches. (b) That a method may be worked out whereby all records once obtained may be accessible, and that all survey monuments, bench and other field marks may be made and referenced in such a manner as to render them permanently available. (c) That in the development of such a method as may be found best suited to insure the foregoing, the necessity of a general topographical and geodetic survey scheme for the whole of the Dominion be borne in mind as a work which will ultimately bo necessary for the complete unifying of the various surveys of the country. GEODETIC SURVEY IN CANADA 31 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 145 Eeferring to these requirements, it is understood that there are at the present time in the Dominion Government some eight or more independent or semi-independent surveying branches, each of which conducts its operations after its own methods. These methods being conceived separately and in each case for special objects, do not of course accord, and the results obtained through them cannot be of a uniform standard as regards accuracy or topographical detail. The representations of such work on maps or plans are also carried out under varying methods of projection and on a great variety of scale. Such lack of unity of method and also of proper connection between separate surveys must obviously reduce very largely the permanent value of the work as a whole, and there is therefore not realized from our surveys that return which the money expended upon them would seem to justify. While during the past years a very large amount of surveying has been done, it is, in regard to some of these surveys, a difficult matter to obtain any desired information for the reason that no adequate method of recording the same has been in vogue, and when the plans or notes of such work are obtained, the field monuments are found not to have been established with that idea of permanence which it is desirable that all survey work should have. It would seem that one of the first objects to be accomplished would be the establishment of a bureau of records, for which a nucleus may now be said to exist in the Department of the Geographer of the Dominion. The Canadian Society of Civil Engineers is well aware that the Dominion Govern- ment has been memorialized by the Royal Society of Canada and by other bodies in regard to the establishment of a geodetic survey for Canada. The Society would gladly see such a work undertaken so soon as the conditions therefor are favourable. It is of opinion, however, that there is a very large amount of work which should first be done in co-ordinating the different surveying branches of the Dominion Government, and that under existing conditions, it would not seem wise to plunge immediately into the large expenditure which would be necessitated by such a general survey. Without question, a geodetic survey for Canada will have to be inaugurated in the near future, but such a survey is one which should grow out of, rather than be superimposed upon, existing conditions. It is furthermore a work which must be approached slowly, not only on account of the circumstances above named, but also for the reason that men must be trained for it. The Society would respectfully urge the government to appoint a small commis- sion of experts of whom, at least a majority should not be connected with the exist- ing surveying departments, and that this commission be authorized and instructed to obtain such information both in Canada and abroad as will enable it to report upon a satisfactory scheme for the co-ordination of the various surveys now being conducted by the Dominion government, and the adoption of such methods as will secure per- manent records both in the field and in the office ; these recommendations to be such as will adapt themselves to the establishment of a trigonometrical survey of the coun- try. Further, that the commission be instructed to outline the best methods of inaugurating a geodetic survey for Canada in accordance with the foregoing con^ siderations. H. D. LUMSDEN, President, C. H. McLEOD, Secretary. 32 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC., RELATING TO 8-9 EDWARD VII., A. 1909 Chief Astronomer to Deputy Minister of the Interior: May 18, 1906. W. W. Cory, Esq., Deputy Minister of the Interior, The Canadian Society of Civil Engineers recommend the appointment of a com- mission of experts to obtain such information, both in Canada and abroad, as will enable them to report upon a satisfactory scheme for : 1. The co-ordination of the various survey departments under the Dominion gov- ernment. 2. The adoption of such methods as will secure permanent records both in the field and in the office. 3. The making of a general geodetic and topographic survey of the Dominion, at some time in the future, after the co-ordination has been effected. Their idea that the geodetic survey is a matter of the future is strongly put ; they .express their dissent from the memorial (December, 1903) of the Committee of the Koyal Society, who urged the immediate and pressing need of geodetic surveys in Canada: The Engineers say: 'The Canadian Society of Civil Engineers is well aware that the Dominion, government has been memoralized by the Royal Society of Canada and by other bodies in regard to the establishment of a geodetic survey for Canada. The society would gladly see such a work undertaken as soon as the conditions therefor are fav-- ourable. It is of opinion, however, that there is a very large amount of work which should first be done in co-ordinating the different surveying branches of the Domin- ion government and that, tinder existing conditions, it would not be wise to plunge immediately into the large expenditure which would be necessitated by such a gen- eral survey.' Now co-ordination in its mathematical sense means the reference by means of ' co-ordinates ' to a basal system. Thus different surveys are co-ordinated with one another by so connecting them by accurate measurements that on the resulting maps there will be no overlap of different surveys or gap between them. This species of co-ordination, however, is the work of a geodetic survej', and this the engineers do not want at present. Hence we must conclude that ' co-ordination ' in the paragraph quoted has tho general meaning of * harmonizing ' the different surveys, putting them on the same basis. I This might denote unification of management, adoption of like methods, estab* lishment of like standards of accuracy, or the organization of each individual surveys whether it be a land, or a topographical survey, or a survey of engineering construe-^ tion, in such a way as to collect at once all the data which are the object of all theJ different classes of survey. The first of these is barred by the admission that it is not proposed to interfere with the independence of the different survey departments. To estimate the value of the suggestion in regard to the other points, let us con- sider the different surveys now being made by the Dominion government. The prin- cipal ones are: 1. Surveys of Dominion lands. 2. Surveys of International Boundaries. 3. Hydrographic Surveys (Marine Dept). 4. Topographical Surveys by the Geological Survey. 5. Topographical Surveys by the Militia Department GEODETIC SURVEY IN CANADA 33 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 145 6. Transcontinental Railway Survey, Georgian Bay Canal Survey, and generally survejs for engineering construction, made by or under the Railways and Canals and Public Works Departments. It will be seen that the allegation often made that different survey departments in Canada are covering the same ground is hardly correct. The Dominion Lands Sur- veys are confined to the west, International Boundary Surveys lie along the actual boundary line, and only touch the edge of Dominion Lands and in the prairie region only. Hydrographic surveys are necessarily confined to the water. The Geological Survey and the Militia Department are indeed carrying on surveys alike in their gen- eral object, but the latter is principally interested in the country adjacent tc the boundary line, while the Geological Survey Department requires topographical sur- veys in order to trace out the rock formations wherever its work lies, that is, over the whole of Canada. The engineering surveys under No, 6 need hardly be considered in relation to those under the other heads, since they are of special character, seeking a minuteness of local detail which is unnecessary in the more general surveys. While a good topo- graphical survey, if such existed, would aid in preliminary location, it would not super- sede the final construction survey. The engineering surveys on the other hand fur- nish excellent topographical data especially as to levels, over the region they cover and thereby would assist a tojwgraphical survey. It is, however, clearly impossible to amalgamate them with a general topographical survey. The International Boundary Surveys are carried on as a joint undertaking with the United States, under treaty or agreement. The methods, standard of accuracy, &c., of the Canadian and American surveyors have to be, and are, ' co-ordinated.' These methods and standard are not necessarily the best for general use in Canada. It seems necessary therefore to leave these surveys out of any general scheme of co-ordination. The application of the proposed co-ordination is therefore restricted to Dominion Land Surveys and the topographical surveys of the Geological Survey and Militia Departments. The object of the Dominion Land Surveys is to lay out lands for settlement, by Tunning and marking the township and section lines, &c. These lines may indeed serve as a basis for topogi-aphical surveys, to a degree of accuracy sufficient for present purposes, in the west. But to impose on the land siarveyor the additional duty of com- pleting the topographical survey would hamper him in his proper work, and would thereby, with little doubt, involve an 'expense greater than making the survey of topo- graphical detail over the same ground independently. Likewise, it is impossible for the surveyor making a topographical survey to profitably apply it to the laying down of township and section boundaries. Hence, after all, the question is reduced to the co-ordination of two survey depart- ments, the Geological Survey and the Militia. It would no doubt be very advantage- ous to both these departments to have a common standard of accuracy and a common scheme of work whereby they could assist each other But they find difficulty in reaching any defined standard of accuracy, from the want of well determined points to serve as control. This want can only be effectively satisfied, as the Royal Society in their Memorial, Major General Lake in his memorandum to the Minister, and others have pointed out, by a scheme of triangulation. If the control points are provided, there will then be no difficulty in making topo- graphical surveys to any required degree of accuracy. In this view ' co-ordination' is an effect which will follow naturally upon the institution of a triangulation, and the apjwintment of a ' committee of exx)erts' to attempt to do anything before this is an absurdity. It is rather strange moreover to find a recommendation made to the effect that of this committee ' at least a majority should not be connected with the existing sui*vey departments.* 145—4 34 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC., RELATING TO 8-9 EDWARD VII., A. 1909 This sentence seenis to intimate more than it says and to suggest a desire to ex- clude altogether those who have practical knowledge of the conditions which would have to be met in framing an improvement on survey methods. Also, to send this commission ' abroad' to study a Canadian question would seem unnecessary. It is to be observed that the views set forth in the present memorandum are not at variance with Major Gen. Lake's suggestion of an inter-departmental conference. He recommends that the triangulation, to provide the control points, be made by the Department of the Interior, and that a conference between the different survey branches should be had with a view to co-operation an the execution of the topo- graphical survey based on this triangulation. His proposal is practical and definite. There remaiins for consideration the second point of the recommendation of the Engineers, ' the adoption of such methods as will secure permanent records both in. the field and in the office of all such work,' so that ' records once obtained may be accessible and that all survey monuments, bench or other field marks may be made and referenced in such a manner as to render them permanently available.' There is no doubt that the proper placing of permanent marks of the surveys is desirable, and their proper referencing is also most important. As far as surveys made under the Department of the Interior are concerned, they have all been marked in as permanent a way as possible under the circumstances, taking due consideration of cost. The referencing of the returns of survey is also very complete. The plan and field notes of any township or section line surveyed from the beginning of these surveys, 35 years ago, are immediately available whenever asked for. The case is probably the same in the other departments, and the only difficulty which the public may find in getting the information wanted, will therefore be in knowing which branch to apply to, where similar work is carried on by different departments. The suggestion therefore of the Engineers that records (or copies of them) be filed in one office, such as that of the Geogi'apher of the Interior, is worthy of consideration. An inter-departmental conference (not an outside commission) would be the proper body to deal with this question. The systematic keeping of re- cords would also be assisted by the systematizing of the field work, through a geodetic survey. A good deal has been said as to the possible cost of a geodetic sui"\-ey, and the consequent inadvisibility^ of the Government undertaking it, until the matter has been considered in all its bearings. The cost of a survey of Canada has been estimated at ten to twenty-three millions, and it has been suggested that this is a minimum, and that the cost will probably be much greater. The Government is therefore cautioned against the hasty incurring of such a liability. This is hardly the proper way to look at the qiiestion. The geodetic survey is not like a railway, which once begun, must necessarily be completed from end to end, under i>enalty of wasting the capital already invested. A geodetic survey on. the other hand may be made to cover as much or as little ground as may be desired, from a few hundred square miles up. If at any time it is found to be costing more than it is wortli, it may be discontinued without loss of the benefits accuring to the area already surveyed. It would appear to be good business policy for the Government to carry on the geodetic survey on a small scale, using as far as possible the present departmental organization. If it turns out to be too exi)ensive, then is the time to call in the * committee of experts' to decide whether methods can be improved in the interest of economy, or whether the survey should be altogether discontinued. As to the figures of cost, Major Hills in his report on the Survey of Canada esti- mates the cost according to his scheme at $75,000 per annum. This capitalized at 3 per cent amounts to $2,500,000 which is therefore the maximum total cost. It is true CilODETlV ULRVEY IN CANADA 35 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 145 that he suggests that this cost may he increased after the first few years, but there is a wide margin between two and a half millions and the other sums which have been mentioned, and it may be assumed that if after the first few years, it were de- cided to increase the expenditure, it would be because the survey is found to be of such value as to warrant covering a more extended territory. The immense sums which have been put forward as estimates of cost have proli- ably been derived by multiplying the total area of Canada in square miles (3,600,000) by some assumed cost per square mile, such as $10 in Major Hills' estimate. This area includes all the northern uninhabited regions, including the Arctic is- lands. The extension of the topographical survey over these, or over any except the best settled parts of Canada is not a present-day problem. Let the question of cost be looked at in the light of the reasonable scheme set forth in this memorandum, and which the undersigned was tentatively authorized by the Minister to go on with last summer, namely, the gradual extension of the triangu- lation where most needed. The cost at ten dollars per square mile is less than two cents per acre, which should not be considered too heavy a burden for the valuable lands of southern and eastern Canada. Respectfully submitted, W. F. King, Chief Astronomer. Report of the ' Committee on Surveys ' to the Minister of Militia and Defence. Ottawa, February 15, 1907. To the Honourable The Minister of Militia and Defence. Sir, — We, the undersigned members of the Committee on Surveys, constituted pursuant to the Order in Council dated November 13, last, have the honour to report as follows : — A meeting, for the purpose of organization of the representatives of the Depart- ments named in the Order was held on the 20th December. Meetings of the full committee have been held on the 7th and 17th January and each week since. To the Conmiittee provided for in the Order, a representative of Laval University has been added. As the result of our discussions we beg to submit the following conclusions. 