The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-01-24


instrument in the world And what would be- the cost
of such an iostrumsns to the people OF the United
states Only half of a cent per head
They enlightened, free, aud ntell gent; and would
they think you when they reminded Of the prac-
tical i'm and value astronomy in the daily
affairs of life whether as between and man.
ton and nation; grudge appropriation for such
purpose!
There Is department of science which /. more init.
mstey connected than astronomy, with the interests
whsther OF government or people by astronomy the
length OF the year il established rising and setting
Of the calculated, aud tins Itself in ell its rea
lions, !. measured, fixed, or determined The of
business when he looks at his nh for the hour
much indebted to astronomy for the ability punctusly
To fulfil his ents the farmer when he conSus
his almanac for the phaees OF tue moon.
When n boundary line IL to be established be. weeu
this country and usghborng nation or between State
and State OF the conederacy, 1t Is done by astronomy
The atitudss and longitudes of lines and points the
GARTH determined by the positions Of the stars
other bodies We End them rscordered BY European
observers If there be mistakes in the declarations
which they assign to starspthe will be also ike mis-
taxes IN the latitude which we Diet rhine from them and
it would be quite consistent with true national self
respect to send for European surveyors to run our
boundary lines as it TO look TO European
TO determine for the positions the stars with
the positions Of which stars those bound .ries could
not be
without the guides and help, of astronomy which
have been kindly and grstutousy furnisnsd by other
nations, could have navy ship no com o, cree
if had, ships could venture across the
ocean. or out Of sigat of our own shores
But Tor the Nautical Almanac OF England or other
European countries, and the sboIs of their obervao
and astronOInef5. Am Ehips
could not hnd their way home
But fos the principles Of practical astronomy the
aud bounds Of landed estates could neither be
covered preserved It is trus tue lines of survey
by the compass but the compass not true nor
stable Its be detected ony according TO az
Economical Investigations The need. points to
the pole, Ia the direction for any length of
time 1t is always varying and the amount of such va
ration IL the subject for astronomical determination
have letter, now before lac, from a surveyor in
neigh boring State informing that the landmarks of
survey century since, and which no has now to
rua over been obtereted But he satee his com
pass and asks for information TO enable him to
determine what they should be- to reproduce the
lioes Similar calls are, by no means. unusual
Considerng their frequency and Importance may be
excused for suggesting here Law in every State re-
curing for the benefit Of pos.ery that hereafter all
deeds conveyance In which etes and bounds OF
real estste forth described ehouId expressly
state the variation OF the compass at the time of the
survey
We take weight, measure a rod and call the one
pound the other yard But use decay time and heat
produce their effects and these measures are altered
changed and lost for forever preserved In their tangl
bic shape they no longer Of the value But
ironomy fur shes invsrab unit weight
which chaDges nations continually In
the habit Of consulting for the benefit Of their peo-
pie. Every person. therefore, who buys and sells BY