A Text Book on Surveying, Projections, and Portable Instruments.

Jan 1876 ·

Ratings and reviews

Any Surveyor, with an interest in the History of the Art, will find this book useful. I am a 72 year old, retired Seismic Surveyor. I began surveying when the K&E Transit, with 4 foot screws, one big level bubble under the Telescope, and 2 Plate Levels on the Horizontal frame, plus a 5"-diameter Magnetic Compass in the centre of the Horizontal frame, between the Telescope support standards, was a standard. This old book brings back memories, and some of the memories include how to tie a surveyor's slip knot in the Plumb-Bob String, plus how to centre a solid-legged tripod over a point, while standing on a lumpy sidehill! In 40° below zero temperatures... It is a solid book, c/w references, and know-how on surveying problems, from the point of view of future at-sea Officers. The beginning sections are excellent, including the important lessons on adjustments, and detecting Instrument Errors, plus how to adjust most of the errors _out_, then do the Survey in such a way that the errors are compensated-for, by the methods used. Note: Olde Surveyors have a saying: "if I did it myself, it might be wrong; if someone else did it, it is probably wrong" Thus, a constant self-check, plus training survey helpers to self-check, and to check the Surveyor's work, is protecting the accuracy of the Survey.