1. The Committee is of opinion that a comprehensive and reliable survey of the Dominion for the prodviction of an accurate topographic map, based upon a network of triangulation and showing the natural and artificial features of the country, is of urgent necessity to the people of Canada, from the standpoint of public economy, the extension of public undertakings and the development of the natural resources of the country. Public economy will be served by the early production of accurate maps, by the collection and record of reliable data for the benefit of all parties interested, public or private, and by the avoidance of the duplication or overlapping of survey work which at present frequently occurs, different parties surveying the same area inde- pendently for different purposes. The extension of every class of public undertaking will be promoted, because such topographic maps will greatly assist in the location of roads, railways, canals, water supply, drainage and irrigation works. This has been found to be the case in all coun- tries where such maps have been produced. 145— 4i 36 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC., RELATING TO 8-9 EDWARD VII., A. 1909 lievelopmeut of the natural rcsuurccri of the country will be furthered by the assistance which a reliable survey will afford to the geological examination of areas likely to possess mineral deposits, by the information it will give as to the location of agricultural or timber lands, and by the data it will afford for the preliminary in- vestigations of water-powers, waterways, or other natural aids to industrial enterprise. A reliable topographic map of Canada is absolutely essential for military pur- poses, to afford the fullest possible information as to the configuration of the country, its natural and artificial features. It would be a basis for maps graphically illustrating all matters in connection with statistics such as population, industries, the products of the country, the areas of economic minerals and forests, qualities of soil, drainage and catchment basins of rivers and streams, the position of water-powers and the like. An important benefit to be derived from a topographic and hydrographic survey would be the accurate delineation of the coast line of the Atlantic and Pacific sea- boards and the inland waters. It is inevitable that until this is accomplished many disasters must hapi)en to shipping, which might be avoided in a great measure, if there were reliable charts of these waters. One of the first requisites in making hydro- graphic surveys for the production of accurate charts, is that control points must be accurately established on the shore. Large sums of money are annually exi>ended on harbours, lighthouses and other improvements, yet in many cases the geographical X)ositions of these harbours and improvements have not been accurately determined. In political and legislative matters, a topographic map would furnish useful and accurate information as to the boundaries of villages, towns, municipalities, &c., and it would also be of great utility in the administration of all public works and ser- vices. It is possible with a good topographic map to plan and lay out engineering works to better advantage than by means of the ordinary preliminary survey. A topographic map would thereby effect not only a saving of large sums of money now annually ex- pended by the government and by private companies in surveys for such undertakings, but would minimize to a great extent the cost of construction, since a better location may be obtained in many eases from a topographic map than from preliminary sur- veys. In short, the benefits arising from a good, general topographic survey may well be described as practical, political, administrative, military, statistical and economic. 2. The elaboration of a comprehensive scheme that will permit of a satisfactory co-ordination of existing survey material, whether due to the work of government survey departments or to private enterprise, is also a matter of national importance and great practical utility to the people of Canada. For the proper co-ordination of existing surveys and the effectual control of future surveys, it is necessary to establish in a jyermanent manner the net work of triangula- tion, already referred to, so as to provide a series of points of reference, at convenient distances apart, whose geographical position and absolute altitudes have been ac- curately determined by appropriate astronomical observations, chains of refined geo- detic triangulations and nets of precise spirit levelling. 3. Provision should be made for i)erpetuating bench marks, points of control, and irajMDrtant points in the interior detail of surveys by permanent monuments. This rule should be applied to all surveys of standard accuracy made imder Dominion authority. , 4. In order to secure the maintenance of adequate records, there should be a central record ofiice in a suitable fireproof building, where the results of all surveys, inclusive of accurate copies of plans and profiles with brief descriptions should be filed. For purposes of reference, these documents when not required to be treated as GEODETIC SURVEY IN VAXADl 37 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 145 confidential should be made readily accessible to all departments or branches of the government service and to the public. Deposit in this office of all such results, plans or other documents should be made compulsory upon the departments conducting surveys, and upon railway and other companies working under Dominion charter. 5. It is highly desirable that all general and sheet maps should be produced under standard arrangement as regards scale, projection and execution. For the production of such maps the existence of a central bureau, where maps may be compiled, edited and engraved for the general survey and, on repayment, for other departments requiring the same would present many advantages. This provision should not prevent any department equipi)ed for the purpose, from preparing its own plans or maps. 6. In order to secure unity, co-ordination, and efficient administration, as well as the systematic utilization of all survey material, and for the production in sheets of an accurate topographic map of Canada, it is desirable that the controlling and topographic surveys, the land triangulation basis of the Hydrographic Survey and the Map Bureau and Eecord Office should form branches of one department of the public service. It is also de.sirable that these branches should be included with the Department of the Geological Survey, together with such other branches of the public service as deal with the natural resources of the Dominion and the quality of whose work de- pends largely upon accurate maps of the areas under investigation. 7. The prosecution of surveys for special purposes, such as construction of canals or railways, improvements of rivers and harbours, laying off land for settlement, and the like, would be left to the departments to which these matters now appertain, but the departments interested in such surveys should be invited to carry them out, so far as consistent with the end in view, in accordance with such system as may appear best adapted to render the results of permanent value for topographic purposes. 8. The co-operation of the provincial survey departments should be invited. 9. It is not contemplated that surveys extending over the whole country should be undertaken at once. Their extent must be determined by the urgency of the re- quirements, and the control survey would in the first in.stance be confined to the better settled parts of the country and to those portions where geological and other researches into the natural resources of the country demand reliable maps upon which to base their operations. The appropriations in the estimates now before parliament give for the work of the branches which we recommend should be brought together. Salaries and expenses. Geological Survey, Superintendent of Mines Branch. . . . $242,475 Astronomer's Branch, Boundary Surveys . . 269,067 Hydrographer's Branch, including new steamer. Tidal Survey 349,500 Geographer's Branch 68,890 Total $919,932 The money provided in these estimates if administered under unified management, is sufficient, subject only to such natural development as may take place in the future, for the establishment of a systematic survey, without additional appropriation there- for by Farliament. 38 C(>l!],'i:sl'OXDE\CE. ETC., HELATIXG TO 8-9 EDWARD VII., A. 1909 Of the suras raeiitloned above there is availalJe for field work of surveys: — Geological Survey $ 25,000 Astronomical Branch, including Boundary Surveys and Trigonometrical Survey 204,000 Hydrographic Branch 150,000 $379,000 Out of the Chief Astronomer's vote, $50,000 has already been noted in the esti- mates as for the trigonometrical survey, in connection with which some work has been done in the vicinity of Ottawa in 1905 and 1906, and triangulation foims part of the plan of operations of the International Boundary Surveys. A portion of the expendi- ture for the latter, say $10,000, may consequently be credited to control work, making with the $50,000 above mentioned, a total of $60,000 available for pui-poses of control. This will be sufficient to carry on the triangulation eastward from Ottawa towards ^lontreal and the Richelieu river, to conduct some triangulation on the River St. Xawrence to assist the hydrographer who will thereby be enabled to devote the funds at his disposal more directly to sounding, &c., and to contribute towards the control work in the west, such as the continuation eastward along the 49th parallel of the boundary survey triangulation. All this work is such as will necessarily be included in the geodetic survey as soon as the methods of conducting the latter and the areas over which it shall extend shall have been determined. Meanwhile the control work may be gradually extended over the country, connect- ing the new surveys and correcting the old. It is thought that, with the union of the surveying departments mentioned, it will be possible in future years so to distribute the funds devoted to surveys among the several branches as to develop the topographic map systematically. The inauguration of a systematic survey of Canada, therefore, calls for no immediate increase of expenditure. Whether there shall be increase, or continuance of the present expenditure in the future is a matter for future decision, based on con sideration of the cost of the ^^^rk in relation to the beneficial results obtained from it. This decision will rest wholly with the government and parliament. 10. For the complete working out of all the details which will arise from the fore- going, and especially to provide for that accord which is necessary in the operations of the several survey branches of the Dominion, a permanent Survey Board should be appointed. The board should be similar in composition to the present Sui*vey Committee, and have power to call in consviltation such other persons as from time to time it may desire. The board should advise as to the development and methods of the control survey. It should suggest such regulations as it might consider necessary or desirable regard- ing all surveys and mapping and should invite co-operation towards securing the prac- tical application of the same. It should constitute a board of conference for the sev- eral >-urvey departments. A reasonable appropriation, say $8,000 per annum, should be made for the neces- sary expenses of the board. In the event of these recommendations receiving the approval of the government the immediate appointment of the board is urged, in order that they may undertake their duties without delay. We append hereto: — 1. A number of extracts from statements or reports from various authorities showing the practical benefits derived from topographic surveys. 2. A copy of the Order in Council of November 13, 1906, under wliicli we have acted. dEODETIC SURVEY IX CANADA 39 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 145 3. A copy of the memorial from the Council of the Canadian Society of Civil Engineers. W. F. King, Chainnan, Chief Astronomer, Department of the Interior. [ M. J. Butler, Deputy Minister and Chief Efigineer, Department of Raihvays and Canals. P. Lake, Chief of the General Staff, Department of Militia and Defence. *E. Deville, Surveyor General, Department of the Interior. *K. Steckel, Chief Clerk, Engineering Branch, Department of Puhlik: Works. W. J. Stewart, Chief Hydrographic Surveyor, Department of Marine and Fisheries. C. H. McLeod, Professorof Surveying and Geodesy, University of Montreal. L. B. Stewart, Professor of Surveying and Geodesy, University of Toronto. E. Marceau, Principal of Polntechnic School, Laval University. Attest : J, Macara, Secretary. APPENDIX I. TO REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON SURVEYS. Extracts from statements or reports from various authorities showing the practical benefits derived from Topographic Surveys. President Van Hise, of the University of Wisconsin, says: — "A railroad company owned two lines in northern Michigan and Wisconsin which they wished to connect by a branch some forty miles in length. The country was unknown between the two lines. Under my direction, topographical, geological, and timber maps were made of about twelve hundred square miles, at a cost of about $25,000. After these maps were made tlie line was laid down in the office with a beaiitiful grade, and with the best location possible with reference to iron ore and timber. One of the features of the line was that it crossed a bold trap range which was supposed to be impossible to cross except at great expense, by finding gaps through it. This line crossed the branch of another railroad about twelve miles long, which, because it went around the end of this trap range, when the gap was directly in front of it, was at least two miles longer than was necessary'. These additional two miles of road cost fully as much as the entire survey of the twelve hundred square miles. It is my profound conviction if topographical surveys were made of broad zones where it is expected to project railroads through rough forested country, that many times the cost of the survey would be saved in the construction of the railroads, besides getting a better location both as to resources and to grade than is possible by the random methods employed at the present time for the locating of railroads in rough forested country." *This report was sigrned by Messrs. Deville ami Steckel, s^ibject to the obiections "^et fortli in their appended minority reports. 