CO885-(18-19) — Page 254

| PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

༄། ། ཏ

Reference :-

C.O.885

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

18 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

40

For these reasons the present topographical sheets should be issued in a pro- visional form, leaving them to be corrected in these two respects, addition of native roads and lowering of heights by 10 feet, in a future issue.

The sheets will conform to the standard style in respect of all details, i.e., con- tour intervals, colouring, projection, and scales; in fact, the general form should be identical with those of the East African sheets, in order that the complete series which will eventually meet may thus combine into a uniform map of the whole terri- tory. As to the rate of progress that may be expected, considering the tropical climate, the close and difficult nature of parts of the country, and the frequent inter- ruptions by haze, an output of 500 square miles per man per season would appear to be the maximum that can reasonably be demanded. This gives a total output for a topographical party of three surveyors of 1,500 square miles per annum. The area of Uganda proper is 16,300 square miles, so that, taking 3,600 miles as already done, there remain 12,700 miles to complete. Making fair allowance for delays, this means about nine years' work from the date when the full topographical party can be organized and started.

Cadastral Work.

As already stated, the object of this work is to determine the boundaries of the native estates under the Agreement of 1900, and hence, since the Government takes all other land, the boundaries and area of the Crown Lands.

The progress of the survey has hitherto been very slow, and it becomes of prime importance to examine somewhat closely into the methods employed, to determine in what direction improvements can be effected and what acceleration of output may be fairly expected.

The technical method of survey adopted for this work is as follows:-A ter- tiary triangulation, with sides about 1 miles, is extended over the whole region. The native owner of each estate is in the possession of a certificate showing the area and, very approximately, the position and shape of his piece of land. Upon the approach of the surveyor to make the detailed survey the owner has the boundaries of his land cut through the bush or long elephant grass, a duty often very imper- fectly performed by the smaller owners. The surveyor then makes a closed traverse round the boundary, using chain and plane-table only and starting from and finish- ing upon trigonometrical points. The work on the plane-table is plotted upon a scale of 1/10,000 (6 inches to 1 mile, nearly). The area is then taken out on the plan and compared with that given in the certificate, with the almost invariable result that the area claimed on the ground is found to be larger, often much larger, than that to which the man is entitled. The owner is then asked which part of the plot he wishes to retain and, provided it does not conflict with neighbouring estates, he is allowed free choice within the boundaries already laid out and is given the exact quantity of land to which he is entitled. He will naturally select what he considers the most valuable and fertile part of the plot and the only restric- tion exercised upon him is that the boundaries must be either natural features, such as rivers, or straight lines. The new boundaries are then cut and traversed as before and the estate is plotted on the plane-table in its final form. The corners are indicated by mark stones and the owner is expected to cover them by substantial conical piles of earth with stout stakes at the apex. With the view of obviating the labour of re-surveying estates in cases where the first survey shows the area to be a sufficiently close approximation to the prescribed amount, it is desirable to fix a definite limit for the permissible discrepancy. This may be taken as 2 per cent, on the total area, so that estates which on the first survey fall within this limit need not have their boundaries readjusted.

The delivery of the definitive deed, giving the owner the absolute title to his land, is held over at present, there being a number of legal questions to be settled as to system of land tenure, conditions of sale and transfer, registration of titles, &c., the discussion of which does not fall within the scope of this report. It may, however, be remarked that it is highly desirable that these points should be settled, and that the deeds of those estates already surveyed should be issued to the owners. This step would have a most salutary effect in the country. The native always has at the back of his mind the lurking fear that he is not going to be allowed to possess his land in quiet and that it will sooner or later be torn from him, as has so often before happened in the history of this country. The news of the grant of only a

41

few final deeds would spread immediately through the kingdom, re-assuring the natives and encouraging them to do their best to cultivate their land without fear of Leing suddenly dispossessed of it.

From this description it will be obvious that the methods of work used for this cadastral survey are of extreme simplicity, and that it is hardly possible further to sim- plify them without an altogether undue sacrifice of accuracy. The Chief Surveyor has designed and ordered some elevated platforms to be used for raising the plane-tabler and his instrument above the level of the elephant grass and thus enabling him to make freer use of intersected or resected points, often obviating the necessity for chainage. It is possible that these may be of service in certain cases, but they will be cumbrous to transport and of doubtful stability when erected. For this estate work, provided that the boundaries are properly cut by the owner well in advance of the surveyor, there is little or nothing to be gained by the use of such a device. The cutting of the lines is the prime and ruling condition of rapid progress, and the heads of parties, on whom should devolve the duty of making all necessary arrange- ments with the native owners, must be instructed rigorously to insist upon this being done.

