Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-16
]. s. B|LbY IS URGED
TO CONTINUE WORK
Lamont Promotes Modest
Coast and Geodetic Sur
vey Veteran.

After 46 years Of service in the United
States Coast and Geodetic Survey,
Jasper s. Bnby has been promoted to
the position Of chief signainian by
Secretary Of Commerce Robert p. La
mont, and has at the same time been
requested to continue in the service
for at least two years longer. though he
has now arrived at the age Of retire
ment.
Mr.. Bilby's work is to carry on the re-
eonnaissance, prepare stations for tri-
anglilation and erect the towers and
testing lines for all the survey control
stations throughout the United States.
It Is by means Of these stations located
In every State in the Union, that prop
erty and boundary lines are determined.
After locating the place from which
survey of the country may be made the
spot Is marked with o tablet placed In
q bed of cement. At any time that
survey Is to be made a portable steel
from the tower the survey Is made. Mr..
Bilby Is the inventor Of the Bilby steel
tower, by which all surveys In the United
States are now carried on. The inyen-
ton has been Of untold value to the
United States Coast and Geodetic Sur
vey, greatly reducing the cost of COM
hined operation Of reconnaissance, sig
nal building and triangulation.
Has Visited Every State.
Last year Mr.. Bilby had charge of the
constructing work on the Mississippi
River project, which extended from
Cairo, III. to New Orleans. Every State
IA the country has been visited by Mr..
Billy while on his reconnaissance trips,
and he has Travelled approximately $685.
800 miles In his work, exclusive OF the
railroad and steamboat mileage covered
while travelling to and from his destina-
ton. He has walked about $500 miles
engaged In field work, utilized wagons,
huckboards and OK teams. ridden mule
and horse back, travelled up stream and
down rivers In launches, Sailboats and
rowboats, and at times has resorted to
hand cars and automobile trucks In
order to reach a desired point, where, at
some time or other, one Of the great
steel towers will be erected upon the
CONTROL station.
An amusing incident was told by Mr..
6ilby relative to O field reconnaissance
which he made In an unsettled section
OF Montana a few years ago. Having
made himself comfortable after pitching
his tent in region he believed unpopu-
lated, he set up his radio to enjoy some
music before retiring for the night. Sud-
denly he heard voice.
Where's the fiddle, mister?"
The speaker was la-year-old boy
who had apparently appeared from no
where, attracted by the music.
In answer to the question, Mr.. Bilby
replied, tits from Kansas City"
where's that? his visitor inquired.
sOh. something over a thousand miles
from here" was Mr.. Bfbys casual
with q startled look, the boy started
pack into the unknown from where he
had come: TIN goin' to GIT dad" he
called back.
A short time later Mr.. Bilby saw
approaching wagon Ia which were 0
man, o woman and about eight chill
dren. Behind the wagon was tied O
calf. All the family had come TO see
and hear this miraculous thing which
the older son had told them about.
They remained with me practically
the entire evening"" said Mr.. Bilby.
3ut TO this day have wondered why
hey tied that calf behind them"
CoIored Folk Staged Dance.
upon another reconnaissance trip, In
Mississippi. Mr.. Bilby pitched his tent
AFTER his evening meal, he started up
his radio. Soon he saw colored people
arriving by the wagon load. Men.
women and children, they came from all
directions.
.I'm in for IT," sighed Mr.. Bilby.
There's to be q church meeting
But he was wrong. Attracted by the
tent and the music, the people had
thought it was show. For their ben
eft Mr. Bilby tuned in on the "Old
Fiddlers" at Jefferson City. Mo-, and
before he knew what had happened q
dance had started in front Of his tent,
continuing until midnight.
Modest and retiring, many Of Mr.. Bill
hy's experiences have to be drawn out
OF him through patience and persistent
questioning.
One of his secretaries laughingly told
about report sent in q short time ago
by Mr.. Bilby, who had been on field
work in Kansas. Caught In the center
OF tornado, his tent and supplies had
been blown over several counties, while
Mr. Bilby suffered q broken collarbone
through the force Of the storm.
The only report which came into tie
once, said the secretary, was, Lost q
half days work, due to wind"
IL was long after his return to Wash
= Spgton that his associates learned the
exuth Of the storm.
Mr.. Bilby viii leave IN about two
weeks Tor reconnaissance and field work
% prepare stations in Nebraska. Iowa,
and Illinois. About AZ men will accom-
pany him and almost that many au-
tomobiles will be used in the transpor-
tation OF men, supplies and equipment.