40 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC., RELATING TO 8-9 EDWARD VII., A. 1909 The statement has been made by General Francis A. Walker that " if the State of Massachusetts and had a good topographical map in 1836 some $20,000,000 would probably have been saved in its public railway expenditure." The area of the state of Massachusetts being 8,315 square miles, this saving would amount to over $2,400 per square mile. The tofwgraphic survey of the State has cost $13.00 per square mile. In the report of the geographer to the Department of the Interior for 1902, Mr. White, alluding to the difficulties met with in compiling the map of Canada on a scale of thirty-five miles to an inch wrote : — " The lack of an accurate topographical survey, the numerous sources from which infonuation must be obtained, the difficulty in many cases of obttiining access to the plans of old and almost forgotten surveys, the necessity of incorporating surveys that are being made concurrently with the compila- tion of the map, which frequently alter the work almost as soon as completed, all tend to make the compilation of such a map a long and tedious operation." Further on in the same report he wrote : — ■ " The difficulties encountered in compiling the new map of Canada emphasize the need of a good topographical survey of at least the well settled portions of the Dominion. A few years ago I made a survey between two well determined points on Georgian Bay and the west end of Lake Ontario respectively, which showed that part of Central Ontario as shown in the best existing map was over two miles out in longitude, and over a mile in error in latitude. Although our maps show streams, lakes, &c. even in the extreme north, much of the information upon which they are based is of the vaguest kind." Major^C. P. Close, C.M.G., E.E., Instructor in Surveying at the School of Military Engineering, Chatham, in a lecture delivered at the staff college on 13th July, 1903, said: — "No assemblage of sketches will ever make a topographical map. The maps of India, previous to 1802 (when the survey department began work) liad been compiled from sketches. These maps, in the short distance across India in the latitude of Mysore, were forty miles in error, a striking example of the futility of basing maps on sketches." Again, speaking of the recent experience in South Africa he said: — ''Instances have been quoted of the impossibility of compiling a satisfactory map from sketches. South Africa affords the example of the impossibility of compiling a map from large scale plans, such as the farm surveys of the Free State." Dr. Frank D. Adams in a recent paper read before the Canadian Institute, quotes frojn a letter from Dr. C. D. Walcott, lately director of the United States Geological Survey as follows: — "Such maps" (those of the U.S. Geological Survey) "are an essential to the proper development of all the resources of a state. We have reached the point where officials of railroads, of trolley lines, those interested in highway improvements and in the development of city water supplies and sanitary measures as in general engineering work, do not think of spending one dollar on field surveys until they have first procurred from this office the topographic maps and the records of levels run in connection therewith. We are in daily receipt of testimonials showing the sums of money and the time saved in connection with all preliminary and also of some location surveys for such enterprises. Above all, however, is the topographic map, an essential to the study, along modern lines and by best methods, of the mineral resources of a region. The old descriptive methods of discussing the geology of a district have been long abandoned in this country. It has been found that every dollar expended in preparing a mathematically correct base map upon which to map the geologic formations for strike and dip and from which to construct structural sections, is returned many fold in the value and accuracy of the resulting studies of the geologic formations and their economic possibilities. xY good topographic map is just as essential a framework upon which to reproduce a facsimile of the underlying geology. CEODETIV Slli\ET IN CANADA 41 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 145 as is the steel frame which modern architects use to form and support a masonry build- ing of modem design." In 1898, Dr. Pritchett, Superintendent of the U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey, pre- sented before the Royal Society of Canada a paper on "A plan for international measurement of an arc of the 98th meridian," in which the co-operation of Canada was invited. The Koyal Society in memorializing the Governor-General in Covmcil in sup- port of Dr. Pritchett's proposal, while speaking of the importance of the work from a scientific standpoint, urged co-operation by the Canadian government, on the ground that ' the Canadian portion of it would also be of great practical utility in forming- the basis of a thorough geographical survey for this Dominion.' They further say: ' Extensive triangulations have seldom been undertaken upon scientific methods alone, their primary object has been utilitarian and to provide a basis for system- atic surveys. Without such a basis there is no finality in results, the same ground is being surveyed over and over again, as is the case in the Dominion, by the land sur- veyor, the geologist, the railway and canal engineer, the hydrographer. For every new project a new survey has to be made. The labour and expenditure on these sur- veys would be considerably reduced and often entirely unnecessary if we had a system- atic tri angulation carried out as in other countries. This fact has long been recog- nized in Europe, where every country has been accurately mapped. Ovitside of Europe may be cited the United States whose triangulation is well advanced; India, which offers a striking instance of extensive and well conducted surveys; the Cape of Good Hope and Natal, which have executed a joint triangulation of South Africa; New Zealand, where trangulation has preceded all other surveys. It must not l>e supposed that there were no objections raised in these countries to the inception of the work; on the contrary, it was frequently opposed by those who did not understand its practical value, but their opinions changed after they had been in a position to appreciate its usefulness.' The desirability of a trigonometrical survej' of the Douiinion was brought btfure the government in 1888 by a committee, appointed for that purpose, of the Dominion Land Surveyors' association. The following is an extract from the memorandum : ' Again with the increase in the value of real property any work having in view the permanent markingof points which would definitely fix the positions of boundaries of real estate, is for the public good. In many of the provinces the boundaries of valu- able properties are in most cases dependent on the durability of wooden posts, a few marks on trees, for the testimony of a few of the oldest inhabitants, and as a consequence expensive litigation often arises, in fact it may safely be said that the amount annually expended in litigation regarding boundaries would go. a long way towards paying for the cost of a trigonometrical survey. Were the boundaries, especially those of large areas, such as counties, townships, and concessions, accurately defined by a trigonometrical survey similar to that made by the countries herein referred to, all doubts as to their position would be forever set at rest. At the present time, throughout the Dominion, every city and many of the towns and villages are looking about for means of obtaining a good water supply ar of improving the supply they have. Gravity being the best method of utilizing a water supply, is generally sought after, but the information necessary to determine the availability of a supply by this means, can now only be had by expenditure of large sums in surveys, as has been lately seen in Toronto. Had there been a good topographical map in existenC'C, that expenditure would have been unnecessary. 42 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC., RELATING TO 8-9 EDWARD VII., A. 1909 In drainage work the information derivable from a survey of this kind would be invaluable, and as ovir agricultural population is waking up to the benefits arising from proper drainage, no time should be lost in giving them this aid. The maps would enable any engineer to determine by calculation the area of any basin to be drained, and to know accurately the size of drain necessary, and its proper location, and the survey would do away with all litigation arising from parties claiming that their lands do not lie in the basin to be drained, as a reference to the map would show at a glance the natural drainage outlet for any piece of land. These maps would also be exceedingly valuable in assisting an equitable assess- ment of real estate for taxes, and providing the necessary information required in locating and building- highways, and would save large sums of money which are now expended in finding out where roads should be built, and the sums saved might be expended in making the roads more solid and permanent. The information afforded by the maps provided from a survey of this kind, in reference to our inland waters, and the possibility of their utilization for navigation which is becoming every day of more inipfirtanco would be a vast benefit to the r-ountry. Many large public works are now being agitated, and will no doubt in the near future be undertakwi, as, for instance, ' The Ottawa Ship Canal," ' The Trent Valley Canal,' &c., the possession of good topographical maps would very materially assist in settling- the (luestion of the feasibility of these and many other schemes for the improvement of navigation, &c.' Appendix II. to Report of Cojmmittee on Surveys. ORDER IN COUNCIL CONSTITUTING THE COMMITTEE. Extract from a Report of the Committee of the Privy Council, Approved Jjy tJte Gov- ernor-General on the loth Novemljer, 1906. On a report dated 19th Jul3% 1906, from the Minister of Militia and Defence stat- ing that he has had under consideration a memorandum from the Council of the Cana- dian Society of Civil Engineers, Montreal, dated 2nd April, 1906, containing a resolu- 'tion adopted at the annual meeting of the said society on the first of February, 1906, which advocates a more complete co-ordination of the surveys conducted by the various departments of the Dominion government with a view to the eventual establishment of a general topographical and geodetic survey scheme for the whole Dominion. The Minister observes that the immense importance from a military point of view of a correct topographical survey of the Dominion has already been reported on by the Chief of the General Staff and the said report has been approved of by the Minister of Militia and Defence. The Minister further states that he is in agreement with the general proposal con- tained in the memorandum of the council of the Canadian Society of Civil Engineers, and is strongly in favour of the co-ordination of the work of the existing survey bran- ches of different government departments with a view to the inauguration of a geodetic survey of Canada. The Minister further states that upon one point only is the policy of the Depart- ment of Militia and Defence not in complete accord with the council of the society. In the last paragraph but one of their memorandum the council deprecate entering at once on the expenditure that would be necessitated by the establishment of a geodetic survey although they admit that one will have to be inaugurated in the near future. They argue that such a survey should 'grov/ out of rather than be 'superimposed upon' existing conditions. It may be that the meaning which council of the society attach GEODETIC SURVEY IN CANADA 43 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 145 to the expression 'Geodetic Survey' Jias been misinterpreted, but in the view of the Minister of Militia and Defence, the most valuable portion of a 'Geodetic Survey' frona a practical point of view is that it furnishes in its triangulation, the accurate frame work upon which all other surveys must be based, if they are to be reliable. If this frame Avork is. in the words of the council, to 'grow out of existing conditions', there would surely be a risk not only of delay, but a wasted effort. The Minister further states, that the Council of the Society admit that different Government survey branches are working under different conditions, upon different methods, under varying projections, and without connection. It is difficult to under- stand how results are to be co-ord mated without the general frame work furnished by a geodetic survey. And, it woujd further appear that, inasmuch as the different branches are necessarily basing their work upon imperfect data, to delay the com- mencement of the frame work of triangulation upon which the accurate survey of the country must ultimately be based, is to condemn these departments for a greater or less period to work under conditions which forbid accuracy, and to waste a great por- tion of skilled work of the surveyors employed therein. The Minister, while cordially supporting-, subject to the foregoing reservation, the general proposals made in the last paragraph of the Memorandum of the Canadian Society of Civil Engineers, is not entirely prepared to agree with the Council of the Society that a majority of the commission of experts proposed by them should be persons not connected M-ith the existing Survey Det)artments. The Minister of Militia and Defence is of opinion that it is more desirable that the committee which would ])erliaps be preferable to a commission as being less expen- sive should be composed mainly of officials representing the different Government De- partments concerned with survey work. The Minister, therefore, suggests that the Department of the Interior, as the one perhaps most deeply interested in the qixestion should supply two members to the Com- mittee, one of whom possibly the Dominion Astronomer, might sit as Chairman, that the Geological Survey, the Department of Marine and Fisheries, the Department of Railways and Canals, the Department of Public Works and the Department of Militia and Defence should each nominate one member to represent its interests. It is for consideration whether the C/ommittee would not be strengthened by the addition of representatives from the scientific staff' of McGill and Toronto Universities, say oivi member from each. The Committee concurring in the foregoing recommends that the same be approved. JoHX J. McGee, Cleric of the Privy Council. Appendix III, to Report of the Committee on Surveys. Montreal, April 2, 1906. Menw-randum to the Right Hon. Sir Wilfrid Lawier, Prime Minister of Canada, Ottawa. From the Council of the Canadian Society of Civil Engineers, Montreal. As already intimated to you, the following resolution was unanimously adopted at the Annual Meeting of the Canadian Society of Civil Engiineers, in Toronto on 1st February' last: — ' Resolved that the Council be instructed to represent to the Dominion Govern- ment the importance of action lin the direction of a more complete co-ordination of the various surveys conducted by its departments, and the adoption of such methods as will secure i>ermanent records both in the field and in the office of all such work. In the opinion of this meeting, the complete working out of a scheme will involve very 44 COliRE.