Sub-sub-series consists of files containing correspondence, notes, memoranda, etc. on a wide variety of technical issues governing the compilation of individual map sheets. For the most part, the series covers NTS small-scale mapping only (i.e., mapping at scales of one-inch-to-four miles, one-inch-to-eight miles, and one-inch-to-sixteen miles). Many of the records found in each file document the naming of geographical features found within the bounders of the map sheet. (RG88, Vols. 511-532)
Canada's involvement in the Boer War at the turn of the century demonstrated to government officials the importance of detailed topographic maps and the lack of such coverage for Canada. The result was the formation in 1904 of the Survey Division of the Canadian Army Intelligence Branch. So great was the urgency for large-scale maps that the services of the Topographic Survey of the Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Geology and Topography Section of the Department of Mines were also recruited into the program. Unfortunately, however, there was little uniformity in the maps produced by the three agencies. Each department had independently developed its own topographic specifications, projections, and sheet style. The agencies were even duplicating coverage of some areas while ignoring others.
Drawing on experiences gained during the First World War, it had become apparent that some form of coordination was required in the federal government's topographical mapping. Consequently, in 1922 the interdepartmental Board of Topographic Surveys and Maps was created. From this start, standards for topographic mapping were drafted into the National Topographic System (NTS). Eventually agreement was also reached on the principal scales to be used (1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 miles to the inch). Here at last was a means by which a suitable series of systematized and standard topographic base maps, covering all Canada, could be constructed on a continuous, orderly basis, with each sheet fitting its neighbours on all sides and with all sheets drawn to the same scale and same specifications (Don W. Thompson, Men and Meridians, vol. 3, Ottawa: Queen's Printer, 1969, pg. 297-298).
In 1948 standardization was taken one step further when Canadian authorities agreed to change the National Topographic System from a scale based on the mile to one based on round-figure representative fractions. This change would be more in keeping with the map scales used by Canada's NATO partners. For existing sheets, the revision simply entailed a photographic enlargement. For example, sheets on the one-inch-to-one mile series (1:63,360) were enlarged to 1:50,000.
