歷史性測量儀器之典藏研究

Collection Research of Historical Surveying Instruments

測量為規畫建設之本，並為國家有效統治的基礎，透過測量，許多道路、港灣、灌溉埤圳、水庫、機場、地籍歸戶、公私建築等都因此而可以進行，人民的生活因此而產生巨大的變化。因此，測量儀器的演進與運用具體呈現著歷史的進展與文明的內涵。國立科學工藝博物館於八十七年六月底，購得二件歷史性測量儀器——美國W & L. E. GURLEY之工程水準儀及日本TAMAYA之量角器——作為蒐藏研究用之藏品；此二建設量儀器為本（廿）世紀初期分別由美國及日本製造，而為台灣總督府於台灣使用。本文針對台灣於日治前期所進行的測量事業所使用的這兩件測量儀器進行歷史考察，一方面考證此測量儀器的年代與歷史意義，另一方面具體呈現科學工藝品與人民生活的密切關係。在本研究中，兩種測量儀器均曾為台灣總督府土木官署所使用，可說對台灣現代化發展有其貢獻，相當值得博物館予以典藏研究。

Surveying lies at the heart of planning and construction, and is the basis for a state's control. It is through surveying that roads, harbors, irrigation facilities, reservoirs, airports, cadastral registration, and various construction all come into being and change people's lives a lot. As a result, the evolution and application of surveying instruments can presents the local history and culture. At the end of June 1998, National Science and Technology Museum purchased two historical surveying instruments--a W. & L. E. Gurley engineering level and a Tamaya protractor. This article presents the history of surveying in Taiwan during .the Japanese colonial days, not only to verify the period and historical significance of the instruments, but also to point out the close relationship between scientific instruments and peoples' forms of life. Both used in Taiwan by the departments of civil engineering of the Governor General's Office in the early twentieth century, these two surveying instruments played a significant role in the modernization of Taiwan; therefore, they constitute an important addition to the Museum's collection.