^l'OXDEM'E. ETC., UELATISd TO 8-9 EDWARD VII., A. 1909 careful study not only of the valuable work now being done, but also of the methods which have been adopted by the Governments of other countries, and should lead to the establishment of a general topographical and goodetic survey scheme for the whole Dominion.' In askdng your consideration of the foregoing resolution, the Canadian Society of Civil Engineers begs you will understand that the excellence of the survey work which is being done in the various departments of the government is not in any way called in question. The Society is desirous: — (a.) That some scheme may be arrived at whereby the work of the surveying branches may be co-ordinated in such a manner as will render the work of each of greater and more pennanent value to the country than is ix)ssible under exiisting con- ditions, and it sees no reason why such a result should not be attained without in any way impairing the independence of the branches. (&.) That a method may be worked out whereby all records once obtained may be accessible, and that all survey monuments, bench and other field marks may be made and referenced in such a manner as to render them i>ermanently available. (c.) That in the development of such a method as may be found best suited to insure the foregoing, the necessiity of a general toiX)graphical and geodetic survey scheme for the whole of the Dominion be borne in mind as a work which will ulti- mately be necessary for the complete unifying of the various surveys of the country. Referring to these requirements, it is understood that there are at the present time in the Dominion Government some eight or more independent or semi-indepen- dent surveying branches, each of which conducts its operations after its own methods. These methods being conceived separately and in each case for si)ecial objects, do not of course accord, and the results obtained through them cannot be of a uniform standard as regards accuracy or topographical detail. The representations of such work on maps or plans are also carried out under varying methods of projection and on a great variety of scale. Such lack of unity of method and also of proper con- nection between separate surveys must obviously reduce very largely the permanent value of the work as a whole, and there is therefore not realized from our surveys that return which the money expended upon them would seem to justify. While during the past years a very large amount of surveying has been done, it is, in regard to some of these surveys, a difficult matter to obtain any desired infor- mation for the reason that no adequate method of recording the same has been in vogue, and when the plans or notes of such work are obtained, the field monuments are found not to have been established with that idea of permanence which it is de- sirable that all survey work should have. It would seem that one of the first objects to be accomplished would Iw the establishment of a bureau of records, for which a nucleus may now be said to e:dst in the Department of the Geographer of the Domin- ion. The Canadian Society of Civil Engineers is well aware that the Dominion Gov- ernment has been memorialized by the Royal Society of Canada and by other bodies in regard to the establishment of a geodetic survey for Canada. The society would gladly see such a work undertaken as soon as the conditions therefor are favourable. It is of opinion, however, that there is a very large amount of work which should tirst be done in co-ordinating the different surveying branches of the Dominion Govern- ment and that under existing conditions, it would not seem wise to plunge immediate- ly into the large expenditure which would be necessitated by such a general survey. Without question a -geodetic survey for Canada will have to be inaugurated in the near future, but such a survey is one which should grow out of, rather than be supc r- imposed upon, existing conditions. It is furthermore a work which mi;st be approach- ed slowly, not only on account of the circumstances above named, but also for the reason that men must be trained for it. arjfhETlC PURVEY IX CAyiDA 45- SESSIONAL PAPER No. 145 The Society would respectfully urge the Government to appoint a small commis- sion of experts of whom at least a majority should not be connected with the existing surveying- departments, and that this commission be authorized and instructed to obtain such infoi-mation both in Canada and abroad as will enable it to report upou a satisfactory scheme for the co-ordination of the various surveys now being conducted by the Dominion Government and the adoption of such methods as will secure per- manent records both in the field and in the office; these recommendations to be such as will adapt themselves to the establishment of a trigonometrical survey of the country. Further, that the Commission be instructed to outline the best methods of inaugurat- ing a geodetic survey for Canada in accordance with the foregoing considerations. H. D. LuMSDEN, President. C. H. McLeod, Secretanry, Committee on Surveys, minority report by the surveyor general. Memorandum of the objections of the Surveyor-General to the report of the ma- jority of the Committee on Surveys. Clause 1. In describing the benefits to be secured by a comprehensive survey of the Dominion, savings and economies are mentioned. This should be qualified by ex- plaining that it does not mean a saving in the total cost of surveys as a whole. The statement that many disasters must happen to shipping which might be avoided in a gi-eat measure if there were reliable charts of the inland and coast waters, might be understood to mean that no reliable charts are in existence and that none can be produced without a geodetic and topographic survey. No evidence has been sub- mitted to the Committee in support of this contention. Clause 2. According to the recommendations of the Society of Civil Engineers approved by the Order in Council of November 13, 1906, the Committee, which takes the place of the Commission suggested by the Society, was to be authorized and in- structed to obtain such information, both in Canada and abroad, as would enable it to report upon a satisfactory scheme for the co-ordination of the various surveys now being conducted by the Dominion Government Further, ..... .... .to outline the best methods of inaugurating a geodetic survey of Canada. The information referred to has not been obtained, nor has a scheme been de- vised for the co-ordination of the various surveys or a method been outlined of in- augurating a geodetic survey of Canada. Clause 2 merely suggests the elaboration and adoption of a comprehensive scheme, but does not define what it is to consist of or how it is to be carried out. Although the benefits to be derived from good maps are fully appreciated, financial considerations have hitherto prevented the inauguration of a comprehensive survey of the country. The cost of a survey is in direct proportion to the area, while the revenue, from which payment must be made, varies with the population. The conditions in Canada are unique; with an area of four millions of square miles, larger than the whole of Europe, the revenue (1905) is only $71,180,626, or $17.80 per square mile. Taking Great Britain, for instance, for the purpose of comparison, it is found that the area is 121,000 square miles and the revenue £143,370,404, or $5,770 per square mile. Great Britain is thus in a position to spend 324 times as much as Canada for surveying a square mile. In other words, where Great Britain spends $32.40 for sur- veying a square mile, a proportionate expenditure for Canada is ten cents. This 46 CORRESPOXDEXCE, ETC., RELATING TO 8-9 EDWARD VII., A. 1909 shows that Canada cannot follow blindly the lead of other countries in this nunter; because a certain kind of survey has been found a profitable investment elsewhere, it does not follow that it will also prove profitable here. Another consideration is that in Europe surveys are generally made by military oflBcers and soldiers, for whom employment has to be found in time of peace. Their Falaries and maintenance having to be paid whether they are idle or employed, the extra expenditure is limited to the cost of instruments, transportation and contingen- cies, which is small. In the published figures of the cost of such surveys, salaries are not always included and in consequence the cost may come out very low. If estimates for a survey of Canada are calculated from figures of this kind, dis- rppointment is inevitable as salaries form two-thirds of the cost of Canadian surveys. It must also be borne in mind that nearly all countries which have been surveyed rre well settled and sparsely wooded, that the communications are easy and transporta- tion inexpensive. Opposite conditions govern in Canada; the primeval forest is still v.'ithin a few miles of many of our great cities and the surveys are in consequeu'je more expensive than elsewhere. A project for a survey of part of Canada has been submitted by Major Hills, C.M.G. He estimates the cost at ten millions of dollars for a map on a scale of two miles to an inch, and twenty-three millions for a scale of one mile to an inch. Wliether the survey can be executed for the sums mentioned and whether it is the kind of sur- vey best adapted to the needs of Canada are questions requiring investigation. While valuable for military purposes, the two miles to an inch survey could not well be used for the location of roads, railways, canals, works for water supply, drainage, irrigation and the like. From the foregoing it may be perceived that a geodetic and topographical survey of Canada is an enormous undertaking and that it would not be wise, without mature deliberation, to commit the country to the large expenditure involved. Clause 5. A central bureau where maps may be compiled, edited and engraved for other departments requiring the same, while presenting some advantages, is not free from objection, as it will introduce causes of delay and interfere with the depart- ments' direct control of their own business. Clause 6. No evidence has been produced to show that the proposed centralization of the surveys in one department will serve any useful purpose. That the various sur- veys can be carried out independently provided they have permanent reference marks in common, is shown by the experience of other countries where such surveys, although so carried out, have reached, a high degree of jKrfection. The survey branches of the several departments have grown in answer to the departmental means and their control by the respective ministers is absolutely necessary for prompt and efficient administra- tion. A minister must have a free hand in administering his department and must not be hampered by having to transact part of his business through other departments. The material development of Canada is to a large extent dependent upon effective arecision and the standard adopted, viz. : that the average summation of the three- observed angles of each triangle should be within 180 -j- c d= 1" has been attained as will be seen by the following table. 52 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC., liKLATINC TO 8-9 EDWARD VII., A. 1909 .Stations. Observed Angles. Spherical Excess. Plane Angles. .Sum. Errcr. Bowesville 43° 18' 54 "42 79 14 47- 3(3 .57 26 18- % 48° 25' 00 "52 47 30 57- 00 84 04 03- 92 30" 31' 48 -"89 71 05 28 88 78 22 43- 43 74° 29' 29 "25 59 41 56- 67 45 48 34- 87 — 0"41 — 0"41 — 0"41 — 0"75 —0- 75 —0- 75 -0"36 —0- 36 —0 36 — 0"55 —0- 55 —0- 55 54 "01 46- 95 18- 55 59 -"77 56- 25 03- 17 48 "53 28- 52 43- 07 28 -"70 56- 12 34 32 59 "51 59 "19 00- "12 59 "14 King Mountain Carp Bowesville Montague North Mountain "4'.t (•"81 Bowesville North Mountain . Orniond Bowesville Navan 0"12 Orraond "80 That precision fully equal to that of the principal geodetic surveys has been achieved is very encouraging, especially in view of the fact that the opinion has been often expressed, sometimes with assumption of authority, that Canadians, from want of experience, could not cope with the work, and that it would be necessary for the proper carrying on of a geodetic survey in Canada to resort to other countries for instructions in methods and even for the personnel of the survey. All the observers now on the staff are graduates of Canadian Universities. GENERAL REMARKS. It was confidently expected that the experience Of other countries would place geodetic operations beyond the experimental stage. As far as the perfection of angu- lar instruments is concerned, those expectations have been realized. The angles of the triangles tabulated were measured with a twelve-inch, two microscope, Troughton & Simms theodolite reading directly to seconds of arc, designed for the Great Trig- onometrical Survey of India. Unfortunately for the progress of our work, the adop- tion of apparatus for signalling — reported highly satisfactory in other countries — proved disastrous ; it was found to be wholly inadequate to cope with the atmospheric conditions prevalent in eastern Canada. The Geodetic Survey of Canada has been undertaken for practical purposes, viiz. : the establishment of geographic positions for mapping, and for the present is confined to the older and more thickly populated sec- tions, without any regard to their suitability for primary triangulation. Much of this work in other countries is carried on solely for the purpose of adding to their scientific knowledge, and the localities for measuring arcs of meridians and parallels of latitude are chosen after duly considering the physical and atmospheric conditions to be encountered. Although for the present the public utility of the work is dominant, it is hoped confidently that our survey may eventually be used to add to the knowledge of the ' figure and size of the earth' and that in this respect the scientific work of Canada may not remain behind that of other countries. DESCRIPTION OF METHODS ADOPTED. The triangulation by means of which a geodetic survey is spread over a country, is expanded through three, four, five and even six sided figures — from a base line the If^ngth of which is carried through the fig-ures by means of the triangles into which they are subdivided. The computation consists of an equal dil.