THE LIBRARY
THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
GEOLC GEOGFW
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Commissioners R. W. Cautley, D.L.S., A.L.S.
For the Province of Alberta and after September 20, \Q\ :, for the Dominion of Canada § \
J. \. Wallace, D.L.S.
For the Dominion of Canada up fc> September go, IQJJ
A. O. Wheeler, B.C.L.S.
For the Province of British Columbia
Report of the Commission
Appointed to Delimit the Boundary
between the Provinces of
Alberta and British Columbia
Part I
From 1913 to 1916
Office of the Surveyor General Ottawa, 1917
Banff, June 23, 1917.
To the Hon. W. J. Roche, M.P., Minister of the Interior, Ottawa, THE Hon. C. Stewart, M.P.P., Minister of Public Works, Edmonton the Hon. T. D. Pattullo, M.P.P., Minister of Lands, Victoria.
Your Commissioners, J. N. Wallace, D.L.S. representing the Dominion Government until the 20th September, 1915, R. \Y. Cautley, D. and A.L.S. representing the Government of the Province of Alberta and, after the 20th September, 1915, both the Dominion and Alberta Governments, and A. O. Wheeler, B.C.L.S., representing the Government of the Province of British Columbia, have the honour to make the following report en the work of the Commission.
The whole report, of which this volume is Part I, is designed to consist of three parts. The first part covers the operalions of the Commission from the International Boundary to the Kicking Horse Pass, the second from the Kicking Horse Pass to the Yellowhead Pass and the third frcm the Yellow- head Pass to where the Boundary follows the 120th Meridian of west Longi- tude. The first part contains two introductory chapters, of which Chapter I describes the Boundary as defined by law and the authority under which the Commission was appointed, and Chapter II contains the instructions and descriptions of the methods of survey, system of control and types of monu- ments used. The general operations of the Commission are described in suc- ceeding chapters.
Accompanying the report is an atlas of map sheets containing Nos. 1 to 16A, which deal particularly with Part I of the report. A general descripti< n of the map sheets will be found following Chapter VI of this part of the report.
J. N. WALLACE R. W. CAUTLKY ARTHUR O. WHEELER
CONTENTS
Chapter Page
I The Boundary as Defined by Law and the Authority under which the Com-
mission was Appointed • • 1
Report of the Committee of the Privy Council, dated Februarj 18, 1913,
inviting the Provinces of Alberta and British Columbia to join in the Survey of Boundary
Minute of the Executive Council of the- Province of Alberta, dated June 16, 1913, accepting imitation to Join the Survey and Appointing Mr. R. W. Cautley, A.L.S., Boundary Commissioner for Alberta I
Report of the Committee of the Privy Council, Dated July 11, 1913, Appoint- ing Mr. J. X. Wallace, D.L.S., Boundary Commissioner for the Domin- ion ot Canada 4
Report of the Executive Council of the Province of British Columbia, Dated August 1, 1913, Appointing Mr. Arthur O. Wheeler, B.C. L.S., Boundary Commissioner for British Columbia
Report of the Committee of the Privy Council, Dated September 20, 191"). Appointing Mr. R. W. Cautley, D.L.S., Boundary Commissioner for the Dominion in the place of Mr. J. X. Wallace
II Instructions and Methods of Survey
Instructions for the Survey
Amendments to Instructions
Methods of Survey 1"
Methods of Survey in the Passes 11
Final Survey 13
Methods of Topographical Survey 14
System of Control W
Boundary Monuments 1 «
Construction of Monuments -^
Cost of Monuments
Bolt and Cairn Monuments 23
The Use of Bolt and Cairn Monuments - I
III Surveys Executed in 1913. . . . Description of Operations
27
- 1 27 27
_ i
Kicking Horse Pass
History and Origin of Xame 2
Topography of the Pass 28
Boundary Line
Kicking Horse Pass to Vermilion Pass 32
Vermilion Pass 3.)
