The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-02-05
R.no,t Of the SUPERINTENDENT OF the Coast Survey.

Report of the Superintendent OF the Coast survey
The report of the superintendent OF the coast survey
shows that all its duties have been performed during the
mast wear with the usual zeal and fidelity and more than
the usual success We may take another opportunity TO
present synopsis of the report such as will exhibit the
field occupied and the labors OF the parties on land on
the water in the Office and in the observatory; but our
present purpose is call the particular attention OF our
readers to one very striking feature in the progress OF the
work. or rather, development OF the principles
on which its organization is now based and upon he ad-
herence to which the increased extent OF its usefulness
denenas We turn aside for one moment, however, to
notice with pleasure the high commentator bestowed
bv the superintendent upon the zeal and industry OF the
assistants and others employed upon the survey
plan is now fully developed by the superintendent
for regulating the future distribution OF the labors OF the
coast survey such recognises the work as essen
aly en,porar-one to be finished as RAPIDLY as is con-
stent with accuracy and the results OF which are to be
given to the public as soon as they may saleiy NC uS
presented. "-p.2
In this plan the coast divided into nine different sec
tons, extending from Passamaquoddy bay and the 81
Crox to the western limit OF the coast OF Texas each OF
which shall have about the same extent OF shore lne
II is not of course possible to draw the dividing lines
with precson except in the parts already surveyed on
account of the mpeecton of the existing maps but the
relative extent of the different portions is ascertained
nearly enough for the present purpose One OF these sec
tons is in general completed In six others the work is
in progress and of these six all the various par
ties of the survey are actually employed.
II is apparent that the whole survey, in its different
branches NAV be executed with the rapidity and
success in all these sections in one, provided su
Gent force be applied This is said with qualification
however such as must be made for peculiar and unore-
seen difficulties belonging to particular parts OF our I'M
known coast But, as the survey has made large ad-
vances in some sections certain parties, such as rangu-
ating astronomical, Sc, may be brought TO act upon
new sections Ii does not, therefore. follow that there
are to be many parties OF each kind as there are sec
tons; but on the contrary, the work proceeds by
measured gradations, from the preliminary reconnols-
sance to the perfect topography and photography and the
published chart and different degrees OF progress have
been made in different sections new transfers may be
ordered from place nearly completed, to another in
an earlier stage of advancement The striking features
of this scheme are FIRST that is comprehensive, embra
cling the whole coast of the United States within its
range and it would be difficult to say in what part OF the
coast the survey has been most needed Secondly that
il promises conclusion not distant to this valuable I'M
dertakng for the security and promotion of our COM
merce-one of the great whereby as nation, we
live Should the steady support OF Congress uphold the
plans of the superintendent, we shall no doubt, see
many repettions Of those letters of grateful thanks from
the insurance offices of Boston, New York, &c., which
have already encouraged and rewarded the labors and
successes of the coast survey.