^tribution of station GEODETIC SURVEY IN CANADA 53 ' SESSIONAL PAPER No. 145 errors and an apportionment of the remaining errors of closure of the triangles by means of an elaborate least square adjustment havilng for its object the determination of the most probable values of the measured angles. In this connection tlie follow- ing extract from ' Instructions ' issiied to observers is of interest. EXTRACTS FROM INSTRUCTIONS ISSUED TO 0BSER\T;RS. * The most important geodetic observations are those determining the angles between the lines radiating from the station occi:pied. The skill, patience and con- stantly watchful care of an observer entrusted with this portion of the work count for their full value. Office computations of the most refined and exhaustive nature can only make the best possible use of the material in the records of observations sent in from the field ; they cannot dn any way compensate unskillful or indifferent obser- vatioEsi. as errors introduced in this way are to a large extent local, especially when the observations are made under unfavourable local atmospheric conditions.' The unfavourable atmospheric conditions referred to above are also dealt with in * Instructions to observers ' as follows : — ' Observations in connection with primary triangulation for determining geo- graphic positions must not be made when unfavourable atmospheric conditions exist. When the tests outlined by these instructions show that they may be made with con- fidence, observers and their assistants are expected to continue their work to the limit of physical endurance, that ds, to that stage when personal equation becomes a variable. A pencil of light many miles in length near the surface of the earth is sub- jected to local atmospheric influences which will cause deflections uncertain in mag- nitude and direction, and, owing to the diversity of conditions along the lines of sight radiating from a trigonometrical station, the amount and trend of these local disturb- ances are impossible to estimate. A careful study of the physical features along the lines of sight will enable the observer to reach fairly accurate conclusions as to where such deflections may be expected. The pencil of light in its passage from a dis- tant heliotrope or lamp to the 'observer's telescope encounters atmosphere varying in temperature and density governed by adjacent hills, masses of timber or low lying cultivated levels. Wlien the line of sight is from hilltop to hilltop high above the in- tervening country, the conditions are most favourable, but if a hill rises on one side of the line, lateral displacement must be expected especially if wind is blowing from the hill across the line. When there is wind blowing toward* the hill, pointings may be made with confidence'. * Day observations of primary directions are not desirable, but during the autumn months they may be made when conditions appear favourable. For your guidance in this respect and as a criterion at all times, you are instructed to proceed as follows: * Direct your telescope to a distant heliotrope or lamp — preferably along the most Tmfavourable line — and observe carefully for not less than ten minutes, the action of the image. If the vibration is rapid and uncertain as to direction, but symmetrical in magnitude and covering a small area, careful bisections of this area may be made with confidence, but if you observe the image move slowly to one side and return with similar deliberation — even though the movement may api>ear uniform — your pointings would be of no value for primary work.' Instructions embodying the principles governing the Geodetic S\irvey of Canada are in the hands of all observers. They are the measure of the standard of accuracy adopted, and their preparation has been influenced by a desire that the work should be as distinctly Canadian as possible. Extracts from these instructions are used for purposes of illustration, and also for the better understanding of this report. Description op Methods Adopted — ^Kesumed. Eeturning to the description of the form of the triangiilation, the figures are so arranged that the computations of the sides may be made through at least two series of triangles. This is accomplished by central stations in the triangles as well as the 54 CORKESl'OXDKME, ETC., UELATlNd TO 8-9 EDWARD VII.. A. 1909 five and six .sided figuri'S. The diag^onals of tlie quadrilaterals forming two triangles upon the same base are observed. The streng-th of the figures is measured by the re- lationship between the angles opposite the given and required sides of the triangles composing them. Assuming the probable error of an angle to be one second of arc, the uncertainty iu length caused by that error, as indicated in the sixth decimal place of the logar- ithmic sines of the angles used in the computation, may be conveniently tabulated for use in the field. In Canada we have secured the best possible fig-ures on the ground to be covered, always having in view the public utility of the survey, as measured by the number of geographical positions determined. The physical features of Canada are not suitable for the formation of geodetic figures upon rigid mathematical princi- ples, but up to the present no difficulty has been exi^rienced, probably owing to the thoroughness of the reconnaissance survey. The field parties employed during the season of 1907 were as follows : One Signal Building Party, consisting of a foreman, assistant foreman and five men to build signal towers. One Observing Party, consisting of one observer, one recorder, one cook and eight light-keepers, to observe the angles of the triangles. Two Levelling Parties, of one observer, one cook and four men each. In addition to the above, two assistants were employed on reconnaissance for the purpose of extending the triangulation southwesterly towards Toronto. SIGNAL TOWERS. The erection of the high towers at the angular points to overcome the timber is most tedious and laborious. The plan adopted for these structures is a modification of one designed by Sergeant Beaton of the Royal Efcgineers of England (See Col. Clarke's Geodesy, page 181). The towers of the present day are of much smaller timber, but, owing to the stresses introduced and the general form of construction, are more rigid than the older and more expensive structures. They consist of a tripod upon which the theodolite is mounted and a scaffold insulating the observer's weight troni the instrument. The main objections to high tripods are their unsteadiness in wind and liability to torsion caused by unequal heating of the members during the day, followed by cooling at night. The former has been largely overcome by use of sway braces to stop vibration set up by the diagonals, and the latter by using dry timber throughout, the lumber being cut and stored at a central point a year ahead of the construction Iiarty. The building party of 1907 made good progress and at the end of that saunner all the towers between a line joining Covey Hill and Montreal — to the east — and I'akenham and Edwardsburg to the west, (see map accompanying this report) — were • ompleted. Si^ towers were also built for the purpose of extending the United States Lake Survey from Lake Erie across the Kiagara escarpment and Lake Ontario to I'oronto, for the purpose of establishing geographical positions for maps under pre- paration by the Department of Militia and Defence. The manner of erecting these towers is fully illustrated by plates from photo- graphs taken at the different stages. This system is used for towers as high as eighty seven feet. The sections above that height are raised from the ground by block and tackle. The highest tower erected to date is one hundred and two feet from the ground to the lani]! stand. Towers of this height are at Maxville, Westport, Bin- brook and Grand River. The largest timber in their bottom sections is .seven by seven — the central sections six by six and the top sections five by five inches. They are apparently as rigid as the lower towers and ix>rfectly satisfactory in every way. GEODETIC SVHTEY I\ CANADA 55 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 145 Nothing larger than six by six inches is used in the towers eighty-seven feet high. The following is a table of the mimbor nf feet, board measure, in the different heights of towers. 102 foot tower G,200 feet board measure. 87 " " 4,600 " 77 '" " 4,200 " " " 67 " " 3,300 " " " 47 •• " 2,200 " " " TIIK OBSKRVING I'AKXV. During the season of 1907 a twelve-inch Troughton and Simms Theodolite with two micrometers reading to single seconds was used for measuring the angles (see plates 8 and 9), and what is known as the direction method was adopted. The rou- tine is as follows. The most prominent station visible from the observer's tower is chosen to be used as an initial. The telescope is pointed oti this station and then on all the other stations in rotation around the horizon clockwise, until the station pre- ceding the initial is reached. The instrument is reversed upon this station and point- ings made in the reverse order back to the initial. The micrometers are read forward and backward in conjunction with each pointing. Assuming that twisting — or torsion — of the high tripods is regular and the pointings made at equal intervals of time, the mean of the pointings will be free from any error from this source. A determination of the angles at a station consists of sixteen pairs of pointings upon each signal. The zero on the azimuth circle for the pointings upon the initial is moved eleven degrees or thereabouts at the beginning of each set. The pointings in the day tiine are made upon heliotropes, and at night upon eight-inch acetylene reflectors in diaj'ge of men trained for that purpose. The observer instructs the light-keepers by means of the Morse alphabet and a pre-arranged code of signals. The determination of the direction of each line involves thirty-two telescope, and one hundred and twenty-eight micrometer pointings. Special precautions have been taken to avoid errors in the micrometer pointings caused by imperfect filling of the graduations. In this connection the following is an extract from the ''Instructions to Observers," "The illumination of the graduations on the azimuth circle must be sufiicient to counteract side reflections. You are directed to use artificial light at all times, and to arrange the reflector so that the electric hand lamp may be held parallel to the gradua- tions and the light reflected therein so as to illuminate both its edges equally. The reflectors are to be adjusted in position before commencing work and must not on any account be moved during the progress of an evening's pointings." Owing to the prevalence of high timber on the ridges in Ontario, the lines of sight invariably pass close to the tree tops, so that the atmospheric conditions are extremely unfavourable for geodetic work. PRECISE LEVELS. Two precise level parties were employed during 1907. The lines levelled followed the main line of the Canadian Pacific railway from Sherbrooke to St. Johns with branch lines along the Grand Trunk railway from Lennoxville and St. Johns; on the Canadian Pacific railway from Foster, and the Central Vermont railway from Farn- ham; south to the International boundary and also along the Grand Trunk railway from Lacolle Junction to Coteau Junction. The methods adopted are similar to those of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, and are without any special features of interest. The permanent bench marks are copper bolts in the masonry of the cul- verts and bridges of the railway. They will be described in our next report, which will contain the results obtained during 1907 and 1908. The progress of the work has been hampered by the insufficiency of the optical parts of the instruments in use, necessitating 56 CORBESPONDENCE, ETC., liELATING TO 8-9 EDWARD Vil., A. 1909 short sights in order to obtain perfect definition. The limit of error allowed is (/•017 V^> *' ^ " being the distance in miles. New instruments have been ordered from Messrs. Cooke & Sons, York, England. Much delay in their manufacture has been caused by the specification requiring the use of an alloy of thirty-six parts nickel and sixty-four parts iron for the telescope tubes and base castings, and an alloy of like proportions of nickel and steel — called invar — for the more important parts such as level tubes and mounts, the telescope draw tubes and the diaphragms carrying the reticules and their adjusting screws. The new instruments will be in use shortly and owing to the increased optical efficiency more rapid progress will be made, since speed in levelling is regulated largely by the length of the sights. During the winter of 1907 and 1908 reconnaissance surveys were carried on in Western Ontario, Central Ontario and in the Province of Quebec. A progress map is submitted showing the work accomplished to date. The solid lines join the towers which have been occupied by the observing parties, the dash and dot lines the towers built but not occupied, and the dotted lines the points selected for towers to be built this season. These latter points are, of course, subject to revision as the work progi'esses. A much more comprehensive and extensive scale of operations has been inaugur- ated for the present season of 1908. Two observing parties are in the field extending the observations both east and west; an examination of the map will show the work accomplished to date — indicated by the solid lines. This season has been extremely unfavourable for observing. The prevailing low barometer allows the smoke of the cities to spread out over the surface, effectually preventing the use of instruments on the longer lines of the tri angulation. The instructions for 1908 require the observers to close the circle, that is, to reverse on the initial station instead of on the next preceding one. This enables them to form a more accurate estimate of their work as they proceed. It also discloses any twisting of the tripods. As far as the results up to the present are concerned there is no indication of torsion, the closing of the circle upon the initial seldom being more than two tenths of a second more or less than 360°. The permanent station marks in earth are as follows : — An underground mark con- sisting of a six-inch glazed sewer tile, twenty-four inches long, oij end, flange down, in an excavation two feet square and six feet deep is placed under the instrument point. This pipe and the surounding space is filled with concrete up to the top of the pipe and a copper bolt six inches long and three-sixteenths of an inch in diameter, dull pointed at top, placed therein, centered under the instrument point. Over this and separated from it by a layer of sand, six inches thick, a surface mark of the same nature is embedded in earth instead of concrete. The top of this latter mark is eighteen inches below the surface. In addition to the underground marks an artificial stone monument is erected, usually upon the nearest limit between township lots. Upon the base of this monument a copper plate will be placed showing the latitude and longitude of the monument. The azimuth and distance from the station mark to the monument will be published as part of the description of the station. On mountain tops, or where solid rock occurs, the geodetic point is marked by a round copper bolt, three quarters of an inch in diameter, "fox-wedged" and leaded in the rock, surrounded by an equilateral triangle with eight inch sides, cut with a chisel. The top of the bolt is stamped with the official die of the Geodetic Survey of Canada as follows: — GEODETIC SURVEY IN CANADA 57 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 145 Three other copper bolts the same size, at the points of arrows indicating by their direction the central point, are placed around the station as reference marks. Signal building is also progressing more rapidly this seaso-n. Two parties — in all eleven men — are at work in Central Ontario making rapid and satisfactory pro- gress, and it is confidently expected that all the towers included in the triangulation outlined on the map herewith will be completed by November 15. A small party of three men are preparing the stations east of the line joining Montreal and Covey Hill. Their work at the primary stations consists of placing the copper bolts, building lamp stands and preparing three concrete foot blocks for the legs of the tripod of the twelve- inch instrument to rest upon. At some of the stations it may be necessary to build towers. One of the party has been trained in that branch of the work and with the aid of two additional men, hired temporarily, they can build a tower any height re- quired. The officer in charge of the party in the mountainous districts has been