It will also be obvious that a substantial portion of the surveyor's time must be spent in negotiations with the owner, examining the original certificate and identi- fying, from its somewhat vague description, the situation of the estate, and arranging for a reduction of the area to the specified acreage. The native owner, especially if he has waited several years for the survey of his land, can hardly be expected to recognise the necessity for any hurry in these matters.

Taking all such delays into consideration, it is difficult to see how an average rate of progress of 10 square miles per man per month can be exceeded and this rate, or say at the utmost 100 miles per field season, is the maximum that can be looked for. With the suggested organization of two cadastral parties, each of three plane-table hands, kept continuously up to strength, this means a total output of 600 square miles per annum.. Assuming the Chief Surveyor's estimate of 15,000 miles to complete the whole country, this gives 25 years' work from the time when the new organization can be established.

While such a rate of progress may appear disappointingly slow it cannot be said that the development of the country will be in any way retarded by it. The density of the population is so low that no more than a fraction of the land can be cultivated. Hence the fact that an estate has not been surveyed will not interfere in any way with its cultivation, as the area actually used will in any case be so small that there is no chance of the owner losing any improved land on the final adjustment of his boundaries. On the other hand, land required for white planters can readily be found in the provinces outside Uganda. If definitely required inside the kingdom, such land can be provided either from the Crown Lands in the areas now being surveyed, or, what will probably in general be the better course, by allowing natives who are not wealthy enough to cultivate their ostates to dispose of them to Europeans. This can be done in advance of the survey, and as soon as the conditions of land tenure are settled a register might be opened containing a list of such estates for sale. A settler arriving in the country could inspect this list and thus have a choice of pieces of land in various districts offered to him. After his selection the land would be surveyed, the new owner, in this case, being charged the full survey fees laid down for Crown Lands.

It will now be interesting to calculate the cost of the cadastral survey and thus form a judgment as to its economy compared with similar work in other countries.

The annual cost of a complete cadastral party will be as follows: —

—

1 Surveyor, at £350

3 Surveyors, at £300

£350 900

£1,250

Instruments and stores

150

Porters, at £13 per man per month, £156 per annum*

-

624

£2,024

• Porters must be paid for tho whole year it will not be practicable to discharge them for the

recess season.

29431

41

spread immediately through the kingdom, re-assuring the ng them to do their best to cultivate their land without fear ossessed of it.

ion it will be obvious that the methods of work used for this extreme simplicity, and that it is hardly possible further to sim- ltogether undue sacrifice of accuracy. The Chief Surveyor has ome elevated platforms to be used for raising the plane-tabler ove the level of the elephant grass and thus enabling him to rsected or resected points, often obviating the necessity for le that these may be of service in certain cases, but they will ort and of doubtful stability when erected. For this estate e boundaries are properly cut by the owner well in advance is little or nothing to be gained by the use of such a device.

s is the prime and ruling condition of rapid progress, and the om should devolve the duty of making all necessary arrange- wners, must be instructed rigorously to insist upon this being

ious that a substantial portion of the surveyor's time must be ith the owner, examining the original certificate and identi- it vague description, the situation of the estate, and arranging area to the specified acreage. The native owner, especially years for the survey of his land, can hardly be expected to for any hurry in these matters.

clays into consideration, it is difficult to see how an average squarc miles per man per month can be exceeded and this lost 100 miles per field season, is the maximum that can be suggested organization of two cadastral parties, each of three

t continuously up to strength, this means a total output of annum. Assuming the Chief Surveyor's estimate of 15,000 whole country, this gives 25 years' work from the time when in be established.

of progress may appear disappointingly slow it cannot be tent of the country will be in any way retarded by it. The

on is so low that no more than a fraction of the land can be fact that an estate has not been surveyed will not interfere ultivation, as the area actually used will in any case be so chance of the owner losing any improved land on the final daries. On the other hand, land required for white planters the provinces outside Uganda. If definitely required inside

can be provided either from the Crown Lands in the areas or, what will probably in general be the better course, o are not wealthy enough to cultivate their estates to dispose

This can be done in advance of the survey, and as soon as tenure are settled a register might be opened containing a ⚫ sale. A settler arriving in the country could inspect this choice of pieces of land in various districts offered to him. land would be surveyed, the new owner, in this case, being fees laid down for Crown Lands.

resting to calculate the cost of the cadastral survey and thus its economy compared with similar work in other countries.

a complete cadastral party will be as follows:-

t £350

.t £300

nd stores

3 per man per month,

=

£350 900

£1,250

£156 per annum*

150 624

£2,024

for the whole year it will not be practicable to discharge them for the

P

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O.885

COPYRIGHT

18 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO