HISTORIE, TECHNIEKEN EN MAATSCHAPPELIJKE ...

3.3. Cateau van Rosevelt and his map
First of all a concise summary is given of the geodetic qualities of the
selfmade man Cateau van Rosevelt, where-after his map from 1882 is ex-
tensively discussed. It took him and the luitenant J.F.A. van Lansberge 19
years to complete this map.
The original manuscript map, consisting of 31 sheets on the scale
1:100.000, was issued later on on the scale 1:200.000 (10 sheets).
The printed series lack the itinerary of the surveying trips, the geographi-
cal coordinates derived from astronomical observations and the several
crops distinguished by color, all of which we find on the manuscript series.
The expansions of Paramaribo from 1784 till 1882 are also discussed along
with the atlas of A.J. Meyer (1885) containing the "Figuratieve platte grond
der stad Paramaribo". (Figurative plan of the city of Paramaribo).
3.4. Astronomical observations
The very poor data concerning the astronomical observations in Suriname
start in 1744 with the determination of latitude by Charles de la Condami-
ne on the square in front of the Court of Justice in Paramaribo.
Appearing in sequence of time are some hydrographical charts in which la-
titudinal and longitudinal determinations are indicated and the "Ster-ste-
nentrap" (compass-rose on the stone wharf) is introduced.
The number of astronomical observations increased as Cateau van Rosevelt
got on with his measurements and Lieutenant van Stockum (191 1) perfor-
med observations downstreams of the main rivers on behalf of the topo-
graphical mapping of northern Suriname.
Lack of adequate time-determinations results in poor longitudinal fixes;
both mr. P.W. Sachs (former staff-officer on board the naval vessel Z.M.
Suriname) and Prof. dr. J.J. Miiller criticize the methods employed. Finally
in 1947 new observations were conducted employing the method of simulta-
neous determinations of latitude and longitude.
3.5. A review of magnetic declination in Suriname
Comparing maps before 1801 with maps of later date it appears that the
plantation-boundaries (dikes, dams) were not oriented according to the true
north. For the first time surveyors were ordered that "the four cardinal di-
rections must be shown on the maps according to the true bearing" in an in-
struction dated December 17th, 1782. W.L. Loth statet that the surveyors
interpretation of the term "true bearing" was the direction according to the
compass because the north-oriented boundaries varied from the present-day
0 0
(1905) indications of the compass-needle by 5 -7 . Using some publications,
maps and reports a summary is given of the course of the magnetic declina-
tion for Paramaribo since 1500 recording the greatest eastward deviation
(7 iO) around 1650, while in the middle of the 19th century the zero-isogo-
nic line ran over Paramaribo.
Shortly after the initiation of the gold-industry in 1875 a new instruction
for surveyors was drawn up (september 21st, 1877 no. 9) in which it was or-
dered (art. l l) that the true and magnetic north should both be indicated on
the maps of measured parcels.
This however was not complied with. A juridical decision of the Court of
Justice (November l5th, 1902) solved this problem
Surveyors applied to the Governor in requests concerning this matter. This
resulted in putting into use the "Manual for determining the corrections of
a boussole and setting the time". Since that time surveying has been con-
ducted according to the true north.