in- structed to avoid tower building as much as possible, as it is more economical to clear away the timber. In addition to the preparation of the primary stations, this party is putting in a number of secondary stations at points previously occupied by officials of the Depart- ment of Militia and Defence. Their connection with the primary stations, as well as their usefulness for defining the positions of church spires, factory chimneys or other prominent objects of a semi-permanent nature are deemed of importance. No towers are built over secondary stations, and the ordinary tripod signal for day observing is erected instead of a lamp stand for night work. This party is also entrusted with revision of reconnaissance. PRECISE LEVELS — RESUMED. During 1908 two levelling parties are in the field, one extending the levels from Sherbrooke along the line of the Canadian Pacific railway to the International boun- dary, and the other along the Grand Trunk from Coteau to St. Polycarpe Junction, thence along the Canadian Pacific railway via Kemptville Junction to Prescott, thence westerly along the main line of the Grand Trunk railway. They are making good progress but their efficiency will be much greater when they are supplied with the new English levels referred to. We are indebted to the Boston and Maine, Grand Trunk and Canadian Pacific railways for permission to use hand cars on their roads. BASE LINES. A base line has been selected at Coteau Junction. It follows the centre line of the right-of-way of the Grand Trunk railway's main line. Its length is about eight miles and its northeasterly extremity is about two miles east of Coteau Junction and the southwesterly terminus, a short distance west of River Beaudette station. The measurement of the base has been deferred until the completion of the standardizing building at the Observatory, in order that the iced bar apparatus may be used therein. Invar tape lines fifty metres long will be used for the field work, and their length re- ferred to a comparator measured by the iced bar apparatus in the standardizing build- ing. ' Invar,', the new alloy of sixty-four parts of steel and thirty-six parts of nickel, is a great boon to geodetic work. Its temperature co-efficient is so small that it may be used without the uncertainty of results due to the difficulty of ascertaining the mean temperature of the sections of a long ribbon of steel. Base lines from which geodetic triangulations are expanded, are now, owing to the increased facilities for their measurements, introduced at more frequent intervals, preferably at the junction of comparatively weak figures with those of great strength. For the purpose of our work in Canada it is considered better practice to select the sites for the base lines after the observing towers for the main figures are built, so that the expansion may be as direct and perfect as can be secured throughout the system. The absolute length 145—6 58 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC., RELATING TO 8-9 EDWARD VII., A. 1909 of a base line is, in the opinion of tho writer, of minor importance when compared with the strength ot the geometrical figures through which this measurement is car- ried and with the determination of their angles; an error in the length of a base line produces no distortion. Every possible precaution is exercised in the field and the ' Instructions to Observers,' are intended to be exhaustive in this respect. As the measurement of angles progresses, the positions of church spires, brick factory chim- neys or other structures of a semi-permanent -nature are determined with sufficient precision for geographical purposes. Zenith distances are measured to the tops of towers in order that their relative elevations may be known. Precise level lines will be connected with the towers at convenient points in order that with the aid of the zenith distances measured, the height of the geodetic stations above the level of the sea may be computed. In conclusion, I desire to acknowledge the zeal and faithfulness of my staff of assistants. Those who have been entrusted with the control of the different branches of the survey have displayed an amount of pride in their work, certain to secure the very best results. The Geodetic Survey of Canada is in every sense a national under- taking and it is our aim to make the work a credit to our country. C. A. BIQGEK. Bigger— Geodhtic Survey. 145- < Fig. 1 — Signal on King Mountain. Bi(!(;ek— Geodktic Survey 145-74 Fig. 2 — Observing Tower, eighty-seven feet high, neae Bovvesville. C5 fH Bigger— Gkodetic Survet. :': "^/ Fig. 4— U'sing tripod as a derrick to raise first side of scaffold. ec BlGGEK— (iK(ll)E'l'l(' SURVEY. Fig. 8.— Side view of 12-inch Alt-azimuth Thendolite used for nieasuiing horizontal and vertical angles. Bigger— Geodetic Survey. Fig. 9. — Half side view showing attachments of 12-inch Altazimuth Theodolite. 145-8 ■■ 8-9 EDWARD VII. SESSIONAL PAPER No. 145a A. 1909 SUPPLEMENTARY RETURN. (145a.) Supplementary Eeturn to an Address of the House of Commons, dated 22nd March, 1909, for a copy of all correspondence, reports, documents, Orders-in-Council in the possession of the Government relating to the establishment of a Geodetic Service Bureau, and the commencement of a geodetic survey in Canada. CHAS. MFKPHY, Secretary of State. Brigadier Gen. Lake to Colonel Reade, Commandant, Royal Military College. Ottawa, April 13, 1905. Colonel E. H. N. Keade, Commandant, Royal Military College, Kingston, Ontario. My Dear Reade, — The Astronomer's Branch of the Department of the Interior here are about to ctablish a station at Kingston, Ontario, for primary triangulation, kc, for use in connection vpith military map making, and the department will be glad if you will co-operate and do anything you may be able to assist in the work of select- ing a site and fixing the station. Should you have any suggestions to offer, I should ba pleased to have them, and will communicate with the Dominion Astronomer after hearing from you. They want to place the station within your grounds. As they are doing the work for our benefit, please assist as far as you can. P. LAKE. Brigadier Gen. Lake to the Minister of MiliUa and Defence, IJfth April, 1905. see page 20, Sessional Paper No. 11(5. Acting Deputy Minister of Militia and Defence to the Deputy Minister of ^he Interior, 15th April, 1905, see page 19, Sessional Paper No. 11)5. Brigadier General Lake to the Acting Deputy Minister of Militia and Defence, Headquarters, Ottawa, April J 5, 1905. The Deputy Minister, Militia and Defence. As this was a matter of some urgency, I wrote the Commandant, R.M.C., direct,' as per copy attached. In order to assist our military surveys of the country between Ottawa and the St. Lawrence now in progress, the Chief Astronomer had undertaken the establishment astronomically at Kingston of a fixed base, and was sending down his assistants at 145a— 1 2 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC., RELATING TO 8-9 EDWARD VII., A. 1909 once to select the site. It was a matter of urgency to let Colonel Eeade know whati was proposed and so I wrote to him direct. I trust you will approve of my action. P. LAKE. Approved, E. F. Jarvis^ Acting Deputy Minister of Militia and Defence. Acting Deputy Minister of the Interior to the Acting Deputy Minister of Militia and Defence. Department of the Interior^ Ottawa^ April 20, 1905. E. F. Jarvis^ Esq., Acting Deputy Minister, Department of Militia and Defence, Ottawa, Dear Sir, — I am in receipt of your letter of the 15th instant, inclosing a copy of a memorandum which has been submitted to Sir Frederick Borden by the Chief of the General Staff, with regard to the question of having a map of Canada prepared which' would show the topographical features of the country. In reply, I beg to state that the matter will receive careful consideration. Yours truly T. a EOTHWELL, Acting Deputy Minister. Colonel Beads to Brigadier General Lake. The Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, April 22, 1905. My Dear General Lake, — We will do anything we can to assist the Astronomer in fixing points for his triangulation; and, if the points are in our grounds, we will see that they are not interfered with. I have asked our Surveying Professor about it, but, as yet, he has no suggestion to make. Yours sincerely, R. READE. Assistant' Director of Intelligence to the Dominion Geographer. Ottaava, November 25. 1905. James White, Esq,, F,R,G,S,, Geographer, Dept, of the Interior, Ottawa, Ont, Sir, — I am directed by Major-General Lake, Chief of the General Staif, to send you, herewith, copies of the letters referred to by him in conversation with you the other day. He will be very much obliged if you have any suggestions to make if you will kindly send them to him as soon as convenient. A. CLYDE CALDWELL, Captain. AssisMnt Director of Intelligence. GEODETIC SURVEY IN CANADA 3 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 145a Dominion Geographer to Brigadier General Lake. Department of the Interior, Ottawa, December 16, 1905. Brigadier-General Lake, Chief of General Staff, Dept. of Militia and Defence. Sir. — I beg to acknowledge the receipt of Captain CaldwelVs communication of the 25th ultimo, inclosing copies of memorandum respecting the inauguration and carrjdng out of a primary triangulation of the settled portions of Canada. In reply, I beg to say that I delayed answering till I could see the Chief Astro- nomer, Dr. King, personally, but, owing to his absence from the city, was unable to see him until last Wednesday. He then informed me that during the past summer his assistants were engaged in erecting signals, &c., and that during next summer he proposed to triangulate the country between Ottawa and Montreal. As he has since seen you and has, I understand, explained his plans, it is not necessary for me to go further into this matter. I gather from what Dr. King has stated that he has got the work under way, and, if he can get a vote each year, he will carry it on as expeditiously as the amount voted will permit. He is commencing with a small vote and will, I trust, get it increased from time to time, till it reaches reasonable dimensions. He is thus avoid- ing the rock on which all previous projectors of geodetic surveys in Canada have eomo to grief, namely, attempting to commence work on too ambitious a scale. If at any future time, there is anything that I can do that will further or facili- tate the work, I shall be pleased to do it. JAMES WHITE, Geograph et* Assistani^ Director of Intelligence to the Dominion Geographer. Ottawa, December 18, 1905. James White, Esq., F.R.G.S., Geographer, Dept. of the Interior, Ottawa, Ont. Sir, — I am directed by Major-General Lake, Chief of the General Staff, to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 16th instant, regarding a pro- posed triangulation suiwey, and to thank you for your kindness in offering to do anything to facilitate the work. General Lake desires me to say, if there is anything in this branch which would be useful in any way to you, he would be pleased to let you make use of it. A. CLYDE CALDWELL, Captain. Assisi'ant Director of Intelligence. Surveyor General to the Deputy M mister of Militia and Defence. Department of the Interior, Ottawa^ 20 Janvier, 1906. Colonel L. F. Finault, C.M.G., Depute-ministre de la Milice, Ottawa. Cher colonel Pinault, — Ci-inclus je vous transmets quelques notes au sujet du rapport sur le lever topographique du Canada. En raison de I'immense etendue du Canada, de ses forets et du cout des communications des qu'on s'eloigne des endroits 145a— li -4 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC., RELATING TO 8-9 EDWARD VII., A. 1909 habites, on ne peut se guider sur I'experience des autres nations. C'est une etude a faire; elle demande du temps et des recherehes approfondies et le gouvernement ne pourrait mieux faire que de la confier a des experts convenablement choisis. Tant que cela n'aura pas ete fait, il est impossible de decider quel est le projet, qui convient le mieux pour le pays et toute opinion qui pourrait etre exprimee k ce sujet n'aurait qu'une valeur bien restreinte. E. DEVILLE. Deputy Minister of Militia and Defence to the Deputy Minister of Railways and Canals. Ottawa, .\[arch 8, 1906. M. J. Butler, Esq., 0. E., Deputy Minister of Railways and Canals, Ottawa. Ont. Dear Mr. Butler, — I inclose a copy of the report of Major-General Lake, Chief of the General Staff, on a topographic survey of Canada; also a copy of the remarks of Mr. Deville, Surveyor-General, thereon. Very truly yours, L. E. PINAULT. Memorandum of Major-General Lake to the Minister of Militia and Defence on a topographic survey of Canada. See page 21, Sessional Paper No. IJfO. NOTES ON THE MEMORANDUM RESPECTING A TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEY OF CANADA. By Mr, DevillEj Surveyor-General. 1. The need of a good topographical survey of Canada has frequently been brought to the attention of the Government. The objects to be served and the ad- vantages to be derived therefrom are fully set forth in the memorandimi and will be concurred in by eveiy one conversant with the subject. So far, the Government has taken no action to carry out the many suggestions made in that connection, the question of cost being the principal obstacle. This question and the kind of siurve|y to be made must be carefully considered before committing the country to such a large expenditure. 2. Various estimates of cost have been made from time to time. The latest is Major Hills' for a survey of the habitable portion of Canada to be published on a scale of half a mile to the inch; he figures the cost at ten millions of dollars. For a map on a scale of one mile to the dnch, he increases the cost to twenty-three millions. His allowances for salaries and expenses are, in general, too low for this country and it may safely be predicted that the actual cost will be considerably more than his estimate. 3. The kind of survey to be made is not described in the memorandum; it is proposed that this should be settled by an inter-departmental conference. The cost, as well as the usefulness of the survey, depending upon the scheme adopted, it seems necessary that this should be settled in order that the Government may be able to come to a decision. In Major Hills' scheme for a map on the half-inch scale, a topo- j,^rax/her working alone, without even a labourer to help, is supposed to survey three square miles every week day for nine months lin the year; this represents about four and a half square miles i)er working day. The amount of topographical information collected by such a survey would be very small and the usefulness of the map very limited. On the other hand, a proper topogi-aphic survey with actual levelling and contouring would be very expensive. Should a cheap survey be made covering the GEODETIC SURVEY IN CANADA 5 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 145a whole habitable portion of the Dominion, or ds it preferable to map only the most populated parts of the Dominion, and to make the survey in such a way that it will not have to be made over again ? These are important questions which cannot be de- cided off hand and which require expert consideration. The conditions in Canada are unique; its extent is enormous and most of it is wooded. It is, therefore, impos- sible in a matter of surveys to be guided by the experience of other countries. 