The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-12-22

the rejecting lights, and of the refractinu or lens
apparatus. n" doubt is entertained of the vas, sn
pet"r'y "' 'he latter. as furnishing a ligh, more
oi'''n', as wen as inore economical. IN the re-
pof, Oh 'n's department on this subject. on the 9th
OF August last, the organization of n board. with
out any expense to the government. Ia cnnsjs, or
the fihh Auditor. the superintendent, % HE coas,
survey, wv" naval officers. two cuuinprr officers
Gone y m'litary. the other q ,yppg RI optical cnoi.
neer,l ana a secretary, Who might be a iinior uf
bcer IN the navy. was recommendpd as line INNS,
efficient means of combining that infotn,,ion n G
sesseo oy no one person. in regard To coasts aud
channels. the wants uf ma viyation Tho l,c.,;,,
and construction of the lirht houses. and The ma
chanica' principles involved in liyh,inu. which
would enable this department To render The whul,
system more useful and ecunuinical.
Inc coast survey aud the LIGHT house system.
the warehouse bill and the ad valnrem revenue
tariff, are all grea, efficient and ca operative in
si'nments IN giving to our own cornny alvania-
ges over all others as competitors for The
of the world,
The survey Of the coast of the United States
has made rapid and satisfactory progress during
the past year. This department hns watched
with great interest the gradual development of
the plan for extending the survey to all sections
of the coast. and has ia successive years sanction.
ed the estimates for this Important object. Those
now presented by the superintendent are in pur-
SudHeo VI ue VoHcy Whicn mas received The an
prevail OF the department and of two successive
Congresses. The plan is recommended by ec,no
my, and the rapidly which the fruits of the work
are realized IN the production and circulation of
maps and charts of different parts of the cnast.
The highly interesting exploration Of the Gulf
Stream. which has proved ST. important and suc.
cessiul a part OF The work, has been attended with
the loss at one OF the must valuable assistants in
the survey, and an ornament to the profession ,o
which he belonged.
Lieut.. George NJ. Bache. of the navy. com
handing the coas, survey brig Washington. was
with ten of the petty officers and seamen of the
vessel, swept from the deck in the hurricane of
the 9TH ct September, never To regain the shin.
The surviving officers have borne cheerful teslj
mony to the coolness and ability which he dis
played on This trying occasion aud the execution,
alter he had persisted, of the last order which he
had given, was the means, under Providence, Of
saving the lives ot those under his command.
ms department has united with that of the
Navy IN recording those opinions, as also in ex.
pressing a strong approval Of the conduct of the
surviving officers and crew of the Washington.
who, in the midst of the most extreme danger,
preserved perfect GOODNESS, and effective discip
line, and finally succeeded in bringing the wreck
into port.
Having now presented in regard 10 the subjects
lntrusted To It's supervision by the two Houses of
Congress The views of this department. il is graft
tying /" know that to them belongs the power To
correct all lis errors; and, under the guidance of
an all wise and gracious Providence, tn advance
all The great interests, the honor, welfare, and
glory OF our beloved country.
r.. j. WALKER,
Secretary of the Treasury.