the taking of a large amount of topography, all the field notes. of which were copied, compared, and verified, and constitute a part of the returns. As a further proof of the correctness of the work, the large general map, spoken of above, is being constructed from the data contained on the blue prints.

The returns will consist of the original sheets and the tracings from them, the large general map, copies of all field note books, the computation books, the claim books, all papers relating to every claim that has come into our possession, and a complete card index of the entire collection. It is also contemplated that the office shall prepare a book index arranged in alphabetical order. This is for the purpose of enabling the information to be quickly reached whether the number of the lot or claim is known, or whether some statement connected with the owner's name is furnished.

The force employed consisted of twenty-five men or less, according to the requirements of the work. The organization consisted of the resident engineer, mentioned above, who had entire charge of the work. Associated with him, and as a representative from the State Land Office at Lansing, was the gentleman who took charge of the entire financial end of the work. It was his business to provide quarters and supplies of all kinds. He was custodian of the property, and made all purchases and rendered all bills and accounts to the office. Next to these gentlemen came the instrument men two or three or more, as circumstances required, and the draughtsman in the office. Then came the chainmen and copyists, and after these the assistants, helpers, and laborers. There was also employed a man known as a mechanic. This man was employed on account of his special fitness and ability to make or to do anything that was needed. There was also kept a cook and one or more assistants whose business it was to prepare the meals, keep the quarters in order, and perform such other services as they might be called upon to perform. A form of enlistment was prepared, and every man who entered the service was required to sign an enlistment paper, and assume an obligation, which, in consideration of his pay, gave us his entire time. The use of liquor was absolutely prohibited, and, as we believe, with great profit.

The attempt has been to make the survey trustworthy in every

respect. Beyond this we have not attempted to go. In the map making, the object has been to show every detail, including every shore line, every island of rushes, and to make this information appear, plain and distinct, on every sheet. There has been no attempt at fancy work in the office. The object has been solely plainness and neatness.

To give some idea of the magnitude of the work, it may be said that we commenced buying iron pipe by the ton and ended by buying it by the carload.

During winters, when the weather prevented field work, duties were found for every man, as far as practicable, in repairing and improving the apparatus, and in keeping the outfit in order; a large amount of copying was done by men who worked in the field. By the exercise of ordinary prudent foresight, it has been possible to carry on the work steadily and continuously, and also efficiently without hindrance on account of breakages or breakdowns of any kind whatever. One of the most troublesome things was the breakage of steel tapes. Our mechanic soon learned to repair these so quickly that I have known a broken steel tape to be brought in at night, and before we sat down to supper it would be repaired and ready to use the next morning.

Should the details above given prove of any service to others undertaking a similar work, the object of their preservation here will have been accomplished.

THE "MANUAL OF 1902," OF INSTRUCTIONS TO

UNITED STATES SURVEYORS.

A. W. BARBER.

THE forthcoming edition of the "Manual of Instructions for the Survey of Public Lands of the United States," will be designated briefly as the "Manual of 1902." The manuscript was officially approved by the Department on Dec. 30, 1901, and the book is now about to be printed.

In most respects the forms and methods of the "Manual of 1894" are adhered to, with as few changes as possible. The treatment of the subject has been conservative, except where it seemed necessary to shut still more closely the doors of fraud, negligence, or incompetency. Efforts are made to systematize the instructions, to condense and simplify rules, and to avoid repetition. Footnotes and cross references have mostly been stricken out, and their place is supplied by an exhaustive index.

The whole work is divided into four hundred sections, consecutively numbered, instead of the former irregular method. It is designed to adapt this work to the perfected modern instruments and requirements, and to discard those of early days, while retaining the excellent fundamental principles of statutes made in the days of our grandfathers. No encouragement is shown to those who would remove the ancient landmarks.

Here are the more salient of the new features of this edition:

The United States statute of June 10, 1896, fixing penalties for removing or destroying a government corner, is inserted among the laws.