4. It is proposed in the memorandum to assemble an inter-departmental confer- ence presided over by some unbiassed experts to formulate a scheme in accordance with the views of all concerned and report on the best method of forming a Central Topographical Survey Department to undertake the mapping of the whole country. Such report is necessary before the matter can be taken up by the Government ; the assembling of an inter-departmental conference is a cheap method, but, perhaps, not the best of obtaiining this report. The subject has been for several years under consideration by the Royal Society of Canada. They recognize that the question is a most complex one and do not attempt to say what should be done; they merely ask that a thorough investigation should be made before committing the country to any definite scheme and they proposed the appointment of a Commission to inquire into the subject, collect evidence and data, and submit a practical scheme. If the subject, involving as it does the expenditure of many millions of dollars, is worth investi- gating, it is surely worth employing a si)ecial commission for the purpose even though it may cost a little more than an inter-departmental conference. Deputy Minister of Railways and Canals to the Deputy Minister of Militia and De- fence. Department of Railways and Canals. Ottawa, Ont., March 9, 1906. Lt.-Col. L. F. PiNAULT, Deputy Minister of Militia and Defence, Ottawa. My Dear Colonel Pinault, — I am very much obliged to you for your kind favour of the 8th instant, inclosing copy of Major-General Lake's remarks on a topographi- cal survey of Canada; and am frank in saying that I am in hearty accord with the suggestion which he makes. The Can. Soc. of Civil Engineers are about to make a request of the Honourable the Premier that he accord them an interview to consider the matter ; and may I hope that, when the occasion arises, you will be able to give us the benefit of your assistance, on that occasion. Yours faithfully, M. J. Butler. Deputy Minister of Militia and Defence to the Director of the Geological Survey Department. Ottaava, March 10, 1906. Robert Bell, Esq., M.D., LL.D., &c., Director of Geological Survey Department, Ottawa, Ont. Dear Doctor,— I inclose a copy of the report of Major-General Lake, chief of the general staff, on a topographic survey nf Canada; also a copy of the remarks of Mr. Deville, Surveyor-General, thereon. Very truly yours, L. F. PiNAULT. 6 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC., RELATING TO 8-9 EDWARD VII., A. 1909 Director of the Geological Survey Department to the Deputy Minister of Militia and Defence. Geological Survey of Canada, Ottawa, Marcli 12, 190G. Colonel L. F. Pinault, C.M.G., Deputy Minister of Militia, Ottawa. Dear Colonel Plvault,— I have just received your favour of the lOtli instant, in- closing copy of Major-General Lake's report on the topographical survey of Canada and of the remarks thereon of Surveyor-General Deville, I beg to thank you for this document, which is of the greatest interest to me in connection with our own topo- graphical and geological work. Robert Bell. Memorial o'f the Council of the Canadian Society of Civil Engineers tio the Right Hon. Sir Wilfrid Laurier, 2nd April, 1906, see page 30, Sessional Paper No. lJf5. Ma}. Oen. Lake to the Minister of Militia and Defence. "■ April 20, 1906. The Honourable the Minister of Militia and- Defence. GEODETIC survey OF CANADA. I am in cordial agreement with the proposal made by the Canadian Society of Civil Engineers, in the memorandum from the Council of the Society inclosed herein, dated 2nd April, 1906. The object of that memorandum is to advocate what, as you are aware, I have more than once recommended for your consideration, viz., the co- ordination of the work of the existing survey branches of different government de- pnrtments, with the view to the inauguration of a general survey for Canada. Upon one point only am I not in complete accord with the council of the society, in the last paragraph but one of their memorandum, they deprecate entfering at once on the expenditure that would be necessitated by the establishment of a Geodetic Survey for Canada, although they admit one will have to be inaugurated in the near future. They argue that such a geodetic survey is one that should 'grow out of rather than ' be superimposed upon ' existing conditions. It may be that the council attach to the expression 'a Geodetic Survey' a different meaning to mine, but, as 1 i.uderstand it, the most valuable feature of a 'geodetic' survey from a practical point y,i view is that it furnishes, in the shape of its triangulation, the framework upon which all other surveys are based. If this framework is, in the words of the council, to ' grow out of existing conditions,' I cannot but think that there is a risk not only of delay, but of wasted effort. The council admit that different government survey branches are working imder different conditions, xipon different methods, under varying projections, and without connection. I hardly see how their results are to he co-ordin- ated without the general framework furnished by a geodetic survey. And it would further appear to me that inasmuch as the different branches are necessarily ba.sing their work upon imperfect data, to delay the commencement of the framework of triangulation upon which the accurate survey of the coimtrymust ultimately be based, is to condemn these departments for a greater or less period to work under conditions which forbid accuracy, and to waste a great portion of the good work of the skilled 5;nrveyors employed therein. GEODETIC SURVEY IN CANADA 7 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 145a I, therefore, still strongly advocate the commencement of the preliminary trian- guktion of a geodetic survey at as early a date as is possible, assuming the necessary skilled observers to be available. I cannot doubt that these would be forthcoming. Apart from this one point, however, I earnestly hope that you will see your way to support the proposal made in the last paragraph of the memorandum from the council of the society. The proposal contained in my memo, of January 8 contemplated the assembly of an inter-departmental conference mainly composed of the heads of exist- ing government survey branches. I think it immaterial whether such a conference, or the small commission of experts advocated by the Canadian Society of Civil En- gineers, be entrusted with the duty, but in any case existing survey branches should be fully represented on that commission, if co-ordination of the work upon which they are severally engaged is to be brought to a satisfactory conclusion. P. LAKE, Chief of the General Staff. Would it not be well to submit this question to the Minister in Council, in order that a policy may be adopted so far as this department is concerned? E. F. JAEVIS, For DM., M. and D. Major-General Lake to the Militia Council. GEODETIC SURVEY OF CANADA. May 11, 1906. 1. With a view to determining the future policy to be adopted by the Department of Militia and Defence, in connection with the preparation of a general survey of Can- ada, the Chief of the General Staff has the honour to submit the following remarks for the consideration of the Minister in Militia Council. 2. The Chief of the General Staff is in cordial agreement with the proposal con- tained in the accompanying memorandum by the Council of the Canadian Society of Civil Engineers, dated April 2, 1906; in fact he has already advocated on more than one occasion what the Council therein recommended, viz., the co-ordination of the work of the existing Survey Branches of different Government Departments, with a view to the inauguration of a Geodetic Survey of Canada. 3. Upon one point only is he not in complete accord with the Council of the Society, In the last paragraph but one of their memorandum, they deprecate entering at once on the expenditure that would be necessitated by the establishment of a Geodetic Survey, although they admit that one will have to be inaugurated in the near future. They argue that such a survey should ' grow out of ' rather than be ' superimposed upon ' existing conditions. It may be that the meaning which the Council attach to the ex- pression ' a Geodetic Survey ' has been misunderstood, but, if not, the most valuable portion of a * Geodetic Survey ' from a practical point of view is that it furnishes, in the shape of its triangulation, the accurate framework upon which all other surveys are based. If this framework is, in the words of the Council, to ' grow out of existing conditions,' there would surely be a risk not only of delay but of wasted effort, 4. The Council of the Society admit that different Government Survey Branches are working under different conditions, upon different methods, under vaiying pro- jections, and without connection. It is difficult to understand how results are to be co-ordinated without the general framework furnished by a Geodetic Survey. And it would further appear that, inasmuch as the different Branches are necessarily basing their work upon imperfect data, to delay the commencement of the framework of tri- angulation upon which the accurate survey of the country must ultimately be based. 8 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC., RELATING TO 8-9 EDWARD VII., A. 1909 is to condemn these Departments for a greater or less period to work under conditions which forbid accuracy, and to waste a great portion of the good work of the skilled sur- veyors employed therein. 5. The Chief of the General Staff, therefore, still strongly advocates the com- mencement of the preliminary triangulation of a geodetic survey at as early a date as is possible, assuming the necessary skilled observers to be available, about which he has but little doubt. 6. Apart from that one point, however, he earnestly hopes that the Minister in Militia Council will support the proposal made in the last paragraph of the memor- andum under reference. 7. In his Minute, dated January 8, 1906, the Chief of the General Staff put for- ward a proposal that an Inter-departmental Committee, mainly composed of the heads of existing government survey branches, should be assembled at an early date. It is immaterial whether such a Committee, or the small commission of experts proposed by the Canadian Society of Civil Engineers, be entrusted with the duty, but, in either case, existing survey branches should be fully represented, if co-ordination of the work upon which they are severally engaged is to be brought to a satisfactory conclusion. 8. On this conference the mapping section of the headquarters Intelligence De- partment should undoubtedly be represented by an officer specially selected. It is too soon to discuss the share in the work of surveying which he should undertake that the Militia Department should carry out, but it may in general terms be stated that the Department should endeavour to co-operate in every way possible with the other depart- ments interested, with the object of setting on foot a topographical survey as soon as possible. At the same time it should not be forgotten that it io essential for defence purposes that we should as soon as possible have a topographical map of those portions of the country (and particularly that adjoining the southern frontier) on which, under conceivable circumstances the Canadian forces might be called upon to concentrate in defence of the country. If the representative of the department on the commission was instructed to keep in constant communication with the Chief of the General Staff, it would be easy for the Minister at all times to control the extent to which this De- partment undertakes to work in co-operation with others. 9. He suggests that this memoranrlum be placed on record in the proceedings of Council as a statement of policy. P. LAKE, Chief of the General Staff, Order in Council constituting the Committee on Surveys, approved on the ISth Novemher, 1906, see page Jf2, Sessional Paper No. lJf5. Major-General Lake to the Deputy Minister of Militia and Defence. November 20, 1906. The Deputy Minister, Militia and Defence. GEODETIC SURVEY OF CANADA. The Minister's report to Privy Council, dated 19th July, 1906, on the subject of an Ordnance Survey for Canada has now been approved. Put shortly, the proposal approved by the Governor-General is that made in the concluding paragraph of the memorandum of the Canadian Society of Civil Engineers, dated 2nd April, 1906, as modified by the recommendations of the Minister. jLiie proposal, therefore, now approved by His Excellency, is that a small Committee of experts should be assembled, and authorized and iiistructed by the Dominion Government to obtain such information, both in Canada and abroad, as will enable it GEODETIC SURVEY IN CANADA 9 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 145a to report upon a satisfactorj^ scheme for the co-ordination of the various surveys now being conducted by the Dominion Government and the adoption of such methods as will ensure permanent records, both in the field and in the office ; — these methods should be such as will naturally adapt themselves to the future establishment of a trigono- metrical survey of the country; — and further that the committee be instructed to outline the best method of inaugurating a geodetic survey for Canada in accordance with the foregoing considerations. That portion of the memorandum of the Society of Civil Engineers which was amended in accordance with the Minister's views is as follows: — The Society recommend that a majority at least of the Committee should not be connected with existing survey departments. The Minister's suggestion, as approved by His Excellency, lays down that the Committee should be composed as follows: — Interior Department, 2 members. Geological Survey, Marine and Fisheries, Eailways and Canals, Public Works, and Militia Departments, 1 member each. The Minister, also, suggested that one representative each from the scientific staff of Toronto and McGill Universities be added to the committee. This I understand from him was approved by the Privy Council. The action now to be taken appears to me to be, to send copies of the approved report to the several departments concerned and to suggest to them the advisability of naming representatives as proposed in the report for the purpose of deciding upon the preliminary steps necessary to carry out the recommendations. I should imagine that the Department of the Interior should be the one to take action, but as the proposal emanated from this Department, I should be quite ready, should the other Departments think it desirable, that the meeting should be held in my room at any time convenient. Probably the Minister should like me to represent the Department at the prelim- inary conference, though I incline to the opinion that for subsequent meetings it might be desirable to make Captain Anderson our official representative. P. LAKE, Chief of the General Stajf. Acting Deputy Minister of Militia and Defence to the Deputy Minister of Public Woi'lcs. Ottawa, November 28, 1906. The Deputy Minister^ Department of Public Works, Ottawa. Sir,— I am directed by the Honourable the Minister of Militia and Defence to invite your attention to a report of a Committee of the Privy Council, approved by His Excellency The Governor-General on the 13th November, 1906, on the subject of a Topographical and Geodetic Survey for the Dominion of Canada. A copy of this report is attached for convenience of reference. It will be observed from this report that the proposals therein submitted by Sir F. Borden, after, it is understood, personal discussion with the Honourable Mr. Oliver, have been approved, and I am now to invite the co-operation of your Department in taking the further measures required. The first step necessary would appear to be that your Department should nominate representatives to act upon the Committee, which it is proposed in the last paragraph of the report to assemble. The Minister of Militia suggests that, as soon as all the various Departments concerned in survey operations have appointed their representatives, an informal meeting should take place at which these representatives should consider the procedure to be followed, and should make recommendations with a view to the nomination of gentlemen to repre- sent McGill and Toronto T'niversitips mi the Committee. 