Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-12-29

ann,eciaied BY the country, and hy no uhe hinie
fnity than by the present incumbent "l 'h's ".
par;ment who has had an opportunity OF o"srly-
inc all the difficulties by which they Wrie sur
rounded, and how impossible II was 'of any oeI-
retary under those cirrums ances 10 have made
,he incubation IN better terms than was ebrc'ea
b. them, but the lacls are stated as most sfa!i'
wing proof al the wonderful advance oi 'np
wealth of The country and 1.-The government credit.
The coast survey, under the charge oil me
superintendent, Prot n. D. Bachs, Is making
great and rapid progress. During the past year
liz sections of The coast on The Atlantic and
Gul Of Mex CO have been under survey, ana me
computations, drawings, and eng!avines OF chaIis
have KEEP pace with The hnld-woik. Whh-
in The same period, six new shoals have heeh
discovered and made known IN the eastern COAST
ard oae in Chesapeake bay. Important snssrs.
lions in regard 10 the places for lighthouses and
buoys have been derived from The ccas, survey
reports.
While this work is conducted Oh The highest
scientific principles, i; is shown, in letter from
The superintendent that Inc land work costs less
lhan The maximum paid for The survey (conduc-
tel with 50 much economy Of the pubic LANDS.
In reviewing the progress Of this work for the
pas. four years, the result is most striking a
part of the operations has been carried from
the Southwest part of Rhode Island into Maine,
and the whole land work has been completed
from Point Judith TO Cape Cod, covering very
indented coast; the photography has passed Nam
,ucket, and both the land and water work of
Boston harbor has been completed. Much work
of yerification and filling up has been done be-
tween Point Judith and Cape May. Delaware
bay has been finished, and the chart OF the bay
ard river published. The Chesapeake has been
trianeulatcd South of the Virginia line, and
both this and The outer coast will be triangulaled
in from two TO three years from the present time.
The topography Of this section, which was CON-
menced III 1874, is advancing to completion,
and, except the oifshore work, one third OF the
photography is finished The shores OF Abe
marie sound, and most Of its tributaries have
been surveyed; the lrangulation extending also
over Croalan and Roanoke sounds, and the by
biography is greatly advanced general re-
connossance has been made of part Of The coast
of South Carolina, Georgia. Florida, Alabama,
Mississippi and Texas, and the operations found
ed upon this have been commenced IN South Ca
rolna and Texas. In Alabama, Mississippi and
Louisiana, the trangulations have advanced
nearly from Mobile TO lake Borgne, the topo-
graphy of the shores Of Mississippi sound, and
of the adjacent islands, has been nearly compile
ted, and tie photography of the entrance 10 Mo
bile bay and part Of Mississippi sound, and of Cat
and Ship Island harbors and their approaches. his
been finished. The survey Of Galveston, upper and
lower bay, has made considerable progress.
Foor base ines haze been IN. assured IN Mas>a
ciuseis, MARYLAND, Suiih CoIolna, and Ala
ha,ua, ant ,vo others have been lad at ~
measuc, ,nenl Two Of inc Dasr line, Holc
measures wih !. most useful apparatus, COM
h,aiGe ueu aiuf.s, the invocation ~ The supri-
hdV
been occupied n Maine, New Hampshire,
Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connec'icu', New
Yvfk, PENNSYLVANIA, Delaware, Maryland, North
Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi
and Texas, d part - which observations were
made with new aud improved instruments. Mag
ne;ic Observations have been made, at eighty
three stations While improved geoieric inslru-
msnts have been introduced upon The work, the
principles OF the modern mathematics have been
extended 10 every part oil its results The cleo
lro-magnclic telegraph has been used tor deter
mining the difference OF longitude OF cardinal
points 10 the wa,k, and viii a degree OF p'ecis-
ION not hitherto a,lanabe by other methods.
TDe Gul!-s!ream has been explored as far south
as section across il al Cape Haueras, and the
law Of the ocean temperature ascerianed.
Tweniy-lauT shecis ot chart, remarkable Tor
lneir arrangement, accuracy, aud Style OF execu-
zion, have been published and distributed 10 lite
raiy and scientific institutions al home and
abroad, anil placed with agents T sale, al prices
merely covering the cost Of printing and paper.
