PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 885
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
20 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
Existing Maps.
Topo- graphical
Branch.
Trigono-
metrical Section.
Topo-
graphical
Section.
80
and on leave. The surveyors keep far more fit and the organisation of the work 'is more efficiently arranged.
The attached table shows that, under the system proposed of a surveyor spending eight months on the Coast and four months away from it, the Govern- ments gets 20 per cent, more topographical work out of a surveyor than under the present arrangements; in other words, it gets £80 more work out of a £400 surveyor. Oh the other hand, he makes 10 more voyages in 17 years: an increase of, roughly, £600 in that period (an average of £35 a year).
The net gain in efficiency to the Government can therefore be valued at £45 per surveyor per annum, not to mention the more rapid production of the map.
TABLE showing the Comparative Periods spent by a Surveyor on the Coast and away from the Coast in 17 years, wet months being May 15th to September 15th.
On the Coast.
Away.
Number of Voyager.
Dry.
Raina,
In Field.
In Office.
Years.
8
Years. 4
Years.
5
24
Under proposed arrangements, i.e., eight months
on Coast, four months away.
11}
Under existing leave arrangements, ie, five
months away after 1 year tour,
5%
34
(h.) The delay in starting the topographical survey of the Central and Eastern Provinces is unfortunate, but is unavoidable, in view of the absence of a framework. The evil is, however, minimised by the recent production of Captain Beverley's map of those provinces, a compilation which should prove a most efficient stop gap.
Mr. Cleminson informed me that he compiled and handed in to the Secretariat in March a similar map of the Western Province. If this map is sent home to me at once I could arrange for its production, and it would prevent the delay, which is inevitable, in producing the sheets from being so severely felt.
3. CADASTRAL WORK.
By placing Mr. A. Cleminson in charge of the Cadastral Branch with one European and two Native surveyors to assist him, and by keeping the Cadastral and Topographical Branches entirely separate, greater efficiency will be obtained, and greater progress made with the township and other plans required by the Govern-
ment.
4. ORGANISATION.
The Department should be divided into-
A Topographical Branch;
A Cadastral Branch; and
A Headquarter Office.
(a.) The Topographical Branch should consist of a Trigonometrical Section and a Topographical Section.
(b.) The Trigonometrical Section should consist of a party of one Royal Engineer Subaltern and three non-commissioned officers, to carry out the trigono- metrical survey of the framework mentioned in paragraph 2 (b).
None of the present staff of surveyors are experienced in the latest methods of base measurement and triangulation, and to train them would be to delay the topo- graphical work, ie., the production of the map. I submit that such training would be waste of time and money, and would also be misguided, in view of the fact that we can obtain a Royal Engineer party already trained. In this Mr. Cleminson thoroughly agrees with me. For cost of this party for 1910 see Appendix I. The party should be engaged at once, and should land on the Coast not later than September 1st. I know the exact men to select.
(c.) The Topographical Section should consist of eight field parties, each of one European and one Native surveyor, to carry ont the work of mapping the country mentioned in paragraph 2 (e).
81
Deducting the Director, the Deputy-Director, and the surveyor_required for the Cadastral Branch, the Draftsman and School Instructor, only five European surveyors are available for field parties.
Of these an average of two surveyors are on leave of absence, leaving only three available for work in the field, and it will take 26 years to complete the map, whereas, if the suggestion contained in paragraph 2 (g) is approved, all five will be available, and the map will be completed in 17 years.
This is far too long a period, and I recommend that the services of three non- commissioned officers, Royal Engineers, be obtained, when the map will be finished in nine years.
Mr. Cleminson thoroughly agrees with me in obtaining Royal Engineers for this work, in view of the fact that it is almost impossible to obtain civilians who are trained in topographical work, and also of the fact that I can lay my hand on three non-commissioned officers who have done most excellent work of this kind in South and East Africa. The additional cost for 1910 is given in Appendix I.
(d.) There is also another factor to be considered in fixing the number of Topo- surveyors required and their rate of work, that is, the technical qualifications of graphica! qualifica the present members of the staff.
From information I have collected, I am doubtful if the majority of the surveyors are capable of executing topographical work (I believe they are all right in cadastral) in anything like a satisfactorily rapid manner, or are of the organis- ing capacity necessary for the efficient administration of a field party. I shall be able to speak better on this point after my first tour, as it is unfair to judge men who have had no standing orders to guide them.
tions.
(e.) The composition of this is given in paragraph 3. There is no doubt that Cadastral cadastral and topographical work should be kept quite distinct, and there is no Branch. absolute necessity to put the cadastral staff on the new leave conditions.
(f.) At present the staff of competent native surveyors is not sufficiently large, Native but I understand that seven pupils will have completed their training at the Survey Staff. School about May, 1911, and will then become available for work in the field. These will not bring the establishment up to the strength necessary, i.e., the provision of native surveyors to each field party and of those required for the Cadastral and Trigonometrical Sections, but will have to suffice until we can manufacture more in the School.
(g.) This should be divided into the Director's Office and Topographical Office, Head- and Cadastral Office.
The Director's Office will be for the general administration of the survey. A storekeeper, transport clerk, and two clerks only are necessary.
The Topographical Office should have one European and two Native draftsmen for certain technical duties in connection with preparation of field sheets; the compilation of survey work coming into the office from sources outside the survey; meteorological observations; and the registration of field books, drawings, &c.; also one clerk of lower grade.
The Cadastral Office will be continually at work in the production of plans, &c., and will work under the supervision of the surveyor in charge of Cadastral Branch; at least two native draftsmen and one clerk will be required.
quarter
Office.
(h.) A Handbook of Professional Instructions for each branch of the Survey Standing will be at once undertaken, and also a Handbook of General Instructions. It is Orders. hoped that the first of these will be practically complete by the time the Director lands.
War Office,
18th April, 1910.
·
28548
F. G. GUGGISBERG,
Major, Royal Engineers,
Director of Surveys.
F