Montague Aldous
Encyclopedia
Montague Aldous was a Dominion Topographical Surveyor from Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada
. He was a participant in foundation surveys of the Northwest Territories
. He was associated with A.L. Russell in 1877 in a survey west to the third meridian
. Taken on Special Survey in 1879, he surveyed the fourth meridian
to a point north of Lloydminster, Alberta/Saskatchewan, then ran in the 14th base line west to Stony Plain
where it intersected the 5th meridian
. His assistant, Charles Alexander Magrath
, was later the first mayor of Lethbridge
, Alberta
. In 1880 Aldous surveyed the fifth meridian south to Waterton Lakes
. He spent the rest of the summer in southern Alberta's Porcupine Hills, then being taken up for ranching.
Aldous accepted a job offer from the Hudson's Bay Company
(HBC) in 1882 and soon had seven survey parties working frantically to keep up with the demand for HBC farm lots. Later he served as the HBC Timber Agent and was Chief Clerk of the HBC Land Department from 1901 to 1907.
In February 1885 he was sent to the Belly River
(now known as the Oldman River) coal
district where the North Western Coal and Navigation Company
had opened mines. He inspected about 25000 acres (101.2 km²) of HBC lands in the vicinity as well as the 500000 acres (2,023.4 km²) land grant to be given to the Galt Company for building the Dunmore-Lethbridge narrow gauge railway
. The Galt Company paid Aldous' expenses; part of its agreement with him that he would survey the new Lethbridge prairie level town site.
He worked from sketches which Elliot Torrence Galt, general manager of the coal company, had prepared (likely with assistance from his father) in January 1885 or earlier. Aldous completed the Lethbridge survey in March and prepared detailed plans. Town lots were available for sale by May 9. The prairie level town began to take shape on August 1 and, by December 31, 1 200 people had settled in the new community.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He was a participant in foundation surveys of the Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
. He was associated with A.L. Russell in 1877 in a survey west to the third meridian
106th meridian west
The meridian 106° west of Greenwich is a line of longitude that extends from the North Pole across the Arctic Ocean, North America, the Pacific Ocean, the Southern Ocean, and Antarctica to the South Pole....
. Taken on Special Survey in 1879, he surveyed the fourth meridian
110th meridian west
The meridian 110° west of Greenwich is a line of longitude that extends from the North Pole across the Arctic Ocean, North America, the Pacific Ocean, the Southern Ocean, and Antarctica to the South Pole....
to a point north of Lloydminster, Alberta/Saskatchewan, then ran in the 14th base line west to Stony Plain
Stony Plain, Alberta
Stony Plain is a large town in rural Alberta, Canada, just west of Edmonton.Stony Plain is a rapidly growing town with strong historical roots. It is located west of Spruce Grove and surrounded by Parkland County. The town is governed by one mayor and six councillors. The region is dominated by...
where it intersected the 5th meridian
114th meridian west
The meridian 114° west of Greenwich is a line of longitude that extends from the North Pole across the Arctic Ocean, North America, the Pacific Ocean, the Southern Ocean, and Antarctica to the South Pole....
. His assistant, Charles Alexander Magrath
Charles Alexander Magrath
Charles Alexander Magrath conducted foundation surveys of the Northwest Territories from 1878 until 1885. He joined Sir Alexander Tilloch Galt and Elliot Torrance Galt in their western industrial enterprises as a surveyor, later becoming Elliott's assistant and Land Commissioner of the North...
, was later the first mayor of Lethbridge
Lethbridge
Lethbridge is a city in the province of Alberta, Canada, and the largest city in southern Alberta. It is Alberta's fourth-largest city by population after Calgary, Edmonton and Red Deer, and the third-largest by area after Calgary and Edmonton. The nearby Canadian Rockies contribute to the city's...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
. In 1880 Aldous surveyed the fifth meridian south to Waterton Lakes
Waterton Lakes National Park
Waterton Lakes National Park is a national park located in the southwest corner of Alberta, Canada, and borders Glacier National Park in Montana, USA. Waterton was Canada's fourth national park, formed in 1895 and named after Waterton Lake, in turn after the Victorian naturalist and conservationist...
. He spent the rest of the summer in southern Alberta's Porcupine Hills, then being taken up for ranching.
Aldous accepted a job offer from the Hudson's Bay Company
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
(HBC) in 1882 and soon had seven survey parties working frantically to keep up with the demand for HBC farm lots. Later he served as the HBC Timber Agent and was Chief Clerk of the HBC Land Department from 1901 to 1907.
In February 1885 he was sent to the Belly River
Oldman River
The Oldman River is a river in southern Alberta, Canada. It flows roughly west to east from the Rocky Mountains, through the communities of Fort Macleod, Lethbridge, Taber, and on to Grassy Lake, where it joins with the Bow River to form the South Saskatchewan River, which eventually drains into...
(now known as the Oldman River) coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
district where the North Western Coal and Navigation Company
North Western Coal and Navigation Company
The North Western Coal and Navigation Company also known as Alberta Coal and Railway Company, was a coal mining company formed in 1882 by Sir Alexander Tilloch Galt, one of Canada's Fathers of Confederation...
had opened mines. He inspected about 25000 acres (101.2 km²) of HBC lands in the vicinity as well as the 500000 acres (2,023.4 km²) land grant to be given to the Galt Company for building the Dunmore-Lethbridge narrow gauge railway
Rail transport
Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
. The Galt Company paid Aldous' expenses; part of its agreement with him that he would survey the new Lethbridge prairie level town site.
He worked from sketches which Elliot Torrence Galt, general manager of the coal company, had prepared (likely with assistance from his father) in January 1885 or earlier. Aldous completed the Lethbridge survey in March and prepared detailed plans. Town lots were available for sale by May 9. The prairie level town began to take shape on August 1 and, by December 31, 1 200 people had settled in the new community.