Final answer:
Christopher Gist was hired to identify the best routes for settlers moving westward. He played a vital role in the American expansion as a surveyor during a time when land claims were made using the metes and bounds system. His expertise was critical in the fair distribution and development of land for new settlements.
Step-by-step explanation:
Christopher Gist, a veteran woodsman and surveyor, was hired to identify the best routes for the settlers. His role in history is tied to his expertise in exploring the wilderness and aiding in the westward expansion of the American frontier. Gist's work contributed to the settling and farming of land, turning wild territory into a prosperous region for the incoming settlers.
In the context of the American frontier, surveyors like Christopher Gist were crucial in navigating the intricate metes and bounds land division system and helping to establish property lines for settlers arriving in new territories. The challenges associated with this system, including the determination of property boundaries marked by natural features, made the role of a skilled surveyor like Gist invaluable for those looking to procure the best plots of land available.
The importance of surveyors was even more critical given that early settlers often claimed high-quality land, leaving poorer quality territories for those who arrived later. As transportation options like roads, canals, and railroads were developed, these surveyors played a pivotal part in facilitating the movement of settlers and the establishment of new communities in the West.