History and Origin of Xame 35
Topography of the Pass
Boundary Line :^
Vermilion Pass to Simpson Pass
Simpson Pass 1 ;
History and Origin of Xam% 43
Topography of the Pass 45
Boundary Line 45
Tie with Land Surveys 47
Simpson Pass to Mt. Assiniboine *s
vi Contents
Chapter Page
IV Surveys Executed in 1914 57
Description of Operations 57
Concrete Monuments 59
Crowsnest System of Passes 59
Phillipps Pass 60
History and Origin of Name 60
Topography and Characteristics 60
Crowsnest Pass 62
History and Origin of Name 62
Topography and Characteristics 63
Boundary Line 64
Tent Pass 66
History and Origin of Name 66
Topography and Characteristics 66
Boundary Line 67
Ptolemy Pass 67
History and Origin of Name 67
Topography and Characteristics 68
Boundary Line 69
Tie with Land Surveys 70
General Remarks on the Boundary through the Crowsnest System of
Passes 70
Ptolemy Pass to North Kootenay Pass 71
North Kootenay Pass 74
History and Origin of Name 74
Topography and Characteristics 75
Boundary Line 76
Tie with Land Surveys 76
North Kootenay Pass to Middle Kootenay Pass 77
Middle Kootenay Pass 78
History and Origin of Name 78
Topography and Characteristics 78
Boundary Line 79
Akamina Pass 79
Maps 80
V Surveys Executed in 1915 81
Description of Operations 81
Akamina Pass 84
History and Origin of Name 84
Topography and Characteristics 85
Boundary Line 86
Tie with Land Surveys 88
General Remarks 88
Akamina Pass to South Kootenay Pass 89
South Kootenay Pass 90
South Kootenay Pass to Middle Kootenay Pass 91
General Remarks on the Boundary from Akamina Pass to Middle Koot- enay Pass 93
Contents vii
Chapter Page
V Surveys executed in 1915 — Continued
Crowsnest Pass to North Fork Pass M
North Fork Pass
History and Origin of Name
Topography and Characteristics
Boundary Line 101
Tornado Pass 101
History and Origin of Name 10!
Topography and Characteristics 102
Boundary Line 10}
Tie with Land Surveys 105
North Fork Pass to Tornado Pass LOS
General Remarks on North Fork and Tornado Passes 10*)
Tornado Pass to Fording River Pass
Fording River Pass LOO
Fording River Pass to Elk Pass 11"
Elk Pass 11"
History and Origin of Name 115
Topography and Characteristics 116
Boundary Line 118
Tie with Land Surveys 119
General Remarks on the Country Adjoining the Season's Surveys 119
Maps 120
VI Surveys Executed in 1916 121
Description of Operations 121
Elk Pass to South Kananaskis Pass 126
South Kananaskis Pass to North Kananaskis Pass 131
North and South Kananaskis Passes 132
History and Origin of Name 132
Topography and Characteristics of South Kananaskis Pass 132
Topography and Characteristics of North Kananaskis Pass 133
North Kananaskis Pass to Palliser Pass 135
Palliser Pass L37
History and Origin of Name 137
Topography and Characteristics 137
Boundary Line L38
Palliser Pass to Spray Pass 190
Spray Pass 139
Origin of Name 139
Spray Pass to White Man Pass 140
White Man Pass 141
History and Origin of Name 141
Topography and Characteristics 141
Boundary Line 143
White Man Pass to Assiniboine Pass 144
Assiniboine Pass 146
History and Origin of Name 146
Topography and Characteristics 147
Boundary Line 14^
viii Contents
Chapter Page VI Surveys executed in 1916 — Continued
Western Face of Assiniboine Group 150
General Remarks on the Country adjoining the Season's Surveys 151
Maps 152
Map Construction 153
Appendix I —
Description of Brass Bolts and Cairns 155
Kicking Horse Pass 155
Vermilion Pass 158
Simpson Pass 162
White Man Pass 163
Palliser Pass 165
Tent Pass 169
Ptolemy Pass 171
North Kootenay Pass 175
Akamina Pass 177
Assiniboine Pass 181
Tornado Pass 183
North Fork Pas 184
Elk Pass 185
Appendix II —
Table of Latitudes and Departures Referring Brass Bolts and Cairns to the Nearest
Boundary Monuments 190
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
P
Showing construction of concrete monument 18
Monument 5 F in Crowsnest Pass
Brass bolt used during the seasons of 1913, 1914 and 191") 24
Brass bolt used since 1915 - I
Kicking Horse Pass — showing Eastern Approach
Summit of Kicking Horse Pass — looking north 31
Looking south towards Popes Peak from Bolt 13 A
