PROCEEDINGS FOR 1894. LIX 



cally to the central ofiSce, ma}- be increased, for all su^'h increase means greater piccision and a longer 

 reach in time for the weather forecasts. There is another matter, however, to which the director of 

 this service has called attention on several occasions, namely, greater facilities foi- the reduction of 

 the observations aud a special appropriation for the production of a climatology of Canada to be 

 based upon such redactions. Such a work would be of essential service from an educational point of 

 view and as a record to date of the great mass of observations on the climate of the country which 

 have now accumulated. 



Dominion Lands Survey. 



Next in order in regard to the date of its inception is the Dominion lands survey, with a history 

 not nearly so long as that of the organizations already noticed, but which has already accomplished a 

 great amount of valuable work. 



In 1869, it became evident that some convenient and accurate method must be adopted for the 

 subdivisions into farm holdings of the great western country, which had then recently come under 

 the control of the Dominion. The late Lieut. -Col. Dennis, was intrusted with the duty of devising a 

 plan of operations, and although the scheme at that time elaborated by him vras subsequently consid- 

 erably modified, the basis upon which it was drawn up has remained substantially unchanged. While 

 the primary objects of this survey may be described as cadastral, it must be classed as a survey of a 

 distinctly scientific character, by reason of the great tract of country over which it has extended, and 

 the accuracy and refinement of the methods employed, as well as because of its later developments in 

 various directions and the great body of trustworthy observations on the general character of the 

 country which have been brought together b}- its means. 



The actual work of surveying can scarcelj' be said to have begun until 1871, in which year also 

 the first edition of a Manual of Surveys, exj)laining and afToiding the reipiisite data for the methods 

 to be employed, was published. These were primarilj', the establishment of a number of " prin- 

 cipal meridians," crossed at certain intervals by lines known as '•base-lines" and •' corrtction- 

 lines," — the whole forming the skeleton for the division into rectangular townships, sections and 

 quarter-sections. Upon the " correction lines " the "jog " resulting from the convergence of merid- 

 ians was allowed for, and methods of check were established intended to insure the greatest accuracy 

 in the whole of the work. 



In 187-1 and 1875, a system of triangulation was undertaken, under the immediate superinten- 

 dence of Mr. Lindsay Russell, b}' which it was proposed to establish the ruling points of the entire 

 survey, beginning at an initial point near the Red River ; but owing to various causes, this was not 

 continued much beyond the 102nd meridian. Since 1875 the ruling points of the survey have been 

 established astronomically, and telegraphically. 



Until 1884, this system of surveys had been confined to Manitoba and the Northwest Territories, 

 wlwre a great extent of country had ali'cady been covered, but in that year work was extended to the 

 so-called " Railway belt" in British Columbia. This was continued and telegraphic determinations of 

 longitude were made in British Columbia and in the Northwest Territories in 1885 and 1886. 



In 1886, also, topographical surveys of the western mountainous region were begun, which have 

 since covered considerable tracts of country. In the following year, the photo-topographical method 

 of survey was introduced in connection with this branch of the work, and though much has been said 

 for and against this particular method, it must be admitted that under the direction of Capt. Deville, 

 the surveyor-general, it has accomplished excellent results in practice, and has been developed into 

 a method of precision, and upon a scale not heretofore considered possible. 



No detailed mention is here called for of the continued progress from year to year of the ordinary 

 work of the Dominion lands survey; although it may be affirmed, that no region comparable in 

 size to that over which its operations have extended has ever before been so expeditiously and so 

 accurately surveyed for purpo.ses of settlement. But the work still to be accomplished and the 



