W. Bell Dawson
W. Bell Dawson (1854- )
1922 M.A., D.Sc., M.Inst.C.E., F.R.S.C., F.R.A.S.C., Tidal Investigation and Hydraulic Engineer, Superintendent of Tidal Surveys, Naval Service Department, Ottawa, Canada; b. 1854; s. of Sir J. William Dawson; in. 1883. Master of Engineering and Doctor of Science of McGill University, Montreal; Graduate of the "Ecole des Ponts et Chaussees," Paris, France, in 1878. With Dominion Bridge Co. in designing of bridges; and Assistant Engineer, Canadian Pacific Railway. From 1893 to date, in charge of Survey of Tides and Currents on Eastern coasts of Canada, Pacific coast and Hudson Bay, for the Dominion Government (including investigation of currents with a Surveying steamer; and erection of Tide Gauges; calculation and annual publication of Tide Tables, in three series, for Eastern coasts of Canada, Pacific coast and Hudson Bay; also tide levels and determination of Mean Sea Level). Was awarded Watt Gold medal by Institution of Civil Engineers, and Prize by Academy of Sciences, Paris, for various branches of tidal work. Publications: Papers for Institution of Civil Engineers, London; several papers on Tidal subjects for Royal Society of Canada, and Royal Astronomical Society of Canada; reports on Tide Levels and Datum Planes in Eastern Canada and on the Pacific coast. During the War it was considered advisable to continue Tidal work for Naval Service and Mercantile marine, and special work for the benefit of the lumber industry in British Columbia, rather than undertake any special war work.