The Victoria Ridge — Panorama No. 1
The Victoria Ridge — Panorama No. 2
Summit of Vermilion Pass
Source of Vermilion River
East Face of Mt. Ball 40
Summit of Redearth Pass — Looking southeast 41
Summit of Redearth Pass — Looking northwest 12
Summit of Simpson Pass — Looking south 44
Summit of Simpson Pass — Looking north 44
Monarch Mountain — from the east
Citadel Pass — Approach from southwest 47
Rock Isle Lake — Looking southeast Is
Larax Lake — Looking south W
Citadel Peak 50
Summit of Assiniboine Pass 51
The Great East Amphitheatre of the Assiniboine Group 52
The Valley of the Rocks
Curious Split Rock 54
Assiniboine Group — from the north 55
Lake Magog at head of Simpson valley 56
Summit of Phillipps Pass 61
Crowsnest Lake and Pass — Gap at East Entrance
Island Lake and Crowsnest Pass Summit — booking East
Boundary Line over Loop Ridge — Monument 29 F 65
Monument 57 F on open grassy crest of Loop Ridge
Tent Pass — Looking southerly 6"
Mt. Ptolemy and Ptolemy Pass
Ptolemy Pass — Looking southeast
Mt. Darrah — Looking southeast N
The Corbin Coal Mines — Looking southerly > -
North Kootenay Pass — North summit < •*>
Flathead River Valley — Showing Flathead Townsite 75
Akamina Pass Summit — Looking south 85
Akamina Pass Summit — Looking north
International Boundary Monument No. 272 vs
Showing col where watershed intersects International Boundary s"
Summit Ridge of South Kootenay Pass — Looking north 91
Summit Ridge of South Kootenay Pass — Looking south 92
Small Pass north of Mt. Phillipps— Altitude 5400 ft 95
Grave Creek Gap — Looking west — Opening to Elk River Valley 97
ix
x List of Illustrations
Page
Line Creek Gap — Looking west — Opening to Elk River Valley 98
North Fork Pass — Looking southwest 99
Summit of North Fork Pass — Looking south 100
Tornado Mt. — Looking north 102
Tornado Pass — Looking north, showing southern approach 103
Summit of Tornado Pass — Looking northwest — Showing sharp turn of Pass to West 104
Summit of Fording River Pass — Looking south 110
Elk Mts. Ridge — Looking east — Lower Elk lake, source of Elk River Ill
Showing timbered ridges of the Cretaceous Crowsnest trough 112
Eastern Escarpment of High Rock Range 113
Eastern Escarpment of Elk Mts. Ridge 113
Elk Mts. Ridge and Summit of Elk Pass 116
Kananaskis Range and Summit of Elk Pass 117
Spray River Ford 122
Stream Measurement Cable 123
Upper Elk lake 126
Lower Elk lake 127
The Kananaskis lakes 128
Upper Kananaskis lake 129
The Royal Group 130
Mt. Beatty 131
Three Isle lake and summit of South Kananaskis Pass 133
Plateau — East approach to North Kananaskis Pass 134
Mt. Sir Douglas 135
Turbine Canyon 136
Palliser Pass 137
Summit of Palliser Pass 138
Spray Pass 1 40
Ridge at summit of White Man Pass 142
White Man Pass 143
Lake Marvel 144
Marvel Pass 145
The Assiniboine Group 147
Assiniboine Pass 148
Mt. Assiniboine from the east 149
Mt. Assiniboine from the west 150
VIEWS OF MONUMENTS
Page
Kicking Horse Pass 166
Vermilion Pass 1 59
Simpson Pass 159
White Man Pass 161
Palliser Pass MM
Crowsnest Pass 166
North Kootenay Pass 176
Akamina Pass 17s-
Assiniboine Pass ISO
Tornado Pass 182
North Fork Pass 182
Elk Pass 186
XI
CHAPTER I
DESCRIPTION OF THE BOUNDARY AS DEFINED BY LAW AND THE AUTHORITY UNDER WHICH THE COMMISSION WAS
APPOINTED.
The boundary between the Provinces of Alberta and British Columbia is defined by Sections 7 and 8 of the Imperial Act 29 and 30 Victoria, Chapter 67, which are as follows: —
"7. Until the Union, British Columbia shall comprise all such territories, within the Dominion of Her Majesty, as are bounded to the south by the territories of the United States of America, to the west by the Pacific Ocean and the frontier of the Russian territories in North America, to the north by the Sixtieth Parallel of North Latitude, and to the East from the Boundary of the United States Northwards by the Rocky Mountains and the One hundred and twentieth Meridian of West Longitude; and shall include Queen Charlotte's Island and all other Islands adjacent to the said Territories, except Vancouver Island and the Islands adjacent thereto.
