The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-12-12


Judith and Cape May. Delaware Bay has been nish-
ed aud the chart Of the bay and river published Tbs
Chesapeake has been trisnsulsted south Of the Vir
sia line. and both this and the outer coast will bs
tria In from two 10 three from the
sent time The topography Of this section, which
commenced in 1874 is advancing to compilation, aud
ply 10 finished The shores of Albemarls Sou nd and
most Of it's tributaries, have been surveyed the tr
apgulaton extending slso over Croaton and Roanoke
Sounds, and the ny biography is greatly ad vsoced
general reconnosauce has been made OF part of the
coast Of South Carolina, Georgia. Florida, Alabama.
Mississippi, and Texas and the operations fou need
upon this have been commenced in South Carolina
and Texas. In Alabama, Mississippi, ana Lou!si-
ana, the triauguations have advanced nearly
shores Of Mississippi Sound, and of the adjacsnt
Islands, has been nearly pletsd, and tbs ydro
gTsphy Of the entrsnSs to Mobile Bay and part Of
bors. and their approaches, have been finished. The
survey Of Galveston upper and lower Bay has made
measured in MASSACHUSETTS, Maryland North Carroll.
ma, and Alabama and two others have been laid ont
for measurement. Two of the base lines were msa
sured with most useful apparatus combining new
features, the invention Of thu superintendent Forty
astronomical stations have been occupied in Maine,
necticut New York, Pennsylvania. Delaware, Mary
land, North Carolina, South Carolina Alabama, Mis
sssippi and Texas part of which observations were
made with and i'm prove Instruments. !dsgnetic
observ atoms have bee sde with the instruments
Gently introduced upon the at eighty three sta
TONS While improved grsdetc instruments have bsen
introduced upon the work, the principles of the mo-
mathematics have been extendedfo every part of
It's results. The electro magnetic telegraph has been
uted for determining the difference of longitude Of
card poi nts in the work, and With degree OF pre-
cison hitherto attainabe by other methods. The
Gulf Stream has been explored as far south as
ton across it at Cape Hatteras and the law Of the
ocean temperature, ascertsined
Twenty four sheets of chart, remarkable for their
arrangement accuracy, aud style OF execution, have
been published and distributed to literary aud scien
thc institutions at home and abroad, and placed with
agents for sale prices merely covering the cost Of
stages Of progress Of engraving While the fcals OF
operations has been enlarged to embrace the
te nsve of the United States and to afford the
be pets Of it to every part of the coast rapidly
possible, the economy of the work has steadily ad
vauood the augmented mixtures equired falling
much below the increase of work done.
While much that is erainently useful to COM
msrce and navigation, and to our foreign aud coast
wise trade, has been accomplished by this great work,
1t has received the CONNIE ndaon Of men of science
in Europe aud America, and advanced the scientific
On the Pacific, where this department has already
carried the work and where it will be useful in OBJ
tanning information and Publishing charts Of our
Western coast have entrusted to IL the losaton OF
the buoys and the selection of sites for lighthouses
ia Oregon.
ton the evera acts of Congress- passed at its last
session, making appropriations for lighthouses,
light boats, buoys, beacons Sc IL has also car
rocket carTonades life boats and other necessary
psratus for the better preservation OF life and pro-
perty from shipwreck calling to its aid the under
writers and Chsmber Of Commerce Of New York, aud
tie Humane s acety for preserving life, OF Ms'sa'
chusetts.
Important improvements may be introduced into
light house system. To conducs 1t properly, re-
quires accurate knowledge Of our coast and navi
aud mode CT Iightiug-the different elevations, color,
and OTHER distinguishing properties Of the lights,
and whether stationary or revovicg-the necessary
preparations to guard against accidents, or the ex.
ting uis hing Of lightadequste regulations 60 secure
the liability ard attention OF keepers and all
The administrative duties pertaining to the syste
There is involved in all this varied amount OF know
ledge, practica! and scientific, possessed ~ no one
ton Of these it has heretofore suggested to Con-
g1ee. nd again respectfully its recomnenda
tioBs for the organization OF board, creating no
expense, the supervision Of the Treasury, con-
sistng of he Fifth Auditor the Supernte ndent of the
Coast Survey two officers Of the navy an oAcer OF the
Engineers, also Of the Typographical Csrps. who
would unite the requisite knowledge, and enable the
deparme ut to conduct all the operations Of the sys-
tenn upon cur extensive lake ami maritime frontier,
with increased efficiency and economy.
The department hiss also proceeded to carry into
execution fur as practicable the various laws for
the erection of marine hospitals. the rivers and
lakes Of the West awaiting itself Of the valuable servi
ces of tie Typographical Bureau.
ed to the states with the excep;on of the fur
most recently admitted into the Union
The standards for these States and fog the custom
houses of older States yet supplied are id the course
the report of the Of Weights add Mea
received in June last to the necessary steps for
preparing
in the weights and measures in common use. Fifteen
balances for regulating standards have been supplied
to five States and set by an age mt from the Office OF
weights and measures. Two sets, six in number,
have been supplied to two other States Twenty ne
hand the 1t of January last ready for ds-
trbuton. The establishment produces at the rate Of
six bals of the first class aud three of the
niae of the second, four Of the third
The present distribution Of weights and measure is,
in my opinion, provisional, aud has been consider
ed by statesmen and men OF science. more general
Uniformity exte ndipg to different nations looked
forward TO By Jefferson and John Quincy Adams, as
one day attsinable and was recommended In my last
annual report. The time, in my opinion, has come
for the serious consideration Of this subjsct by Con-
gresa. New standards are about to be made in Eng
land The reorganization OF the Germanic confsde-
ration will give great extension to whatever system
Of weights and measures they may adopt and the poll
teal changes going on in other parts of Europe are
favorable TO the introduction Of uniformity The su
of coins shows that it Is practicable to break
up the old system and to introduce another and
entire. One standard Of lengths, sta nisrd Of
weights sta ndard Of pacty with suitable multi
Piles and Subdivisions would be promotive Of conven-
fence and Of economy Of time In the business of life
and the intercourse OF nations. The adoption Of
the decimal system would also, in my opinion -
plify and facilitate computation; and recomJ
that authority be given to this department to ta
necessary steps for obtaining international VIZ
action as TO uniformity Of coins, and wsigl
measures.
During he past yesr the third of seriea(
rate reports Of investigations sugars .
ters under the direction of Professor A
perntepd Mt of weights and measures,
J. McCulloch. melter and refner of tne
dephia has been presented to the Ds
transmit ted to Congress, by whom 1t he
to be prin ted, with a collection of the
ports This report completes the su6jec
tsr- as far as is Hecessary to make che 0
ed in the use of the irstrume Mt at the cJ
and standard instrument and a manuG
prepared for These extra ofi:ial du01o1
charged by these gentlemen withou. eonp41
My last report recemme nded the grant Of ~
of land for schools in every quarter towns
gon. This grant, in each Of the SoleSa
section ofthe public lands in each township n
Cd 70 ho hama IF cd safi oYl1X
children of that township. This object basil
great extent, because one section Ia the centf(
township, six miles square, is too distant from -
other sections, to furnish school to which all
resort and because pecuniary provision, 1t is in
adequate. The grant, however, OF secticn for
every quarter township would be sufficient whilst the
central location would be aiacen to every other
ton in such qusrter township, bringing the SCHOOL
house within the immediate vcinsge Of every child
within its limits. Congress, to some extent adopted
this endation by granting two school sections
In each instead Of for educ alton in Ore