Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1920-01-13
My Four Months at Surveying.
(By Charles e. Glover.)

I Istarted my career at geological sur
veying, a. rodman, which is very nec
essary factor in the geological survey
field. But the initial factor that bears
more importance is the topographer, or
s'map MAKER" Then next in impor-
tance Is the recorder, il the topographer
chooses to have one.
First description OF the nature of the
work is necessary to form the idea. The
general idea of geological surveying is to
make new maps, and revise maps rela-
tive to the physical nature Of the terri.
tory surveyed. An important feature 10
the surveying game is the contours; q
contour used In geological surveying is
the number Of feet taken as standard
above the level of the sea, Tor instance
the surveyors contour In one section OF
the country differs from other sections,
because of the geographical condition of
land and elevation.
The contour of land in the state of
Maine would not be the same as In the
state of Virginia, for instance twenty
foot contour is used by surveyors in
Maine, while only five foot contour is
used in Virginia, especially along the
coast. The reason Is obvious, as the
physical condition of the land is regular
and level.
The duties of topographer are to carry
tripod, msp-board, map-outline, map,
telescopic alidade, tape, rule and pencils.
The topographer by means OF his deli
cate instrument can obtain the distance
Of points he wishes to get, but In order
to procure the distance of . specified
place q rodman is necessary.
The duties Of rodman are 10 carry a
level rod, II topographer wishes to get
the elevation of place, II not stadia
rod Is carried by rodman, also map case,
knapsack, paint, paint brushes, bench
marks and tools pertaining to the work,
and rations for the men In party for the
day.
The topographer is dependent upon
rodman In many ways, he cannot get the
elevation of q place without rOdman's
aid. In obtaining elevation the rodman
finds standard or point to be used as
mark. Usually If territory has been sur.
veyed formerly, bench marks are found
here and there. The rodman holds his
level rod on benchmark, while the tOpog-
rapber stations himself a thousand or
fifteen hundred feet in advance Of rod
man, sights through his instrument, OBJ
aiming almost In an instant the elevation
Of the point. The rodman moves the
target on level rod up or down as the
fopographer signifies. When target Is
on exact mark of feet topographer mott.
fiss rodman by a semaphore motion OF
the arms, the topographer advances TO
the rodman to get the reading on level
rod, puts reading down in level book.
rodman remains on mark while topogra'
pher advances fifteen hundred or two
thousand feet then sets his instrument
and obtains the elevation. As We 60
along In this manner l paint the eleva-
ton obtained on telephone pole or any
hing that permits ready reading by
the next topogrspher that comes along
determining the distance.
The next day or week We would start
out with stadia-rod, tripod, telescope al
idade, tape, rule, map, pencils and OF
course rations for day. This line of sur.
veying differs from the elevation part OF
It, the rodman carries stadia rod, while
the "map maker" carries his telescope
slidade, etc. In this case the same pro.
cedure Is carried out by rodman and
topograpber.
Map making is a very interesting part
of surveying, as it leads to closer and
more accurate observation of the sur
rounding territory being surveyed. A
surveyor will more readily detect the
physical or geographical conditions OF
the land and water, than any other man
can possibly do.
The third and last man to be men,
toned in the surveying party is the re-
corder; he serves as an orderly, like q
military organization.
My four months were spent in south
srn city near the Atlantic coast. an i'm.
portant seaport and railroad center. The
surveying party remained in this partic'
ulsr city during the four months.
We not only surveyed this city, but
the vicinity north, south, east and west
of the city. The purpose of surveying
was to make military map. 1t was
deemed necessary at that time as mill.
tary structures were being built In that
l Il