The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1844-01-10
THE COAST SURVEY

al work Is too obvious to need comment Every civ
ilized nation IN the world has its coast at least
iuily surveyed, aud its different points and features
IFS rivers, channels, soundngs capes bays mountains
and headlands-ascertained with all the accuracy
rendered practicable by tho condition of modern sci
ence, and necessary to the wants of modern COM
merce. No nation with any coast, and least Of
ALL one with such amount of sea-coast as we have,
can ENJOY TO the full extent It's commercial advantages
IN time Of peace, be suitably prepared for defence
In time Of war, without accurate Knowledge, de-
rived from careful scientific survey, of its coast.
Some, even OF the haIi-cyiiZed Asiac nations, and
we believe all the Asauc nations that under Eu-
ropean influence have discharged this obvious duty
OF seli-detence-we might say of nationality British
India has expended upon scientific survey six times
all that has been expended for the purpose in this
country Great Britain, and most Of the countries OF
Continental Europe, have surveyed not only their
coasts but the whole surface Of the country that
TO ascertain the locality practicabillty of for
ress, railroad, canal, or any other work of com
mercial enterprise or national Defence they have
none OF that heavy expense for experimental eng
neering which is such clog to enterprise Of this
kind in this country but get at once, by reference
to the appropriate bureau in the metropolis, all the
information needed. Now, it is humiliatng fact
that in this country we do not even know with accu-
racy the longitude of Philadelphia, of Boston, of New
York fact the seat of Government itself whose
actual geographical position is believed to be very
considerably different FROM what it is by law defined
TO be-
Il Now, we have in this country condition of sci
highly favorable to the successful prosecution
Of this great work We have scattered through the
country not only the West Point graduates and the
officers Of the army and navy, who generally gen.
tlemen of education, but large number of men
highly educated and well praciised in engineering,
thrown out Of employment by the dscontinuance Of
the State works of internal Improvement. We have,
too, fully cvinced at the centennial celebra.
ton Of the American Philosophical Society, an acti-
pfc Nc
colleges entirely unprecedented in American annals.
We have, also, two magnetic and three scientific OBJ
seryatories either in full and successful operation
far advanced towards it. We have, therefore, ready
at hand the means Of securing to the work the results
of the most accurate observations in regard the
condition and movements of the magnif. ent force,
without which no man in the present state OF science
would venture 10 determine any point, by land or
sea, dependent in any upon the dip and inclination
Of the needle. We have the means of ascertainng
those nice astronomical observations which are SO
necessary at every point of scientific survey.
We have, is fully shown by the United
States Almanac of this city and the American
Almanac OF Boston, compuers abundantly qualified
to digest and to render available these scientific OBJ
servations. And lastly we have, in the appointment
Of distinguished fellow citizen Professor Bache
to the superintendent Of the coast survey, sure
guaranty that the work will command the confidence
and cooperation Of scientific men throughout the
country. From means of information in our posses.
sion, we know that his appointment was urged upon
the President by almost every man at all distinguish
ed by science, as well as BY nearly all the scientific
institutions in the United States. There is, too, good
ground for confidence in the of the work in
the personal character Of Professor Bache in his
high scientific attainments in his knowledge of men
and nice discrimination of character in his winning
address and skill in rendering various talent subser-
Went to common cause, in his truly American dis
position TO aim in all things at results and ndoml-
table perseverance that spares no labor in the
plishment of that at which il aims.
We see no good reason therefore, why this great
national work should not be rapidly and successfully
carried forward. No nation has such an amount of
coasting wade needing to be facilitated in IFS move
ments; 10 nation has such complicated system Of
concurrent, and at the same time independent sover-
eighties, requiring the greatest possible accuracy in
the determination of State boundaries no nation has
such extent OF sea-coast to defend in time Of war;
and we will add sincere conviction, no nation has
the means OF making a more accurate survey. We
know this will not accord with the opinions Of those
who are disposed to cry down American talent, and
more especially American science. The occasion Of
the centennial celebration of the American Philo-
sophica Society," to which have already referred,
revealed state Of science existing in this country
which astonished even its cultivators. With such
men Henry, Patterson, Renwck, Potter, Sillman,
Draper and host of others that might lie named in
the higher walks OF science ready to cooperate with
Government in any suitable organization of the sur
vey with such observers and computers in the coun.
try as Walker, Kendall, Downes, Paine, Alexander,
Pierce and Looms with the practical and practised
talent, Soy flood and field, of Borden Blunt Fer
uson and Gedney; with the observa tories existing
or just springing into existence in different parts Of
the country; and with such a man as Professor
Bache at the head Of the undertaking. commanding
the confidence and enlistng the services Of ALL and
pushing the work forward in tie vigorous manner in
which every one who knows him at all knows he will
dove repeat, with such men and ans as these
ready a he called the Of he
ment, we see no good reason why the coast survey
may not be prosecuted in a manner as creditatie TO
American science as II is indispensable TO the Ameri
can nterest-Philadetphia Courier