"8. After the Union, British Columbia shall comprise all the Ter- ritories and Islands aforesaid and Vancouver Island and the Islands adjacent thereto."
The foregoing definition describes the boundary between the Provinces of Alberta and British Columbia as extending "from the Boundary of the United States Northwards by the Rocky Mountains and the One hundred and twentieth Meridian of West Longitude."
In the report of the Minister of the Interior to His Royal Highness in Council, which was approved on the 18th day of February, 1913, is embodied the following interpretation of the above definition, which interpretation was drawn by the Surveyor General of Dominion Lands and concurred in by the several Governments concerned: —
"Between the International Boundary and the 120th degree of longitude, the Interprovincial Boundary is the line dividing the waters flowing into tin- Pacific Ocean from those flowing elsewhere. This line may cross several times the meridian of 120° longitude. Should this be the case, it is proposed that the Interprovincial Boundary follow the watershed line from the Internationa] Boundary to the most northerly crossing of the meridian and thence follow the meridian to the 60th degree of latitude. The watershed line being a
2 Description of the Boundary
natural feature is preferable to the meridian as a boundary and there are as many chances that the proposal, if agreed to, shall be in favour of one Province as of the other."
From the above quoted sections of the Imperial Act and the interpreta- tion thereof adopted by the several Governments concerned, it will be seen that the Interprovincial Boundary, from the International Boundary to the most northerly crossing of the 120th meridian of west longitude, exists as a natural topographical feature, namely: the crest or watershed of the Rocky Mountains. Its precise delimitation, therefore, was not a matter of urgent necessity for many years after the Act was passed, but various causes arose, and grew in importance year by year, which made such delimitation advisable and even necessary.
Chief among these may be cited the discovery of valuable coal deposits at widely separated points of the Boundary, and extending over very large areas on either side of it. As a result of these discoveries, leases of coal lands have been issued by the Crown, either in the right of the Dominion of Canada or in that of the Province of British Columbia. In some cases the descriptions of these leases were based on surveys made by Dominion or Provincial land surveyors, who, for that purpose, were obliged to assume a provisional boun- dary; since the Boundary, or watershed, is by no means so well defined on the ground as might be supposed, — particularly in the wider passes, — the provi- sional boundary thus assumed is rarely, if ever, correct, and surveys made by Dominion and Provincial land surveyors, respectively, have been found to overlap.
As working mines are opened up in the vicinity of the Boundary matters of administration arise, such as the collection of royalties on coal and the control of mining operations under the respective statutes of the Dominion or Province; and while the present development of the mining industry is not such as to make these matters of urgent importance for the moment, it has gone far enough to indicate the wisdom of definitely establishing the Boundary before such development has attained the enormous proportions that must inevitably follow.
Another cause which may be mentioned is the growing value of the immense forest reserves on both sides of the main range and the necessity of marking the Boundary on the ground so that surveyors in the employ of private persons, timber lessees, fire wardens and game guardians may recognize the limits of their rights or jurisdiction.
Still another cause may be found in the growing need for information concerning the various lines of communication across the range from one province to the other. As settlement approaches the summit on either side and as various industries are inaugurated, a knowledge of the gaps through which wagon roads and pack trails can be built is of value. Heretofore, communication has only been by well known passes at long intervals apart.
Appointment of the Commission
The survey has furnished information concerning a number of interven
passes that will undoubtedly be made um- of in the future.
It was very desirable, also, that the Boundary should be . urveyed from the geographer's point of view, so that existing maps issued by the various
departments of the Governments might be corrected. These maps show the Boundary as a dotted line, which, in the absence of sufficient survey 5, is i<» sarily incorrect at many points; how great the error- are will not be known until the whole survey has been completed, but it is safe to say that it will be found to exceed three miles at some points.
Under the above circumstances it was clearly inadvisable to delay the survey of th » Boundary any longer, and in April, 1912, the matter was taken up between the Surveyor General of Dominion Lands and the Surveyor General of British Columbia, at the instance of the Minister of Lands for British Columbia, with the result that the following Dominion and Provincial Orders-in-Council were made and approved for the creation of a Commission to delimit the Boundary between the Provinces of Alberta and British Columbia and the appointment of Commissioners: —
Certified copy of a Report of the Committee of the Privy Council approved by His Royal Highness the Governor General on the 18th February, 1913.
The Committee of the Privy Council have had before them a memorandum dated 10th February, 1913, from the Minister of the Interior submitting a report dated 2nd December, 1912, from the Surveyor General of Dominion Lands recommending the delimitation of the boundary between the Provinces of British Columbia and Alberta.
