Historic Sites of Manitoba: Principal Meridian (RM of St. Francois Xavier)

The first marker of the Dominion Lands Survey was placed on 10 July 1871 at the Principal Meridian, about half a mile (0.8 kilometre) south of this site. The system, then inaugurated by Surveyor-General J. S. Dennis, extends across the prairies and to the Pacific coast, embracing more than 200 million acres (81 million hectares) of surveyed lands in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and parts of British Columbia.

This monument, located where the Principal Meridian crosses the Trans-Canada Highway, was dedicated at a ceremony on 14 July 1930. Organized by the Manitoba Historical Society and the Association of Manitoba Land Surveyors, the ceremony was chaired by MHS President D. A. Stewart and attended by Premier John Bracken, Manitoba surveyors R. C. McPhillips and S. E. McColl, Judge F. W. Howay of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, A. E. Hoskin of the Law Society of Manitoba, J. T. Doupe of the Canadian Pacific Railway, F. V. Seibert of the Ontario Surveyors Association, W. R. Reilly of the Saskatchewan Surveyors Association, R. D. Waugh of the Old Timers’ Association, and historians R. G. McBeth and C. N. Bell.

Principal Meridian Cairn (March 2010) Source: Gordon Goldsborough Site Location (lat/long): N49.881622, W97.459340 denoted by symbol on the map above

See also:

Early Surveys in Manitoba by Henry E. Beresford
MHS Transactions, Number 9, Series 3, 1952-53 Season

The Special Survey by Douglas Kemp
Manitoba Pageant, Volume 3, Number 3, April 1958

Manitoba Settlement Patterns by John Warkentin
MHS Transactions, Series 3, 1959-60 Season

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Manitoba Plaques for Persons, Events and Sites of National Historic Significance

Sources:

“Perpetuates memory of pioneer surveyors”, Manitoba Free Press, 15 July 1930, page 12.

This page was developed by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 10 December 2011

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