ODDS’N’SODS — A master surveyor

I have benefited from a great deal of experiences in mine surveying, and it all goes back to a period spent with an old master.

Jerry Christie was the second-in-command at Canadian Exploration Ltd. in the early post-war years when I joined the company. With a broad background in resource development in Western Canada, along with a registered land surveyor status, Jerry could tackle virtually any situation. He had “cut his teeth,” as they say, with the vast railway construction projects in Western Canada and participated in the final legal survey of the Canadian National Railway main line. He took time out in 1938 to help establish the centre line across the inlet from Stanley Park to the north shore, for the Lion’s Gate Bridge — a feat of which he was justly proud. Jerry ventured into mining as well, in the 1930s, for the old Victoria Syndicate, which was seeking minerals across British Columbia. Many of the Crown-granted mineral claims achieved their legal status as a result of his boundary surveys and filings in the registry office.

One of Jerry’s most treasured possessions was his Cooke-Troughton and Simms Transit. This instrument was the much-prized key to his numerous legal surveys. He took particular care and caution with this unit in both transport and use. When Jerry travelled, the transit was hand-held and carried in its special case, and placed beside his seat on canoe, boat, train or plane. Upon arrival at the site of a program, the transit was first mounted carefully on the tripod, examined in detail, tested and adjusted for accuracy and balance, prior to use in the field. No one ventured near Jerry’s prize as he conducted his surveys.

I recall the striving for detail and accuracy that Jerry Christie demanded. The azimuth of the initial line had to be meticulously charted and all obstacles cleared. Each station had to be carefully assessed and the locale cleared of brush, scrub and wayward branches in order to expedite the setup of the transit.

Two points were marked on each peg in extending the line, as Jerry reversed the telescope transit, and the mean point became the sighting. Mineral claim corner posts were carefully mounted and scribed (according to rules and regulations) and the witness posts duly located.

Mineral claims in British Columbia were alotted a contained acreage bounded by 1500 ft. of horizontal survey lines on each side, and herein Jerry insisted on closing the survey of a claim with such precision as to ensure the maximum area under the law. All of these details were no small matter, considering the terrain of mountains, rivers and lakes in this beautiful province.

Meanwhile, the calculations were accomplished each evening using logarithms and the day’s tedious progress was plotted on linen in the orange glow of an oil lamp in tent or log cabin. Jerry always made the initial calculations and edited the survey notes of the land registration office, and I would run a check calculation. I marveled at the clearness and detail of his field book. He noted every detail in passing, including side slopes, vegetation, stream crossings, shorelines, buildings, roads, trails, soil or rock-temperature and weather — sometimes even animals and birds. I never found errors in his work or plottings.

For lesser programs, Jerry used a compass and staff, along with a clinometer and chain. I never imagined that such accuracy could be achieved using such a crude system, but I became a believer. Jerry affirmed that it was simply a matter of foresight. Following his example, I learned how to conduct detailed mine surveys to a fair degree of accuracy in both underground and surface. Jerry involved himself in every facet of the field work. Canada has benefited, in no small measure, from the dedicated work of the pioneering work of Jerry Christie and his kind.

— The author, a retired mining engineer and regular contributor, resides in Vancouver, B.C.