10 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC., RELATING TO 8-9 EDWARD VII., A. 1909 The Minister further suggests that this preliminary meeting might, if you con- cur, take place in the office of Major-General Lake, Chief of the General Staff, at the Militia Department. Subsequent meetings of the Committee could be held wherever the members might find it most convenient. You will no doubt agree with Sir F. Borden in considering that a meeting is desirable at as early a date as possible. E. F. JARVIS, Acting Deputy Minister^ Militia and Defence. Similar letter sent to; Deputy Minister, Department of Eailways and Canals. " " " Marine and Fisheries. " " " the Interior. Director of the Geological Survey. Director of the Geological Survey to the Acting Deputy Minister of Militia and Defence. Geological Survey Department, Ottawa, November 30, 1906. E. F Jarvis, Esq., Acting Deputy Minister, Dept. of Militia and Defence, Ottawa. Dear Mr. Jarvis, — I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 28th inst., with copy of the Order-in-Council of the loth Nov., 1906, relating to the appointment of a Committee on Gorvernment Surveys. I am heartily in accord with the appointment of such a Committee and feel sure that the results of its deliberations will prove of great benefit to the survey branches of the Service. I have, with the Minister's approval, the honour of appointing myself the member of the Committee from the Department of the Geological Survey. I am quite in accord with the proposal of an early meeting of the Committee in tlie office of Major-General Lake, and shall await a notice from him. Yours sincerely. A. P. LOW. Deputy Minister of liaihrays and Canals to the Acting Deputy Minister of Militia and Defence. pepart?krent of railways axd canals. Offick of the Deputy Minister and Chief Engineer, Ottawa, Ont., Nov. 30, 1906. E. F. Jarvis, Esq., Acting Deputy Minister, Militia and Defence Dept., Ottawa. Sir, — I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 27th in- stant, transmitting a copy of report of the Privy Council, on the subject of the Topographical and Geodetic Survey of the Dominion of Canada. I shall be glad to meet the representatives of the other Departments at any time that may be named by the Convener, wlio I presume will bo ^lajor-General Lake. Yours faithfully. :\r. J. BUTLER. GEODETIC SURVEY IN CANADA 11 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 145a Deputy Minister of Marine and Fisheries to the Secretary, Militia Council. Ottawa, December 3, 1906. The Secretary, -Militia Council, Headquarters, Ottawa. Sir, — Eeferring to a letter of the Acting Deputy Minister of Militia and Defence, dated the 28th ultimo (No. C. 308), relative to a Topographical and Geodetic Survey for the Dominion of Canada, I have the honour to inform you that the Minister of Marine and Fisheries has been pleased to nominate Mr. W. J. Stewart, Chief Hydro- grapher of Canada, to act as the representative of his Department upon the proposed Committee on such survey work. F. GOURDEAU, Deputy Minister of Marine and Fisheries. Deputy Minister of Public Worhs to the Acting Minister of Militia and Defence: Department of Public Works, Ottawa, December 10, 1906. The Acting Minister of Militia and Defence, Ottawa. Sir, — In reply to your letter of the 20th November, concerning the appointment of a departmental committee on the subject of Topographical and Geodetic Surveys for the Dominion of Canada, I beg to state that I am very thankful for the invitation conveyed to this Department, and will be glad to send a representative as soon as we are notified of the date at which the meeting will be held. A. GOBEIL, Deputy Minister. Major General Lahe to the Deputy M in tester of Militia and Defence: Department of Militia and Defence, December 13, 1900. Deputy Minister, I should like to send a reminder to the Department of the Interior. Letter, here- with, for signature, if approved. P. LAKE, C.G.S. Acting Deputy MiniMer of Militia and Defence to the Deputy Minister of the Interior. Ottawa, December 13. 1906. The Deputy Minister, Department of Interior, Ottawa. Sir. — May I venture to ask the favour of a reply at your earliest convenience to my letter of 28th ultimo on the subject of a Topographical and Geodetic Survey for the Dominion of Canada? The question of providing in the Estimates for the survey work to be carried on by this Department next summer is shortly coming up for consideration, and it would 12 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC., RELATING TO 8-9 EDWARD VII., A. 1909 be a great advantage if the Conference of representatives of the various Survey Departments, to which reference is made in my letter under reply, could take place before the matter is considered. E. Y. JARVIS, Acting Deputy Minister of Militia and Defence. Deputy Minister of Public WorJrs to the Department of Militia and Defence. The Department of Public Works, Ottawa, December 20, 1906. Major Charles F. "Winter, Dept. of Militia and Defence, Ottawa, Ont. Sir, — In reply to your letter of the ITth instant, I beg to inform you that Mr. Eene Steckel, now in charge of the Geodetic survey of this Department, will attend as representative of the Department of Public Works in the office of Major-General Lake, C.B., C.M.G., this afternoon, the 20th instant, at 3 o'clock, to confer with the repre- sentatives of other departments on the question of geodetic surveys in the Dominion of Canada. A. GOBEIL, Deputy Minister. Deputy Minister of the Interior to the Acting Deputy Minister of Militia and Defence. Ottawa, December 20, 1906. E. F, Jarvis, Esq., Acting Deputy Minister of Militia and Defence Ottawa. Dear Sir, — I have your letters of the 28th ultimo and 13th instant, with reference to the proposed appointment of a Topographical and Geodetic Survey Committee for the Dominion of Canada, and in compliance with the request contained in your letter of the 28th ultimo, referred to, beg to nominate Dr. E. Deville, Surveyor-General, and Dr. W. E. King, Chief Astronomer, as the representatives of this Department. W. W. CORY. Major General LaTce to mernbers of the Committee on Surveys. Ottawa, December 26, 1906. Dear In accordance with the request made at the meeting of our Confer- ence on December 20th, I forward, herewith, copy of the Order-in-Council under which the Conference on the subject of a Geodetic Survey for Canada was assembled. P. LAKE, This letter sent to; W. E. King, Esq., Dominion Astronomer. A. P. Low, Esq., Geological Survey. M. J. Butler, Esq., Dep. Min., Department of Bailways and Canals. Rene Steckel, Esq., Department of Public WorJcs. Capt. Deville, Surveyor-General. W. J. Stewart, Department of Marine and Fisheries. GEODETIC SURVEY IN CANADA 13 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 145a Report of the 'Committee on Surveys' to the Minister of Militia and Defence, 15th February, 1907, see page S5, Sessional Paper No. 11^5. Extracts from statements or reports showing the practical benefits derived from Topo- graphical Surveys, see page 39, Sessional Paper No. lJf5. Chief Astronomer to the Minister of Militia and Defence: Department of the Interior, Dominion Astronomical Observatory, Ottawa, Canada, March 2, 1907. The Hon. Sir Frederick William Borden, K.C'.M.G., Minister of Militia and Defence. Sir, — I have the honour to transmit, herewith, the Report, duly signed, of the Committee on Surveys, constituted under the Order-in-Council of 13th November, last. I regret that the unfortunate illness of Mr. Low, Director of the Geological Sur- vey, has prevented his signing the Report, but I am assured that it is quite in ac- cordance with his views. He took an active part in the preparation of the report. You will observe that Dr. Deville and Mr. Steckel sign subject to the objections stated in their annexed memoranda. These memoranda are transmitted herewith. W. F. KING, Chief Astronomer^ Chairman of Commiitee. Maj.-Genl. Lal-e to the Minister of Militia and Defence. Ottaava, March 28, 1907. The Honourable The Minister of Militia and Defence. The inclosed paper is the Report of the Committee on Surveys which was consti- tuted under the Order-in-Council of November 13, 1906, and which the Committee decided to submit to you. The following precis will give you an idea of what the Report contains. • 1. The Members of the Committee were as follows:— Dr. W. F. King, Dominion Astronomer, Chairman. Mr. M. J. Butler, Deputy Minister, Department of Railways & Canals. Mr. A. P. Low, Geological Survey. Dr. E. Deville, Surveyor-General, Department of Interior. Mr. R. Steckel, Department of Public Works. Mr. W. J. Stewart, Department of Marine & Fisheries. Professor C. H. McLeod, McGill University. " L. B. Stewart, Toronto " " E. Marceau, Laval " Maj.-Gen. P. H. N, Lake, Department of Militia & Defence. 2. The Committee begin by stating that "a comprehensive and reliable survey of the Dominion for the production of an accurate topographic map, based upon a network of triangulation and showing the natural and artificial features of the country, is of urgent necessity to the people of Canada from the standpoint of economy, the extension of public undertakings and the development of the natural resources of the country." This is their main recommendation, for which they adduce various cogent reasons. 14 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC., RELATING TO 8-9 EDWARD Vil., A. 1909 3. Secondly, they strongly advise the co-ordination of all existing survey material, pointing out that, for this purjwse alone, if for no other, the "comprehensive surveys" mentioned in their first recommendation would be necessary. 4. Thirdly, they advocate the establishment of a central record office, where the results of all surveys should be filed for reference — deposit in that office of such results being made compulsory. 5. Fourthly, they propose the institution of a central bureau for the compilation and engraving of all maps so as to secui'e, as far as possible, both uniformity of system and economy of production. 6. Fifthly, the Committee consider that "the controlling and topographic surveys, the land triangulation basis of the Hydrographic Survey and the projwsed Record Office and Map Bureau should form branches of one Department of the Public Service" and "should be included with the Department of the Geological Survey." 7. They propose to leave the making of surveys for si)ecial departmental purposes, which may require a class of work distinct from ordinary topographic surveying, to the departments to which these matters now appertain, merely inviting them to make their work, as far as possible, of a nature usefi;l for permanent survey purposes. 8. The co-operation of the Provincial Survey Departments is to be invited. 9. A calculation of the sums now voted for survey purposes shows that, merely in the Survey Departments and Branches proposed (see para. 6) to be brought together, something over $900,000 is already spent annually. The Committee believe that, under unified management, sufficient money could be found from these votes alone for the initial stages of the general triangulation survey. Even under existing conditions some $60,000 could be made available at once for starting the controlling triangulation. This is as much as could profitably be spent for the first year or two, until the new Department was fully organized and at work; Avhen the amount of its votes would naturally depend on the amount of work required from it and the proved value of that work. 10. Finally, as the Government would require to have before it specific proposals in regard to the manner in which the general triangulation and topographic survey should be inaugurated, the Committee recommend the appointment of a permanent Survey Board to work out the details. This Board would be similar in composition to the present Committee, in that the same departmental and other interests would be represented upon it, but it would not necessarily consist of the same individuals. Its duty would be to advise as to the development and methods of the control survey, to suggest such regulations as might be desirable and to constitute a Board of Conference for the several survey departments. An appropriation not exceeding $8,000 would be required for running expenses. This would be the only additional cost of the Committee's proposals for the first hoc years. 11. The foregoing report of the Committee is unanimous as far as eight out of the ten members are concerned. Those who dissent more or less widely are Dr. Deville and Mr. Steckel. 12. I trust I am not misrepresenting Dr. Deville's attitude if I say that, in my opinion, his memorandum exhibits generally an attitude of opposition to any change in existing arrangements, although he admits that a comprehensive survey of the Dominion would in itself be a valuable public asset. 13. This attitude of mind seems to be sufficiently exemplified by the argument used on page 2 of his memo. He there states the area of Canada to be 4,000,000 square miles, and then divides that number by 71,180,626, the total revenue in dollars of the year. This gives as a result an average revenue of only $17.80 per square mile, which he represents as too small a revenue to justify a good survey. Apart from the fact that a similar argument could be used to prove that the Dominion of Canada could not afford a survey of, say, the Niagara Peninsula, he appears to damage his own case by overstating it largely. UEODETIC iSLRVEY r^- '--lArjnj 15 iir sniiTHrnri nrniorjAi iirrary facility SESSIONAL PAPER No. 145a llllilllllillil The latest Interior Department official ms IINIIIIIIIIIIIIINIilllllllllllilllllllllillllllllllllllllllllll j, at 3,729,665 square miles, not 4,000,000. Of this A 000 220 799 1 rth- west Territories comprise 1,992,733 square miles, leaving a balance of 1,806,932 square miles for the organized provinces and the Yukon. 14. A glance at the map of the Dominion will show that detailed surveys of at least one half of the remaining area, though desirable, cannot be really necessary for many years to come. If this be correct, it may safely be said that the area of the Dominion which ought to be accurately surveyed in the near future is scarcely 1,000,- 000 square miles, i.e. is less than a quarter of the %ure given by Dr. Deville, while the ever increasing revenue of Canada is now 40 per cent larger than it was in 1905. In short, I cannot but think that Dr. Deville raises the bogey of an enormous ultimate expenditure quite unnecessarily. No doubt, by the time the Northern Territories and the Polar Islands had been mapped in detail and included in the general survey, after, perhaps, a century or so of work, the sum of the yearly votes Would have amounted up to a large total; but the amount involved in carrying out a sane policy of surveying the more important and settled portions of the Dominion in the first instance can be met by a very moderate sum in the yearly estimates. He would, no doubt, regard $50,000,000 as in itself a very large total, but that would merely represent the sum of the present unsystematic expenditure in less than 50 years time. 15. Mr. Steckel's main objection to the Report lies in his dislike to the pro- posals for a control survey and central department (essentially clauses 6 and 9 of the Report) on the ground that it might, and probably would, as he thinks, interfere with existing departmental surveys. The attitude of his mind betrays itself in the first five words of his report, para. 3, where, in speaking of the Committee's proposals, he says; — 'Instead of raiding the Departments,'