Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-05-12
O. o m manifatt6.
ron THE WASHINGTON SENTINEL.
A n.s g.

| n Toxas surveyor.
There is homely old adage, but neverthe
less a true one, that it requires all kinds Q
people to make world" This is especial
applicable to the one in which our lot has beef
cast.
Among the numerous elements that ente
into the social composition of the population 0
our own Western Hemisphere, many have beer
analysed, and are familiar to us all. There ii
one, however, that i have met with of whom
have as yet seen no description. This anomoly
in the "genus homo" often occupies an ele
waited position upon the social scale among oui
border inhabitants, and is therefore eminently
worthy Of brief consideration. He is gene
rally known under the appellation. prefxed to
this article, IA 1sras Surveyor"
Born in the depths of the forest and nurtured
among men who are but little more civilized
than the savages that roam in. their Immediate
vicinity, and inheriting all the Free independent,
and daring attributes of his sire, he knows not
the Specification of the words rank or aristoc-
racy. ~ His estimate Of human excellence is
regulated by standard peculiarly his own.
He has the most supreme contempt for
schools, and all the other opportunities incident
to densely populated community. The use-
less accomplishment of civilized life, with the
slavish and senseless exactions of fashion and
c0nventiOnalities, have no attractions for him.
He appreciates the man who, with his
trusty rihc for nas.aps.r1fuu, vPoIlctI QUO
the wilderness, and sustain himself amidst
every vicissitude of fortune, and who has q re-
source at command for every emergency.
Woodcraft is the education that he has re-
ceived and in this he is indeed a scholar.
There may be, and | have no doubt there
are some surveyors in Texas who are educated
and understand their business, but as these
officers are elected by the people in the differ
ent land districts, it is believed that many of
them have few qualifications for their profess
sion, aside from political popularity, as the fol
lowing incident goes to show. ~
At one time / had occasion to make some
surveys in Western Texas, where the variation
Of the magnetic needle is very considerable,
and had taken careful observations for its
determination, when, shortly afterwards, l
CHANGED to encounter a regularly constituted
surveyor, II was only acting pro tem.) who had
been running out lines in the same section of
country. Being DESTROYS to learn if my own
observations correspondent with his. very
politely requested him to inform me what he
made the variation of his compass in that
locality. At this question, he fastend his eyes
upon mine, and looked seemingly a good deal
astonished, but did not reply. Thinking that
perhaps he might suppose doubted his ability
to determine the variation, / explained that
my object in making the inquiry was simply to
verify my own calculations.
Seeing that was not quizzing him, he raised
himself up to his utmost attitude, pushed back
his hat, aud in very dignifed manner pointed
to . dilapidated and rusty remnant of what
had once been surveyors compass, which by
this time he had carefully adjusted upon a
rickety old tripod he said: "Vari-a-shun
stranger? ?" Har-i-a-shun 2" "Do you see
that thar instru-mentf"
I said, certainly, SIR" Well stranger, l
reeken owned her well nigh goin on twenty
year, done mighty smart sprinklin o'sur-
veyin with her-rve put her through the par
ar-res, and through the timber, and you can
just go your pile ont stranger that she never
barred na,ry-time. "She never lies" I" she
DON'T"
assured him that had no doubt his instru-
ment was a good one, but presumed he was
aware of the fact that the needle only pointed
to the north, where the magnetic and the me-
ridians conceded. That had by several OBJ
servations upon Polaris, determined varia.
ton of about ten degrees for that locality.
He said he did not know or care whs the
HI Polsris was but with an air ofpatronizing
sympathy, accompanied by very significant
wink he rayther opinionated that was the
wisest sold invideral he had seen in them
diggins." left. ***