The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-04-06

penuS upon the soundness and extent OF nIst PiePd
raons, anu The gradual but steady Milling In OF Inc ue
tails marked out by previous study. The comPula-
tions drawings, observations, and measurements tue
engravings and other artistcal work connected win
the subject, must 10 great extent, be the work OF civil
ans and while the head should be able to command the
respect and confidence of the military and naval officers
OF the country he ought also 10 be possessed of that Prac
teal knowledge OF scientific and mechanical pursuits,
that will enable him personally to direct and control the
mnuest details In these respects we consider the WORK
most happily organized, and tending TO the best results
The arrangements by which The services of the different
individuals employed are adjusted the proper distribution
OF labor among them, and the subdivisions OF the corps
INTO elective working bodies all well adapted to Sc
cure harmony and efficiency The success OF these ar
engagements is well shown in the published results and II
the finished maps be considered merely in the light OF me-
chamcal productions they will reflect hight credit on the
artists but when they are examined with reference to
their scientific and practical value the skill and talent
bestowed upon them challenge the most delicate crit
clsm.
The committee has been struck with the perfection OF
the organization of the business of the survey.
1t has been arranged as to meet the complicated re-
sponsbites of large number of individuals of different
capacities, and aborng in different fields but whose re-
suits must be combined in order to perfect the whole
work. Each of these different individuals is, in some
check upon the whole. and he either contributes
to the correct result or is himself convicted of error
In tins respect the survey is great national scientific
school, III which the young men from all parts OF our cx
tended country may actively participate in its abors in
the field, Or by means of lis conRexon with colleges
and other schools, become familiar with its methods OF
examination and computation, and compare them with
those which claim the attention of the educational inst
tutons and scientific of Europe.
We have already glanced al it's economy, and in con
nexion with what We considering, we would say
that independently OF the vast practical benefits which
are flowing from the work, nation like own might
well afford to contribute It's quota to the sum of human
inquiry, by keeping, portion of its citizens, equal in
number TO those employed IN the survey, engaged
in the investigation OF the several branches of physical
science that fall regularly within It's duties In these
relations it connects with the movements of general
science throughout the civilized world and will enable
the of science of own land to vie with the phi
losophers of other nations in the value and extent oil
their Investigations Spread, these Investigations
many States local preudces retire before the lights
which they FURNISH and every new field that they reach
WILL in It's turn, yield fruit to the general harvest.
If direct attention to the scientific character OF
the survey find that it is making large contri
buttons to knowledge and the arts 1t calls to its aid all
the physical Sciences and applies them for the determine
ton of valuable practical results Thus the higher
thematics used in the reductions of the astronomical
magnetic and geodetc observations, give formula which
may be applied to objects entirely distinct from the i'm
mediate work.
The explorations of the depths and bottoms of our
coast, bays and rivers afford large field for the
minute investigations of the botanis the geologis
and the observers of all kinds ho delight in the exam
nation of animal life in its various extended forms. The
topography makes familiar with the character of the
surface, and the nature and extent OF the cultivation OF
the soil.
The magnetic and meteorological observations will be-
valuable in their applications to the study OF climate
and general temperatures The observations for latitude
and Longitude will designate with certainty the true posi-
tons of Cities and other places OF interest In IA
uonal point OF views and give greater precision TO ouI
knowledge OF the sphercy of the earh and of the ela
tons of the medional and equatorial which are
within the extended bounds of the survey.
1t has given to improved methods of observing
giles and azinuths and has furnished valuable formula
and tables for determining atudes and longtudes, by
reference to It's great bases 1t has brought the aid o.
the magnetic telegraph, ana magnetic and electric clocks
to practical use in the determination OF the longitude
orr cities and important inland points. New and i'm
proved apparatus has been constructed for ascerainne
temperatures; for constructing and dividing the delicate
uspi the terrestrial and Astronomical
uremens; for determining the meteorological and magnetic
states of the atmospheric for discovering the true char
acer OF the soundDgs; and for measuring the direction
and veoces of tidal and oceanic The astro
nomcal observations will embody vast amount of in
formation the subject of celestial phenomena, and by
their number and extent, tend greatly to the verlcaor
OF those results that have been obtained by the terrestrial
measurements 1t is difficult indeed, to determine where
its value IN strictly scientific sense, would terminate
because it explores every walk of known science, and il
daily returning new discoveries Tor the and which the
elder ones had furnished 10 it.
After careful consideration OF the whole subject EN-
braced in the examination of the coast survey, the
miltee would express the following conclusions:
Frst. That the work is national in its character,
oug h to be continued by the federal government upon
scale with its practical Importance,
with the exenand variety OF the objects which bene
hted by It's results.
gained, is economical efficient and scientific giving it
results with sufficient rapidly, at mo lerate cost,
upon correct scientific AMI practical principles.
Third. That its labors ought TO be las they
divided among the civil, military and naval talent of thu
country in order to TO each of these department.
that knowledge of its processes and determinations which
are equally required by them H.
Fourth. That the benefits which the nation has al
ready obtained from it have fully justified lis cost, ant
that those benefits ought now to be continued to thu
whole OF the States of the Union, upon broad AMI lib
eral scale as the government has hitherto applied.
by order OF the committee
WILLIAM HAMILTON, Actuary
PHILADELPHIA, February 8, 1919.
i The Atm osrhere.