The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-02-20

TO the work of 1913 as one and half is to two;
seventh OF The coast, reckoning on the same maps
RON winch the total shore line is estimated, has been
Hangulated In the last five years ; in the next i've
Years al the same rate, would achieve three our-
eenlhs-hity per cent over the latter. Then IN fifteen
YEARS we should have finished nine fourteenths ma
King with one-thrd already accomplished, within
very small traction oil the whole do not say that
IN fifteen years shall have no need of the coast
vey and That 1t IS then 10 close. And more sir, hope
VIII not In Its progress the parts of the coast which
are liable to change will have become detiDyey known
changing OF the shoals and shifting of the channels
necessary to the benefit of commerce. Besides, sir
nope 10 add yet further TO coast would be glad to
include the shores of the gulf of California those of
of these United States should be glad to gather
in the island of Cuba, long desired. | should re-
Ioce IN the extension of our Union. therefore speak
OF TINS term only as Indicating the progress OF the
workhe time at which the survey of the coast the
Atlantic and gulf of Mexico would be brought to
close at The present rate OF progress But SIR our laws
have been extended over portion OF the coast upon
the Pacific, and have made appropriations for build
ing light houses and placing buoys al the mouth of the
Columbia river TO determine the places OF these is
an appropriate and necessary hydrosraphic service OF
the coast survay and 10 commence the survey there
and render this SERVICE parties have been despatched
to the coast OF Oregon, and not as has been falsely
stated IN some OF the papers, to California and New
Mexico
Now, sir, for the Typographical survey a very
emphasized officer OF the navy was selected and an able
party placed under his ordes for the survey OF the
Shore party OF civil assistants and officers OF the army
II is worthy OF remark, sir that when the present super
nendent took charge OF the coast survey he found thai
become dssatisfed-and the Secretary OF War had re-
fused them aid the terms upon which it was asked
However by avoiding controversy which grew out of
the requirement that the land parties should be equally
divided between civil assistants and officers OF the army
and by the judgment which he brings to bear on every
thing, he has been able draw them back to the work
When the with Mexico broke out he had eleven
officers of the army thus Employed eight OF them
taken away He has applied for typographical en-
gneers since the termination of the war-an application
which the bV the Chief OF
the typographical bureau, until he determine whether
officers are dsposable for the other wants of that depart
ment An application is now pending before the Sec
retary of War for officers OF the line OF the army to aid
in the survey of the coast In the report of the coast
survey the Secretary of the Treasury the superntend
ent expressed himself upon this particular point. He
says
"Tho number Of officers and petty officers and men
regulated by the department on application from the
officers OF the navy commanding the photographic parties
These transmitted through the superintendent and Sec
rotary of the Treasury matter OF oim bnt the judy
of the officers conclusive with me- ard the requi-
sons complied with or denied at the pleasure OF the
Secretary Of the Navy The law requires that as many OF
of the army and practicable be employed on
the work and Independently Of the desire husband the
direct appropriation which confess s y a. strong monys
branches of the service and OF the qualification which
official Or private Intercourse win hem always g.ve. am
apply additional officers whenever they can be useiuy
employed on the work
Unde the law, the organization Of the coast survey con-
templates the emPloymen OF civilians and ocsfs OF the
army and navy This triple organization brings the scien-
c and practical training ofcivians and OF officers OF the
army and navy to its ali, more permanent nucleus IS
supplied from civil life than the wants oil either The mill
ary naval service could YIELD while entire concert OF
acton is secured under cenral authority the department
in matters pertaining to the trade, commerce. and
navigation Of the country centre. in the name and by Tue
details. which areful study and of many minds
viewing them from different points have matured, are
oeeds according regular plan carefully arranged and
having in definite result The temporary character
of the work is recognised as cardinal principle pera
nen being OryaniZed conduct It, feature which
has proved Important in other works. and winch doubt
lection from science of the country AT large, or from
either branch OF the military or naval service Under .e
heads of lher respective departments, oil those whom
ability, knowledge, and opportunity unite in recommend
ing for the service.
..A4 the arrangements of the army in its new po
sitons permit hope again have the services upon the
such of The staff and line officers as can be suita-
unemployed and eau DO spared from their regular du
That is his application of the awsuch his desire to
have officers of the army and navy seeking Tor more than
If there be officer in the navy who is possessed of
the science that necessary for these most abstruse IN
vesiisations involved in the coast suryey-lnvoIylng
in the Chamber OF Deputies in 1877, and which has
received its first solution, for the pride OF American
science be it remembered, by the present superln,
tenden of the coast survey, connecting the curvature
of the earth, its exterior form, with the detection OF
the plumb line, by the internal of the earth -
not to enter further into it, of the most absruse
problems OF mathematical aud physical science, it is a
knowledge essential to the exact determination of lati-
tuie and therefore coupled most usefuy and directly
with the establishment of points and with the accuracy
of the survey;f there be officers in the navy, then
competent to this high reach of science, why do we not
employ them to teach in the naval schools Why do we
employ civil professors to teach mishpmen the elements
of science! This to far professional than
undertake a work where the observations merely
astronomical where their computations are Tor Tgo-
nometical typographical surveys, which can have no
connection with their professions
do not know how far the navy complain OF not hav-
ing their full share of this work. You will always find
persons the navy, in other pursuits OF life, complain
iny of their lot compared with that OF their nelghborS
Many doubt anxious to go to the Medterra-
nean-anxous to go to the Pacific, and to take command
of mail steamers Two of them have left the coast
eligible positions and but very few in any vocation are ev-
content My acquaintance is very limited with officers
of the My conclusions are derived from the few,
but a. very decided that in this, more memorable
occasions they ready to cooperate with the army and
share with them the good and evil One OF themat this
his profession and who if there be officer in the navy
competent take charge of it, is doubt not the very
one-s who always commends IN the highest terms
the present superintendent of the coast survey and would
most deeply regret him driven from his position
even for the benefit of officer of the navy.
| an anxious, Mr. President-as see the subject is
not interesting to the Senaeto pass over these points
rapidly as possible; but cannot pass by the state
men which has been made OF the existence OF bureau
of ordnance and photography in connexion with the
photographed surveys of Great Britain The senator
says have also bureau OF ordnance and photography
Now the surveys made by the ordnance corps of Great
Britain correspond very nearly to those made by our to-
biographical corps Their ordnance surveys are like
typographical surveys. There they have hydro
graphical bureau Photographed surveys and by not
having the two connected it follows that the ordnance
corps establish their stations, make their Typographical