The Minister states that this boundary is defined by Sections 7 and 8 of the Imperial Act 29 and 30 Victoria Chapter 67 which are as follows: —
7. Until the Union, British Columbia shall comprise all such territories within the Dominion of Her Majesty as are bounded to the south by the territories of the United States of America: to the west by the Pacific Ocean and the frontier of the Russian territories in North America: to the north by the sixtieth parallel of north latitude; and to the east from the boundary of the United States northwards by the Rocky Mountains and the one hundred and twentieth meridian of west longitude; and shall include Queen Charlotte's Island, and all other islands adjacent to the said territories, except Vancouver Island and the islands adjacent thereto.
8. After the Union, British Columbia shall comprise all the territories and islands afore- said, and Vancouver Island and the islands adjacent thereto.
The Minister observes that the said boundary after it has been surveyed will have to be accepted by the Legislatures of British Columbia and Alberta before the parliament of Canada can by virtue of the provisions of the British North America Act 1S71 p&as an Act declaring that line to be the boundary between the Provinces. The two Provinces must therefore be invited to join with the Dominion in the survey of the said line.
The Committee, on the recommendation of the Minister of the Interior, advises that this invitation be conveyed to the Governments of British Columbia and Alberta and that copy of this Minute if approved be transmitted to the Lieutenant Governors of British Columbia and Alberta for the consideration of their respective Minister s.
All of which is respectfully submitted for approval.
RODOLPHE BOUDREAU,
Clerk oi Privy Council.
4 Description of the Boundary
Certified copy of a Minute of the Executive Council of the Province of Alberta, dated Monday, 16th June, 1913, approved by His Honour the Lieutenant Governor.
The Hon. the Minister of Public Works reports, under date of May 30th, 1913, that: —
Whereas by report of the Committee of the Privy Council, approved by His Royal High- ness the Governor General on the 18th day of February, 1913, dealing with the delimitation of the boundary between the Provinces of British Columbia and Alberta, a copy of which said report is hereto attached, it is set forth that the said boundary, after being surveyed, will have to be accepted by the Legislatures of British Columbia and Alberta before the Parliament of Canada, by virtue of the provisions of the British North America Act of 187] , pass an Act de- claring that the line as surveyed be the boundary between the two Provinces, and that, therefore, the said Provinces should be invited to join with the Dominion in the survey of the said line;
AND WHEREAS a certified copy of the said report of the Committee of the Privy Council has been transmitted to the Lieutenant Governor of the Province of Alberta, conveying an invitation to join in the said survey, one-third of the costs of such survey to be paid by the Dominion of Canada, one-third by the Province of British Columbia, and one-third by the Province of Alberta;
AND WHEREAS it is deemed advisable that the Province of Alberta should join in the said survey, and that a representative of the Province should be appointed for that purpose;
THEREFORE, upon the recommendation of the Hon. the Minister of Public Works, the Executive Council advises that the invitation to join in the said survey be accepted by the Province of Alberta, the said Province to pay one-third of said costs;
The Executive Council further advises that Richard William Cautley, of the City of Edmonton, in the Province of Alberta, Dominion and Alberta Land Surveyor, be appointed as
representative of the Province of Alberta, and that a copy of the
Order in Council made in pursuance of this recommendation, if approved, be submitted to His Royal Highness, the Governor General of Canada, for the consideration of his Ministers.
Certified a true copy. DONALD BAKER,
Clerk of Executive Council.
Certified copy of a report of the Committee of the Privy Council, approved by His Excellency the Administrator on the 11th of July, 1913.
The Committee of the Privy Council have had before them a report, dated 4th July, 1913, from the Minister of the Interior, stating that by Order in Council of the 18th February, 1913, the Governments of British Columbia and Alberta were invited to join the Dominion in the delimitation of the boundary between the two Provinces from the International Boundary northwesterly to the 120th degree of longitude.
The Minister observes that the invitation has been accepted by the two Provinces, as stated in a minute of the Executive Council of British Columbia dated 2nd June, 1913, and in a minute of the Executive Council of Alberta, dated the 16th of June, 1913, certified copies of which were transmitted to the Honourable the Secretary of State.
