The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-02-05
From the Philadelphia North American
UNITED STATES COAST SURVEY.

The highly important subject of survey of the
coast was first apitated in The year 1907, at which
time, of large number of plans submitted to the Pre-
sdent for the execution OF such survey, Mr.. Hass-
ers was selected by board of scientific gentlemen,
as the best A law authorizing the work framed,
and an appropriation made but for some reason OF
other, operations were not at that time commenced,
and tie money appropriated was returned nearly I'M
touched, to the Treasury.
In 1871, new appropriation was made, and the
Professor sent TO London to procure instruments
for the survey, there not being that time, single
one in the country considered applicable toit. When
he was there, the appropriation was suffered to expire;
the war with England broke out, and he remained In
England, by force, upon his private means for nearly
two years 1t appears, however that he ultimate
ly successful in accomplishing the object of his mis-
sion, as he returned to the country in 1914 with
splendid collection Of instruments, which cost nearly
$4,000.
In 1916, another appropriation was made, and ope-
| ratlons were at last fairly commenced. Two base
lines measured, prelimnarily, one in New Jer-
sey in the rear of the Highlands, North river of
nearly six miles in length the other on Long Island
of about five miles Eleven stations occupied,
forming the elements of one hundred and twenty four
tranges. But just as this commencement was made,
the law authorizing the work amended to
exclude Mr.. Hassler from any participation in it, and
to commit the execution of it entirely to the army and
navy. Nothing further, however appears to have
been attempted. The unexpended balance of the APP
preparation reverted to the Treasury. The points OF
tranguation which had been made carefully
preserved for future and the instruments delivered
up. To this time from the passage of the first law of
1907, there had been expended upon the work, in
GLIDING the instruments, the sum of S52 1875 Is. The
instruments alone, it will be remembered, cost $40
| 900.
! In 1925 the subject (Which had slumbered from
| 1910 again agitated, and resolution of the
| House of Representatives calling the Navy De-
partment for information, drew from MIR. Southard
the then Secretary of the Navy, report Of much in
erest In reply to the inquiry, whether in the OPT
Mon of the Department such a survey ought to be
made he says, Upon this point no doubt whatever
can be entertained 1t is called for by regard to
our commercial and naval interests and to our means
of national defence" In reference to the maps and
! charts already In possession of the Government he
remarks that "they do not furnish satisfactory sur
yey of the coast, for the following reasons !"
with each other.
| I'D They generally confined to the shores
and do not extend sufficiently far to the ocean
| odd There were many of them made by incompe-
tent men, and with incompetent means.
=" 4th. They were governed by no fixed principles,
or certain guides, asceraining the latitude and
longltudes of the principal points and positions.
" 5th. They do not embrace the whole coast"
" For these and other reasons, they are unsafe and
in many instances, useless and pernicios" In al-
sion to the brief operations of Mr.. Hassler, between
the autumn of 1916 and spring of 1918, he observes,
| ulal ue sPeeuy IcPeal VI tQf law ulu not permit
him to execute any part of the work, as to pre-
sent complete survey of any portion of the coast,
but that il is believed, however, he accomplished all
! that was possible, in so short perod.r
With regard to the best plan of making the survey
he says, that the one under which it was commenced
was adopted after prudent deberation and by scen-
i thc men.
! A. to the cost and length of time required to com.
plce it it rs observed, that ut work OF immense la
Dor and long continuance" and that "in atte .nptng
to estimate its cost, with present lights, there would
be more danger of misleading than of directing the
judgment.
! In 1882 the law again revived in its original
shape Professor Hassler again employed, and
the work has been steadily prosecuted from that time
to this The average of the annual appropriations
has been $62 600 of which five vessels have been
built or purchased, and many deficiencies in the or
ginal collection of instruments, occasioncd by calls
from the State Of Massachusetts,, and the War and
Navy Departments, while the work slumbered have
been made good
The Professor states, that upon the revival Of the
work base line Of s 1896 miles measured upon
Fire Island beach on Long Island, and that the sur
vey is executed from the east end Of Rhode
Island to Cape Henopen and the Chesapeake Bay,
embracing an extent of about ] 900 square miles !;
that the first sheets comprising New York and its APP
proaches are now in the hands of the engravers and
that if his present arrangements undslurbed,
regular series of publications cast and south OF that
point, will follow.
The aim of the survey is considered to be- to fur
nish with the fullest possible accuracy, all the Geo
i graphical Typographical and Photographed data
that NAV in any way be needed for the defence of the
i Coast and also furnish the elements to any future
map of the country required.
Some of the practical results Of the survey, are al