PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
TILL C.O.885
18 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
Despatch from Secretary of State.
Major Guggis- berg's report. Scheme already working success-
fully.
Feasibility
SIR,
(No. 35/1907.)
58
Department of Surveys, February 7, 1907. IN complying with the request of the Right Honourable the Secretary of State (embodied in despatch, Gold Coast, No. 494, dated the 27th of November, 1906) that I should forward a joint report with Major Guggisberg, R.E., on the feasibility of creating a Survey School for the training of Native Surveyors and Draughtsmen for the Gold Coast and Southern Nigeria, I regret to point out that these instructions did not reach me till the 30th ultimo.
2 I have, however, had the distinct advantage of meeting Major Guggisberg and discussing with him the more salient features of the proposed scheme.
3. I have also had the privilege of reading his very excellent report and have pleasure in informing you that I agree with the majority of the suggestions therein contained.
1. I have considerable confidence in expressing my opinion on this subject, as a scheme, very similar to that now projected by Major Guggisberg, passed through the paper stage here some five years ago, and has now developed into a corps of four surveyors and three draughtsmen, who are at present considerably in advance of Major Guggisberg's Premier Grade "open only to Special Course cadets," and also a considerable number of juniors in the surveying and drafting sections.
5. This corps should, therefore, form an object lesson from which deduction may be drawn as to the probable future development and success of a more com- prehensive establishment.
6. It will also form a nucleus from which highly-trained men can at once be drawn as Native Instructors, both in surveying and in drafting.
7. A short sketch setting forth the evolution of this Department should satisfy of scheme. the most sceptical as to the feasibility of the scheme, and should prove to those pro- seeking information thereon that it possesses a commercial aspect, which, if perly developed on sound professional lines is certain to produce highly satisfactory results.
Method of
obtaining
pupils.
How paid.
£3,000 saved by our method.
8. In taking charge of this Department, rather more than five years ago, I was peculiarly fortunate in several directions. Firstly, that a scientist of such pro- found knowledge and keen perspicacity as Sir William MacGregor was then Governor of the Colony. Secondly, the European officers in this Department heartily co-operated with me; and thirdly, I found in the office several natives sufficiently well educated to be capable of assimilating modern methods of surveying and drafting, if intelligently imparted to them.
9.
After a short preliminary training, it was not difficult to discover for which section of the Department these pupils were most suitable, and they were graded accordingly.
10. As the office increased it was found necessary to take in more pupils; these were obtained by applying to the respective Heads of the different schools, and by requesting the natives already in the office to inform any of their acquaint- ances whom they considered suitable, that certain vacancies had occurred.
11. These novices were taken as unpaid learners.
12. If, after a period of three months it was found that they were not fitted for any post in the Department, their services were discontinued and they were replaced by another instalment.
13. In this way, it was quite easy to separate the "sheep from the goats," and the scheme has proved entirely satisfactory. No indenture was necessary, no red-tape was required, no expense was incurred; indeed, after the three months' novitiate, the pupil was more than paying his way.
14. A small salary-about £12 per annum-was paid for the first year, this was increased annually in accordance with the value of the pupil to the Depart-
ment.
15. It has been possible to train six surveyors and four draughtsmen without Three of these men have left this any expense to the Government whatever. Department, but they are still in the Government Service.
16. It will therefore be seen by comparison with Major Guggisberg's scheme (page 59) that £3,000 has been saved by the method which we have adopted.
17. This scheme, however, cannot continue for several good reasons: (a) because the Colonial Survey Council appear to have convinced the Government that the obsolete, and obsolescent methods of surveying which have been in vogue
59
must not continue, and hence that a properly trained corps of surveyors must be inaugurated; (b) because the greatly increased, and increasing, demand for surveyors trained in modern methods necessitates a properly co-ordinated scheme for their instruction; and (c) because in so far as this Department is concerned, I am not disposed to continue the tutorial work which I have carried on for the past five years, excepting to those already in the office; indeed, my chief object for continuing it of late, in the face of many difficulties, was to show that the scheme is entirely feasible, and that it possesses an important commercial aspect; and my desire to still continue is, because I wish to carry on the project, until it is merged into the more comprehensive organisation which I trust may become an accomplished fact at any early date.
18. I desire here to place on record my keen disappointment at the treatment which this project, and those connected with it have received; little or no induce- ment has of late been offered to those who have endeavoured to obtain promo- tion by diligent study and professional proficiency; while those who for the past five years have devoted a large amount of their private time to tutorial matters have received no encouragement and no reward--although, as shown by Major Guggisberg's scheme, £3,000 has been saved to the Government thereby.
status of
19. I am convinced that the effect of such action, and the prospect held out Salary and to surveyors in the salaries granted in this year's Estimates, will militate greatly surveyors. against the success of Major Guggisberg's scheme, and I am of opinion that much greater inducements will be necessary in order that his proposals may become a permanent success.
20. Surveyors who possess a scientific training should expect quite as good a salary as clerks who, generally speaking, have not been called upon to undergo any such test.
21. Having furnished a retrospective sketch of the scheme, which has been in operation here for the past five years, I now propose to discuss the financial aspect of the question in general terms.
22. This should be best understood by those on the spot, who are competent to Financial think topographically and geodetically, by reflecting what might and should have aspect. resulted, had the scheme which is now under consideration been in existence twelve
years ago.
23. The benefit in location of railways, roads, and telegraph lines alone, would have been enormous. Certainly not less than £100,000, probably a great deal more, not to mention cadastral surveys and the non-existence of a long series of costly blunders which never could have occurred had a properly trained Survey Department been in existence, and been allowed a tolerably free hand.
24. From my knowledge of the faulty location of the railways, roads, and the telegraph lines, of the great amount of money which has been lost in litigation, and from the benefits which must acrue from decrease of expenditure, I am of opinion that this proposed Survey School is certain to very materially decrease the cost of surveying, and, at the same time, very greatly increase the value of the work turned
feel sure
out.
25. As to the locality in which the School should be established, that there should be no conflict of opinion, at any rate by those who have seen and are conversant with the two places.
Lagos not only the Liverpool of West Africa, it is also the Athens. I presume we may anticipate amalgamation with Northern Nigeria at an early date, and with so vast a territory which is conterminous and requires such a large amount of survey work, it would seem only reasonable that the headquarters of the School should be at Lagos.
26. Apart, however, from this aspect of the question, it may be pointed out that a school (although not known by that name) very similar to the one now under discussion, has been in operation for the past five years, and there are at least four natives who are fully competent to take up the duties of assistant instructors in the surveying and drafting sections.
27. The office here is well equipped with the most modern instruments, the natives are fully competent to manipulate them, and the very latest and best methods of conducting surveys, both cadastral, topographic, and geodetic, are in almost con- stant operation. The pro et contra of the other items, which are fairly evenly balanced, need not, I think be discussed.
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