The Committee, on the recommendation of the Minister of the Interior, advise that Mr. J. N. Wallace, Dominion Land Surveyor, now in charge of levelling on Dominion Land Surveys, be appointed Boundary Commissioner to represent the Dominion upon the joint survey
The Committee, on the same recommendation, further advise that the Surveyor General of Dominion Lands be authorized to communicate with the Surveyor General of British Columbia and the Director of Surveys of Alberta and to make such arrangements for carrying out the survey as may be necessary, and that a copy hereof be transmitted by the Honourable the Secre- tary of State to the Lieutenant Governors of British Columbia and Alberta for the consideration of their respective Ministers.
All of which is respectfully submitted for approval. RODOI PHE BOUDRE^U
Clerk of the Privy Council.
Appointment of the Commission 5
Copy of a Report of a Committee of the Honourable the Executive
Council, approved by His Honour the Lieutenant Governor on the first day of August, 1913.
To His Honour the Lieutenant Governor in Council:
The undersigned has the honour to report that
Whereas His Excellency, the Governor General in Council, on the 18th February, 1913, extended an invitation to the Governments of the Provinces of Alberta and British Columbia to participate in a joint survey of the boundary of the said Provinces:
And whereas His Honour, the Lieutenant Governor in Council, on the 2nd day of June, 1013, approved a recommendation that the invitation of the Federal Government be accepted, and that the Surveyor General be authorized to make such arrangements for carrying out the work as he might deem fit:
And whereas His Excellency, the Administrator in the Privy Council of Canada, on the 11th day of July, 1913, authorized the Surveyor General of Dominion Lands to make such arrangements as might be necessary for carrying out the survey, and furthermore approved the appointment of Mr. J. N. Wallace, Dominion Land Surveyor, as Boundary Commissioner, to represent the Dominion Government upon the said joint survey:
The undersigned therefore begs to recommend that Mr. Arthur O. Wheeler, British Colum- bia Land Surveyor, be appointed Boundary Commissioner to represent the Province of British Columbia upon the joint survey aforesaid:
And that a certified copy of this Minute, if approved, be transmitted to the Honourable the Secretary of State.
Dated this 29th day of July, A.D., 1913. \VM. R. ROSS,
Minister of Lands.
Approved this 29th day of July, A.D., 1913.
RICHARD McBRIDE, Presiding Member of the Executive Council.
Certified Copy of a Report of the Committee of the Privy Council, approved by His Excellency the Deputy Governor General on the 20th September, 1915.
The Committee of the Privy Council have had before them a report, dated 10th July, 1915, from the Minister of the Interior, stating that, by agreement with the Provinces of Alberta and British Columbia sanctioned by Order in Council of the 11th July, 1913, (P.C. Xo. 1721), the survey of the boundary between the two Provinces has been proceeding for the last two years with three Commissioners, namely: J. N. Wallace for the Dominion, R. W. Cautley for Alberta and A. O. Wheeler for British Columbia. The survey is executed by two parties, one in charge of Mr. Wheeler for the topography and the other one in charge of Mr. Cautley for locating the Boundary line.
In order that the expenses of the Dominion Commissioner, for which no money is available, may be dispensesd with, the Minister recommends that R. W. Cautley be appointed Commis- sioner to represent the Dominion in the place of J. N. Wallace. The interests of the Dominion and of Alberta in this connection being identical, the protection of these interests may be safely left in the hands of the Alberta Commissioner.
The Committee concur in the foregoing and submit the same for approval.
RODOLPHE BOUDREAU,
Clerk of the Privy Council.
CHAPTER II
INSTRUCTIONS, METHODS OF SURVEY, SYSTEM OF CONTROL AND TYPES OF MONUMENTS USED.
Instructions
By mutual consent of the heads of the Land Survey Departments of the several Governments concerned, it was arranged that the work of the Commission be carried on under the direct supervision of the Surveyor General of Dominion Lands, and, on the 18th June, 1913, the following instructions to the Commission as a whole were issued to the several Commissioners: —
"To J. N. Wallace, D.L.S.
A. O. Wheeler, B.C.L.S. Ottawa, 18th June. 1913
and R. W. Cautley, A.L.S.
Gentlemen : — On behalf of the Surveyor General of British Columbia, the Director of Surveys of Alberta and the Department of the Interior, I have the honour to give you the following instructions for the delimitation of the boundary between British Columbia and Alberta.
1. The Interprovincial Boundary between the International Boundary and the 120th degree of longitude, which is the part of the boundary which you have to survey, is the line dividing the waters flowing into the Pacific Ocean from those flowing elsewhere. This line may cross several times the meridian of 120° longitude. Should this prove to be the case, the boundary shall follow the watershed line from the Inter- national Boundary to the most northerly crossing of the meridian and thence follow the meridian to the 60th degree of latitude.