Ten NOR sheets are in various stages ni progress
OF engraving. While the scale oi operations
has been enlarged 70 embrace the whole exten
sve coasl OF the Unnet States, and 10 aft ri The
henct's Of il 70 every raFt OF the coast as rapidly
as possible, The economy OF the work has steadily
advanced, The augmented expenditures required
Ill, h kat, tha
While ST. much hat is eminen,ly useful 10 com.
meTce and navigation, and to our foreign and
coastwise trade, has been accomplished BY this
great work, ii has received the commentator OF
rpea OF science in Europe and America, and ad-
vanced the scientific character Of The country.
On tns Pacific, where this department. has al
ready carried the work, and where il will be so
useful in Obtaining information and publishing
charts OF our Western coast, have intrused To
il The location OF the buoys, and The selection of
sizes for lighthouses in Oregon. The depart
ment has proceeded 10 carry into execution the
several ac;s OF Congress passed AT IL al session,
making appropriations for lighthouses, light
boa,s buoys, beacons, e. Il has also carried
the laws mo efeGt providing surt-baas, rockets,
carroaadcs i'e-boais, AMI other necessary appa-
ratus Tor tn better preservation 81 lie and pro-
perry from shpvreck, calling 10 lis aid The under
writer's aud Chamber Of Commerce OF New York
and The Humane Society fer preserving Lille, Of
Massachusetts.
lmpcrlan, improvements may be- introduced
into our lighthouse system. To conduct it pro-
pcry, requires an accurate knowledge of our
coast and navigation; the proper sizes; the char
acter oil the building and mode o! construction !;
the proper apparatus and mode Of lighting; The
different elevation, color and o!her Distinguish
ing properties Of The lights and whether stationary
orr ins. Ihp ali IN I'd
against accidents or the eXtinguishing II light !;
adequate regulations TO secure In accnnnta blity
aud attention Of keepers, and all the admnislra-
1--we duties pertaining 10 The system. There is
involves IN al This q varied amoun Of know
ledge, praci,ca and scientific, possessed by NJ
one Individual; aud 10 aid the Department in TIE
execution II tn So laws, il has heretofore sus-
ees!cd 70 Congress, and again respectfully r.
news us recommendation iof the organization u
board, creating NJ cxpen e. under The supervi-
sion Of The treasury, consisting Of the Filth Audi
ter, the Suprrneud mi Of the Coast Survey, twu
Offices ol the navy ~! officer Gi The engineers a.
also Of l,r ,oqo; raptical corps, h, would
anic he requisite knowledge and enable The lie
rartment 20 conduct all The operations Of the sys-
ten upon oar extensive lake and maritime from
Ter with Increased eiictcr and economy
The department has also proceeded 10 carry
into execution, as Tar al practicable The various
laws for The cree in oi marine hospitals on the
rivers anu alcs Of The West, awaiting itself of The
valuable services Of the typographical bureau.
Copies OF standard weights aud measures have
been distributed 10 the States, with he exception
OF The ionr most recently admitted into The Union.
Tic slanddTas ior these STATES and for the Gus
tom-houSes O older Sla.es mi ye, Supplied, are in
III course oi preparation. The attention 81 the
Sia'es is caiet. n TIE report Of The supcrnden'
vi weighs ard mr2suics, received in June las;,
- tue necessary s;crs Tor preparing county san
darcis, 50 IS ID secute nniiora.ity in The weights
and measures il cummoa nsc. F.'ern IL lanccs
} Tor regulating sl.Era:ts have been supplied I,
five States, and :. up b? sn aecn, from h off. c
OF Seis3ts and m assures Two more se:-, six IN
number have been snprii.d 10 two other STATES.
twenty -nine were on band on The ls of January
last, !eady for distribution, The IS abishment
produces al The rate Q! six balances OF The first
class and three Of The second, or nine Of the Sc
cond or four c! the third, per annum.
The present distribution OF weights and mea-
suyes is, in my opinion, provisional and has been