19th Century Canadian politics is generally strewn with incidents of graft, political patronage and corruption.  The Geological Survey of Canada, however, was supposed to be above all that.  Corruption was kept at arms length by the strong arm of the directors, especially the first three, Sir William Logan, ARC Selwyn and GM Dawson.  Under their control the Survey was for the benefit of all Canadians, not just a favoured few.  This is the received view of the Survey, one that has endured for over a century and a half.  It is also incorrect.  In at least one instance, the morals of the Survey fell well short of their standards.  After surveying the geology of the Bow and Belly River region.  GM Dawson informed Alexander Galt, a land developer and Canadian High Commissioner in London, of his discovery of a major coal deposit there.  In order to allow Galt time to establish his claim, Dawson delayed publication of his report on the region for two years.   Galt went on to become immensely wealthy from his interests in the coal deposits.   Dawson received an unspecified payment for his services.  Whether Dawson’s superiors knew anything of his dealings with Galt, is unclear.   Certainly it never became public knowledge, leaving his reputation, and that of the Survey, untarnished.

University of Toronto 

Page mise à jour le 20 août, 2003
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