2. Places may be found where the water of a stream, of a glacier, or of a lake divides and flows on one side towards xhe Pacific Ocean and on the other side towards the Arctic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico. The stream, from the point where it separates in two directions, shall be followed up to that one of its sources which more nearly divides the basin of the stream into two parts of equal area.
3. Should any place be found where water originally flowing to one side has been artificially diverted to the other side, the boundary shall be defined as if the stream had never been diverted and were still flowing in its original channel.
8 Instructions and Methods of Survey
4. Where the watershed line is sharp and well defined, it shall be adopted, but where the land is flat or rolling and where there might be some doubt as to its position, it shall be defined by a series of straight, lines running given distances on stated bearings in the general direction of the sinuous line of watershed and monuments shall be established at the points of deflection.
5. The portions of the boundary requiring first attention are:
(a) The Crowsnest Pass, owing to the proximity of mining properties.
(b) The Vermilion Pass, owing to the construction of the motor road from Banff to Windermere.
(c) The Howse Pass, owing to the proximity of timber claims.
(d) The Kicking Horse Pass, Simpson Pass and White Man Pass, owing to their lying within or adjacent to populated areas. The first being within the Railway Belt on the British Columbia side may possibly be left out of the category.
(e) The Athabaska Pass which may possibly become a railway route.
(f) The S. Kootenay, the N. Kootenay, N. Fork and Kananaskis Passes.
(g) The Moose Pass, which may become of importance as a feasible route to the North via the Smoky River.
'(h) The Robson Pass, which is of no importance, except as one of the most striking scenic centres of the entire mountain region. Work can be commenced at the Vermilion Pass and carried south- ward in rotation to the International Boundary.
6. The monuments shall be concrete pyramids two feet high upon a con- crete foundation of suitable depth. On opposite faces of the pyramid shall be inserted brass plates with suitable inscriptions.
7. Monuments shall be erected:
(a) at the lowest point of the summit of each pass.
(b) on one or both sides of, and as near as may be convenient to, any line of railway crossing the summit thereof.
(c) at such other points in the various passes as may appear suitable in such a way that no two adjacent monuments shall be more than half a mile apart and that every monument shall be visible from the next one.
8. The survey of the boundary across each pass shall be connected by a traverse with some monument of the Dominion Lands System of Survey and with some monument of the British Columbia Surveys provided such monuments are to be found within fifteen miles from the pass.
9. A photograph of each monument, looking in the direction of the boundary, shall be attached to the field notes as a further means of identification.
10. A topographical survey shall be made extending a few miles on each side of the boundarv.
Instructions for Survey
11. Mr. A. 0. Wheeler shall be in charge of the topographical portion of the survey and the establishment of survey monument s on t he peak- adjacent to the passes with a separate party consisting of one assistant surveyor,
two labourers, one cook, one packer and ten horses.
12. Mr. R. W. Cautley shall be in charge of the surveying party required to take levels and make the preliminary survey of the boundary in the various passes and the erection of permanent boundary monuments therein with a separate party comprising two chainmen, (me rodman, two axemen and monument builders, one cook, one packer and ten hors
13. Mr. J. N. Wallace shall visit each pass at such times as may be necessary to enable him to satisfy himself as to the correctness of the work.
Sections 14 and 15 relate to the expenses of the sur\ey> and to the rates of pay of the members of the parties.
16. The returns of the survey shall be made in triplicate, one copy being for the Government of British Columbia, one for the Government of Alberta and one for the Dominion Government. They shall consist of plans on a suitable scale, field notes and a joint report.
17. Any question not provided for in these instructions, whether it relates to the definition of the boundary or to any other matter, shall be deeded by yourselves. If after thorough discussion the divergence of your views is such that there is no hope of your reaching a unanimous con- clusion, you shall refer the question for decision to your respective Governments.
E. DEVILLE,
Surveyor General.
Amendments to Instructions
As the work of the Commission proceeded it was found desirable that the above Instructions should be varied in a few minor details, and. on the recommendation of your Commissioners, dated the 24th February, 1914, the following amendments were agreed to by the Surveyor General of Dominion Lands on behalf of the several Governments concerned: —
1. Section 7, subsection (a) was amended by inserting the word "suitable" between the words "lowest" and "point," so that the subsection as amended is " (a) at the lowest suitable point of the summit oi each, pass
2. Section 7, subsection (c) was amended by inserting the words "whenever such is practicable" between the words "that" and "every," so that the subsection as amended is "(c) at such other points in the various passes as may appear suitable in such a way that no two adjacent monu- ments shall be more than half a mile apart and that, whenever such is practicable, every monument shall be visible from the next one."
