1910-11 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS, FOEESTS AND MINES. 59 



base line, or at the north-west corner of the Township of Turnbull. From here 

 I ran south and north to the north-east corner of Whitesides and south-west 

 corner of Kingsmill, respectively, a distance of thirty (30) miles. 



The southerly three and one-quarter (334) nailes of the west boundary of 

 Byers, or Niven's second meridian line, was run and produced twelve miles to the 

 south-west corner of the Township of Massey. 



From the north-west corner of the Township of Eobb, which is also the north- 

 east corner of Cote, base lines were run east and west astronomically, a distance 

 of six miles each way. 



Similar base lines were run from the north-west corner of the Township of 

 Thorburn. 



The above lines were well opened up and the adjacent trees well blazed in 

 the usual manner, while wooden posts of durable material were planted at every 

 mile and half-mile; and where such distance came in a lake or river, a post was 

 planted on the shore nearest the said distance, with the chainage carved on the 

 proper face. On nearly all the lakes and larger rivers, posts were planted on the 

 banks with the chainage carved thereon for the benefit of surveyors and pros- 

 pectors in making a tie. The posts were planted as solidly as possible, and, where 

 possible and necessary, a cairn of stones were built around them. 



Iron posts of 1^4 inches were planted at the following points: south-west 

 corner of township of Turnbull; north-west and north-east corners of township 

 of Eobb; north-west and south-west corners of tovniship of Cote; south-west 

 corner of township of Massey; north-west and south-east corners of township of 

 Geary and north-west and north-east corners of township of Moberly. 



The names of the townships were cut with a cold chisel on all of those iron 

 posts, and the wooden posts at the same points were carved similarly with a 

 scribe. No iron post was planted at the north-west corner of township of Loveland, 

 which said point falls in the north branch of the Kamiskotia Eiver. 



Observations on Polaris were taken every six miles, and where possible, every 

 three, for the purpose of keeping the lines astronomically correct; and magnetic 

 variation was noted at these points as well as others where a change of variation 

 took place. The variation ranges between six degrees and ten degrees west; 

 the results being entered in the field notes. 



The chain bearers were duly impressed throughout the survey with the 

 necessity of accurate chainage and taking careful field notes so that the natural 

 features, variety of soil and timber would be plainly shown. 



During the months of June and July, forest fires were prevalent in the 

 Townships of Massey, Turnbull, Eobb, Cote, Loveland and Byers. The cause, I 

 think, was mainly through prospectors neglecting to extinguish their fires before 

 leaving a camp. There were quite a number of prospectors in these said townships, 

 prospecting for gold, and several good finds were made in Turnbull, Eobb, Love- 

 land and Byers. 



I had the misfortune to suffer rather heavily through the fires, being burned 

 out twice, and having to take to the river with all our provisions and camp. 



Soil. 



The whole country may be termed low and flat, a large portion of it being 

 rather swampy, though in the townships of Massey and TumbuU there is higher 

 ground, there being many sand ridges.' Throughout the northern townships, 

 however, clay loam is found everywhere with ridges of sand occasionally cropping 



