JOHN GUMMERE A Treatise on Surveying, containing the Theory and Practice to which is prefixed, a Perspicuous System of Plane Trigonometry. (Philadelphia, 1814), 202 pages of text and 152 pages of tables, with 8 folding plates.
Gummere’s Surveying was one of the major surveying texts of the 19th century, and revised editions were published as late as 1917. Gummere wrote the book to provide schools with a basic text that contained numerous examples of surveying problems. Gummere felt that the writings of contemporary authors Gibson and Jess were inadequate for school work because they lacked these working examples. His comments do not mention Flint’s Surveying even though it was probably the most popular school text at the time.
The Gummere text wins hands down against all competition for the number of mathematical problems and examples given. The 1817 2nd edition indicates that for 25 cents the publisher would provide solutions to the questions. In 1837 Samuel Alsop published a key for all the unsolved examples in the text. Alsop’s key became popular in its own right and was reprinted into the mid-1850’s. It was prepared both for teachers and persons attempting self-instruction.
The material in Gummere’s Surveying begins with basic mathematics. The first 80 pages are devoted to logarithms, geometry and trigonometry. Next Gummere briefly describes the Gunter’s link chain and the plain surveyor’s compass. Gummere says little about the compass except that learning its operation is best achieved by direct inspection and assistance from another person. Gummere then gives surveying examples involving the application of mathematics, three different methods for calculating area, and instruction in the distribution of small errors. Concluding chapters treat the magnetic variation of the compass and how to deal with local attraction.
The very popular original text served most of the instructional needs of schools for two decades. Its failure to treat the subject of leveling was a shortcoming. The original text also did not include material on the theodolite which was becoming an increasingly important instrument in surveying practice. The West Point Academy text, Davies’ Surveying, which attracted a wide following beginning in 1835, provided instructions on the operation of both instruments. Not surprisingly, Gummere’s enlarged 14th edition, first published in 1839, followed Davies’ lead and included chapters on the level and theodolite. Gummere’s 14th edition also contained a section on topography as did the Davies’ text.
The angle measuring instrument of the pre-1850 era was the English plain theodolite. This theodolite featured a telescope and had either a geared or smooth vertical limb. The instrument was produced in this country as well as being imported from abroad. The similar American surveyor’s transit was first made in 1831, but widespread distribution did not immediately occur and surveying texts did not treat its operation for over two decades. The theodolite performed most of the same functions although the telescope could not be revolved about its axis.
Gummere’s 1839 edition deleted two of the three methods of calculating area that prior editions contained. Beginning with the 17th edition in 1853, the publishers added sections on the public lands surveys and hints to young surveyors. The material for the public land surveys was taken from a government pamphlet prepared for the district of Illinois and Missouri. These additions to the 1853 text were made by George Holliday, and it is possible that John Gummere was now deceased. One other change was that all illustrations were placed within the text rather than at the rear on fold-out plates.
The next changed edition of Gummere’s Surveying was published in 1880. Despite some revisions and a few additions by Isaac Sharpless, it still retained much of the previous material. Most of the problems and examples were very outdated. The surveyor’s transit is now mentioned although the spotlight remains on the now-obsolete theodolite. The chapter dealing with public lands continues unchanged and is no longer current with government practice. By retaining so much of the outdated material, Sharpless brings discredit to what was once a preeminent school text.
Gummere’s Surveying was the best American surveying text from 1814 until the 1830’s when Davies’ West Point text appeared. With the addition of new material it still managed to keep pace for two more decades. Its demise began in the 1850’s when more comprehensive and up-to-date texts appeared on the market. They provided information on newer instruments and methods, and Gummere’s text slowly lost its standing in the academic world. Nonetheless under different authorship it continued to be published for another half-century.
Reprinted from P.O.B., Vol. 22, No. 9, June 1997, by permission of Business News Publishing Company, Troy, MI.