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Retracement-Resurveys — Court Decisions and Field Procedure

Sweitzer, N. B.

Volumes have been written on land surveying; from the simple schoolroom treatise to the numerous and extensive works on geodetic and topographic work, as well as on geodetic astronomy, which is associated therewith. Apparently, they all deal with one idea: the accurate measurement and calculation of lines and angles. This is necessary in such surveys as are required in the construction of a railroad or canal, the erection of buildings and bridges, and also the location of the geodetic co-ordinates for a point on the earth's surface from the heavenly bodies; but there are surveys differing from these, and, thus far, they have been neglected by the textbooks; and only the rapid settling of new countries, in recent years, by an advancing civilization, has demanded a fuller treatment of retracement-resurveys. This means that the theory of surveying in all its branches, as taught in our schools and colleges, should co-ordinate itself and recognize the fact that it has to deal with a new element, “The Error,” and should treat it both in a scientific and legal way. The new engineer (and also the old one, for that matter) commences to dodge as soon as he finds himself coming in contact with this; it is his bete noire.