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

al
french feet induced their commander 10 abandon,
boueless Object. an where there really
sufceni water for The drahi OF has vessels These
two great facts
NJ sr AZ The most minute accuracy is required IN
Geographical maps for military operations, any
thng inch improves their ex2ctness legIbiy
porani in The oihce OF the coast survey two uaG
OF New London and as slcIntyone OF 1910, The other
al 1917 In the hTst. two streams emPtyng mo different
havs bad beea considered one and The officer who should
have landed upon the coast projected has operations by
The rst map would have fallen into fatal error and #
ia presence OF adversary better informed than HIMSELF
mus have been defeated
Nothing, SIR, could have been greater error than 10
suppose that the present superintendent OF the coast sur
yey would prefer 10 be bureau 1,Acer he IS man OF
science practical asroucmer-delghts ia the DAYS aAd
nights passed IN the hesd OF Observation Il an attempt
was made 10 reduce hinl to the oonden of mere ba
reau orhceF Shall il be objected, 10 this coast
survey that II has attained this high scientific character
That with me great object OF pride and OF gratitude.
Nor SIR has there scientific discovery, far
have bees informed upon the coast survey, which has
not had direct and almost immediate application To the
work The bars for measuring bases give good illus
traon OF this IL found thai the best Compromising
bars which existed liable to unequal expansion by
heat during change OF temperature The compromising
bars OF brass and iron, and these metals have
unequal capacities for heat and unequal eondu cng pow
ers In the base apparatus, made by the present supern-
enlen under has ORDERS the bars pFopoFoned in
10 heat IN equal times the surfaces being covered
by varnlsh TO render the absorption the surface
the sane, nearly so.
In former base bars when the temperature was rising
or falling, il found that would absorb than
another. and thus preface variation IA the length
whereas II should be constantly the at all ienpera-
lures To the present superintendent OF the coast
vey due to say that he has brought this problem to
a complete solution he has, by changing the mass OF
oae the other metal, m certain proportion obtained
constant expression OF length, with the exception OF
small residual error; and he has corrected that
minute residual error which had been shown by expert
unehl stlll to exist, by the OF different pigments
50 as the sbsoptive power OF OF The
tac surfaces The equilibrium IS perfect, that
A,z
been found from experiment 10 be small fraction
that fear to state i'll believe is less than hvetenihs
of inch.
He has also introduced another great improvement
namely the process of electrotypns in the multiplication
OF plates for the printing OF tie charts without wearing
cut the original engraved plate II IS most beautiful
could have understood and sui less have improved
10 actual use.
The remark has been criticised, though think If was
well sad By OF the most distinguished assistants OF
the coast survey, that has of science and
happily has this mission been connected with useful
purposes this survey When sounding for deep
channels ana samples OF bottom, The earth found
be filed with organisms and when nltaralisis observed
that different organisms found in the different depths
OF the different anlmlls at dderen, heights OF the
Ian /, would hardly have how Immediately this
TO be connected with navigation and yet il has been
FAR followed out to give good reason 10 believe tina,
shall ind FAMILIES 10 be classei below, above
the great level OF the earth. and that, finally char
may be constructed which shall give US the ma
tRe OF the sell ihe depths OF the sea, the depth OF
the wafer, and such other elements Will determine the
point OF the sounding; determining, therefore, BY pre-
ous hydrogr aphica survey the Longitude of the vessel
she approaches the coast The latitude is always
most easily determined by vessel al and If the lon
Guide be asceftaned the position is exactly known.
Il ths be learned therefore, from the appearance OF
The bottom by the aid oil the lead, great portion of the
danger approaching The coast obviaiej But the
captain relieved from the apprehension of any errors
when be sees the whole line OF before him.
presented IN its bold Typographical character
TO be mistaken.
D. IL n 4
50 accurate may be made to enable The vessel she
approaches lhe Shore Dy The Lead TO inspect the ground
over which she sails by the glass to examine the ap
pearance OF the These elements, added To OBJ
servaons Tor The aiiule, determine the position with
out the possibility of doubt to the shore she upon
what coast she Is approaching what channel she IS in
II Is always high astronomical problem discuss the
ntes and currents dependent upon the tides This prob
len now N the progress OF solution, which viii throw
additional hight upon this subject, and give additional
advantage 10 commerce which could not have been de-
rived.
in particular part OF the main ship channel in the har-
Dor Of Boston, tor example. this singular phenomenoa
esente4hat there is only quarter OF the e5b tide
IN which the curent sets out OF the harbor In all others
the Current runs IN, ebb or flow So that vessel passing
ont 10 the ebb would, reaching this pa OF the
haroor, md the current adverse These facts which,
though Of great value the Mariner il requires careful
and well directed observations TO explore The whole
system OF observations dss and currents in the
survey has been greatly improved, AMI the mode OF dis
eassns the observations brought 10 considerable pcrfec
ton
lhen too SIR systematic observations upon that great
phenomenon OF our continent the Gulf stream Ii Is
somewhat remarkable that Doctor FraBklin about the
year 1850, first observed The change OF Temperature in
That gull stream. and indicated lis application to useful
purposes OF navigation; and that 1t falls upoa
ms descendant, and worthy TO be q descendant
OF han whose common taught hHn the most
dihcut lessons OF philosophy. aad placed him al
vance Of tue aye in which he lived whose science
oil mat daring KIND which brought loves bolts from his
charged battery, and held them By ssken string;
nseia thai lives on the cottage roof and the arlor
IRE place; so permanent thai his is known where
VISION IS honoFei and virtue respected - somewhat
strange that this problem, first marked by him. should
descend. for solution 10 the present superintendent Of
me coast survey the great grandson OF the original dis
cover and that the most extensive Observations should
have been made by brother OF the superintendent,
gallant sailor, who devoted TO the honor of his profess
son AMI the he espoased lost his life the ex
orahSn OF the character OF this phenomenon and left
behind hin aoors which have not yet been properly aP
preciaed
Here element by which to determine the longitude
oil vessels approaching coasthe tempe allure the
water; When the line which separates the cold water
near the - from the hot water OF the gulf stream,
sha ave been accurately laid down, the approximate
iohshuie Will be known by observation OF the Their
moneier. This requires careful and repeated observa
zen to ak the limits of change of temperature By
AMI IN different years The high temperature OF this
ocean stream. an rs ceaseless iox render lis portion
lanuc coast
must not, Mr.. President. dwell upon the great nun
PEI OF discoveries of channels sunk rocks shoals and
bars, every one OF which may in single hour save to
hs commerce OF the country than the whole
survey has cost IRON It's commencement MANY OF these
shoaie ii accurately laid down IN previous nautical
charls, would have saved the wreck OF vessels and
mus, IRON the mere duties upon the goods which are
lost We lose more than woai have been sufficient 70
arhish complete survey OF the portion OF the coast
Where these dangers occur.