The importance of taking all courses from the sun or the pole-star, and of avoiding dependence on the needle, is more stringently set forth.

The certainty that contract surveys will not be accepted till they have been inspected by a qualified examiner, selected after civil service examination, by the Commissioner and the Department, is alluded to in various sections, as full warning to all deputies who are inclined to pursue the cheap and slipshod methods of old times.

Steel tapes reading by chains and links are approved as chains, and engineers' measure by feet is prohibited.

The ancient rules for blazing and marking lines in timber are more clearly inculcated, and the use of wooden posts strongly condemned wherever stones can possibly be used.

Perishable accessories to corners, such as bearing trees, and mounds of earth, are discouraged, and bearing rocks and mounds of stones are recommended instead.

In descriptions of corners, all marked letters and figures (for instance, T 4 NR 3 WSIB T) are printed with no punctuation marks, just as the surveyor is expected to mark them in actual practice.

Deputies are not allowed to meander such lines as margins of impassable cañons or swamps, or between the foot of a mountain side and the agricultural land of the valley.

Meandering is defined as applicable only to the shore or margin of a stream. Several court decisions are cited, or quoted from, as to the effect of meander lines and the extent of riparian rights.

Surveyors general are not allowed to employ the office force upon the correction or revision of material portions of field notes, to place them in condition for filing, and thus aid incompetent deputies. They are also prohibited from receiving and filing the returns, until they are completed by affixing the necessary oaths.

A practice often introduced by draftsmen, of inserting little circles at angles of lines on their plats, and making other alleged ornaments, which are merely blemishes, is also interdicted.

The positions of all base lines and principal meridians are shown by a new and compendious table.

Magnetic needle surveys are unreservedly condemned. In accord with this rule, the new edition omits all the large amount of data which was given in former editions, on the history of magnetic declination in all parts of the country, and its rate of annual change. Deputies are not required to state the variation. at which their lines are run, or to pay but the slightest incidental regard to that unreliable and useless quantity.

Any surveyor fit to be entrusted with public employment should be able to observe Polaris, lay a true meridian, adjust and use a solar transit, and execute a survey with courses that a good examiner can retrace and verify to within two or three minutes of arc, with no magnetic needle in possession of either of them to

confuse and lead them astray. Whenever a deputy undertakes to make an extensive survey, using only courses read at the point of his needle, he is making a strong bid for the rejection of his work. Still a few ignorant deputies persist in trying it, and the list of rejections even in 1901 shows the results of their experiments.

The table showing times of upper culmination of Polaris has been calculated for years from 1901 to 1911, inclusive.

The table for both elongations and both culminations has been omitted, and rules are given by which to deduce such data from upper culmination.

The table of azimuths of Polaris for hour-angle observations has been calculated for ten years in advance.

A set of examples is given and worked, to aid the beginner in the use of the various tables and rules.

The table of convergency of meridians, formerly covering latitudes thirty degrees to fifty degrees, is now extended to latitude seventy degrees, and is applicable to Alaska, even beyond Bering Strait.

In triangulation over impassable objects, it is desired that the base shall be at least as long as the required distance; and in case of difficulty the angle opposite the base should not be less than fifteen degrees.

The practice of obtaining true meridian by a single solar observation with plain transit, is viewed with disfavor, as it is believed to be unreliable and prolific of error in hasty or unskillful hands, hence an unsafe substitute for the simple and certain processes by Polaris. Deputies and examiners, therefore, are not warranted in abandoning the means heretofore enjoined and using the process of long and intricate calculation in the most valuable hours of the day.

Rules are given for setting a watch to correct local mean time, involving equation of time and standard time, in connection with noon observations for latitude.

The duties of field inspectors are briefly detailed, and great certainty and precision required in their reports, that exact justice be done to the work being examined.

The specimen field notes are abridged by omitting a large amount which seemed mere useless repetition of routine matter. A material diminution in the size of the book is hoped for as the result.

Dec. 31, 1901.