Walter
B. Fairfield died
at Morristown, New Jersey, on July 20, in his 81st year. 
Born
on October 11, 1849, at Newton, Massachusetts, he entered the
service of the Coast and Geodetic Survey December 1, 1869, and
thereafter for over 50 years was actively engaged on geodetic
work, a tabulation of which would comprise in a measure a chronicle
of the activities of that branch of the service.
His first assignment was with his father, George A. Fairfield,
on the triangulation of South West Harbor, Mount Desert, Maine,
followed by similar work in Pamlico Sound, North Carolina.
He then assisted in various triangulation and geodetic surveys
in eastern, central, and southern States until 1893, when
he was in charge of triangulation in West Virginia and Kansas
and assisted in a survey of the California-Nevada boundary.
In 1896 and 1897 he assisted in the extension of the transcontinental
triangulation to its eastern terminus, from the Chesapeake
Bay to Cape May, and was also engaged in triangulation work
in southern and western States. During the 2 years following,
he executed triangulation, trigonometric leveling and reconnaissance
in eastern, southern, and central States.
His long experience and ability caused him to be selected
in 1903 for work in connection with triangulation, topography,
and astronomic and magnetic observations in the Philippines,
along the west coast of Luzon and across the central valley
of Luzon, Manila, to Lingayen Gulf. Revision of triangulation
along the west coast of Florida claimed his services in 1908,
in which year he also connected the newly established meteorological
station at Mount Weather, Virginia, with the main triangulation
of the country. From 1910 to 1915, he was in charge of the
party engaged in a survey of the international boundary between
the United States and Canada. After that he was engaged in
making first-order determinations of astronomical latitude
and longitude. At an age when most men seek rest and retirement
he was making determinations in Washington, Oregon, California,
Nevada, Idaho, Utah, Georgia, Florida, North and South Carolina,
Virginia, Texas, and the District of Columbia.
He retired April 1, 1921. Living in Washington, he was a frequent
visitor at the Washington office, where his erect figure,
dignified manner, and simple friendliness told nothing of
a long life of pioneer work during the years when our frontiers
were being pushed steadily forward by small groups of men
busily surveying and mapping virgin country for the civilization
to come.
C&GS Bulletin, No. 183, 8/30/1930