10 Instructions and Methods of Survey
3. By the insertion of a new section 5a as follows: —
"5a. The boundary shall also be established in any passes of small extent which may be found to be immediately adjacent to, and not separated by any high mountains from the passes already specified in these Instructions, provided that, in the unanimous opinion of the Com- mission, the survey of the boundary in such small adjacent passes can be undertaken without undue delay of the general progress of the Boundary Survey."
Methods of Survey
The Methods of survey prescribed by the above instructions are twofold and absolutely different as to the means employed and the objects sought to be attained; they demand different qualifications both on the part of the chiefs and their assistants, different equipment and almost complete inde- pendence of action.
Since the watershed is a sinuous and, in the passes, frequently obscure line it is not possible to establish its actual position by placing monuments at various points along its length, and it is therefore necessary to establish the Boundary as a series of straight lines which approximate the true position of the watershed. Thus the survey of the Boundary in the various passes consists of a number of concrete monuments placed by the Commissioners at such points of the watershed as may seem most suitable, with the special object in view that the connecting straight lines shall as nearly as possible coincide with the actual line of watershed, or shall at least equalize the areas cut off by such straight lines on either side of the watershed. It is therefore an ordinary line survey made with great care and marked by very enduring monuments which fulfils two objects: first, it establishes an arbitrary boundary in the pass itself; secondly, it provides a carefully measured base for the system of triangles on which the work of the topographical section of the Commission depends, and for the trigonometrical connection with pre-existing surveys which provides the system of control.
The survey of the Boundary beyond the passes is carried on as a topo^ graphical delineation of the watershed by means of photo-topography depending on an extended system of triangulation. The Boundary thus estab- lished is the natural watershed and is therefore not marked with monuments, but it is capable of being mapped with a greater accuracy than could possibly be attained in any other way. Besides this primary object of the topographical work, it supplies a wealth of detailed information in regard to the mountains, valleys, forests, lakes and watershed system on either side of the actual water- shed which is, for the most part, quite original and invaluable to the geo- grapher and scientist.
Methods of Survey 1 1
Methods of Survey in the Passi—
All the work in connection with the preliminary and final surveys in the passes is done by Mr. Cautley's party, but the location of tne monuments is decided upon by the Commission as a whole, on the evidence adduced from the preliminary surveys.
It has been the object of the Commission to extend the straight line boundary in passes to timber line on either side of each pass, because where\ er there is timber the line of natural watershed is usually more or less obscure, and, secondly, because it is difficult to define the watershed by photographic methods with a sufficient degree of precision where the surface is timbered. In this connection it may be noted that practically all the lower passes of the Rocky Mountains are heavily timbered, and that timber line is found at an elevation above sea level of from 7000 to 7800 feet.
On reaching a pass the first day's work frequently consists in exploring the pass, and climbing to some point from which the whole pass can be viewed. In other cases the watershed is sufficiently apparent to enable the party to commence cutting out trial lines at once. In still other cases the summit of the pass is a marshy flat which requires to be cross-sectioned and levelled before the initial point can be determined. In all cases, the first work to be done consists in tracing the line of watershed right across the pass, surveying it by means of traverse lines and plotting it so that the Commissioners may realize what the position of the line of watershed is in relation to the lines of the preliminary traverse on the ground. In this way the Commissioners are able to decide where the monuments should be placed, although the sites chosen are often in the midst of thick woods, and to know how the straight line boundaries between monuments will lie in regard to the adjacent line of watershed, when they are cut out.
The watershed of the Rocky Mountains is generally capable of being determined by inspection, after carefully following up the various direct ic ns of drainage, but it is frequently necessary to establish the initial points at the bottom of small depressions in the watershed by means of comparative levelling. In determining the watershed it is always necessary to work up frcm the initial point at the summit of the pass, or from the initial point of each small valley, depression or draw which governs the local drainage; any attempt to w< rk down from some apparently obvious point of the watershed higher up generally leads to inconclusive results, and must be regarded as a waste of time.
The character of the watershed may be broadly classified as "determinate" or "indeterminate."
Determinate watershed includes all those cases where there can be no possible doubt as to its location, varying from the knife-like arete