New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1849-08-21
ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC CONVENTION
HID al Harrard Unitdrsity, CambTldge Mass.
Reported exclusively for The Tribune
C.NRRfncR Friday Aug Il

Hcff al HQrr0rd Cntt6rsHy, C0mbTidge, Mass
Reported exclusively for The Tribune.
CAMBRIDGE, Friday, Aug. H.
Yesterday afternoon. in general meeting Of the
two Sections. In Harvard Hall interesting commu
ncaon was made by Lieut. NJ. F. MAURY Of the Ma
tonsl Observatory, his favoriie theme OF
WINDS AND CURRENTs.-Lieut Maury COM
menced bis observations by reviewing the action of the
Association at It's last meeting meanwhile taking &C.
casion to render hs acknowledgements TO the Merchant
Marine for the ready and hearty cooperation there
manifested toward his scheme and the valuable assist
ance thus derived By the abundant materials placed
at the disposal OF Lieut. he has been enabled to make
such Arrangements that there 900 vessels
ployed the Ia prosecuting these
without expense other than the preparation OF the
Charts He has adopted the plan OF dividing the ocean
of the year disns ushed by coors and insti
tutng a certain number of observations IRON each The
already placed in the hands Of navgators have
materially shortened the distance from here 10 Rio
Janeiro by average OF four days. 60 that We have
here an immediate and most important practical benefit
The investigation once commenced, soon led 70 the
discovery that there was region At about the middle
of the Atlantic In which there MonsOons not before
known. Vessels have been going there at what have
considered good seasons expecting 10 ma favor
able winds but were met by disappointment This
pointed out the probability that longitude had almost
As much 10 do ms latitude with the winds. Lieut. NJ
went on to illustrate this Vessels going from here 20
the Equator after passing out OF those winds known as
variable get into the region OF Gains and from that
into the North East trade winds BY sailing TO the
south they come 20 another region Of Gains and
again leaving these If in Summer, come 10 the region
of these six months MOnsoons Charts have been pre-.
pared Tor the purpose of investigating what influence
longitude aid latitude have upon these trade winds
In conclusion, Lieut. NJ. spoke of bis high apprecie
ton OF the Water Thermometer the use OF which he
believed has tended much AS any other cause 10
the commercial importance Of New YORK
Remarks " ere made on the subject OF Lieut.
Msury' communication, by Prots D bAeHE, PERCY,
HARE and others and ou motion OF Prot bache. (who
meanwhile took occasion 10 compliment Lieut. Maury
highly upon the successful results of his investga
uons) the matter was referred TO the Standing Com
mi,tee OF the Association for their action.
On Thursday evening, the citizens OF Cambridge
and those attending the Convention mustered in great
force at Lyceum Hail. over the Post Ofce, to hear an
account OF the
Progress Of The I. $. Coast Surrey By Pro-.
A. d. BAcHE, the Superintendent of the work
Appropriately introducing his statement by lew
well timed remarks DR.. BAcsE proceeded 70 give
very interesting and lucid account Of the progress Of
the Survey from its 20 the present time
First proposed he said, by President Jefferson in
1907 the matter acted upon by Congress but tar
Oily The Government the Executive, were even more
tArdy. At that time the importance OF the work was
hardly understood 1t was in advance of the times
Atterwsrd, at the suggestion Of Mr.. Gsstin, more
thorough invest cation WAS begun and finally Mr. HAS
sLKs was placed in charge of the work. But finding
that instruments suitable for the purpose could not
then be procured In this country, be solicited and Oh
taned permission TO vislt Europe 20 obtain them Here
was great work 10 be commenced IN country which
not ripe for T.
In 1916 Mir Hassler commenced the Survey. Inlsls,
from the ides thst be proceeding too slowly IN the
xnFk IL rena cd n nd
thought that the sixteen years which had elapsed
misht have been sufficient time 70 enable Ny. Hsssler
finish bis plans But when be resumed the work, II
wss at advanced period Of his hfe sun, with that
ndonitsoe energy by which he was characterized, be
gain took hold OF the subject with animation
Meanwhile the country had become more impressed
With the sets mpoTnee Of the project snc when the
sw for the Survey renewed IN 1872 there seemed
20 De extended ideas OF what the work might be MI
Hssser, however, deferred from vigorous scuon
~ the wasn't Of proper assistants but AZ bis decease II
lsi4 WAS rapidly developing bis ideas for be was train
ina up those upon whose aid he could rely. lhen,
however he was taken from the earth and his soors
closed.
The arst year OF the SUPPLEMENTARY Of Prot BAoHx
lcH was, % 10 speak year Of observation. Having
heard IS al hsd heard, complaints Of how slow the
Coast Survey Is going on - question asked without
nquiring particularly, perhaps, where the faux diff
Guilty lay-oe began 70 think il had been proceeding
slowly But sometimes one Is held responsible for mat
ters over which he has little OF no control PROT
Bsche expsused At some length, N this connection,
upon the folly OF impatient inquiries in regard 70
com peie survey Of coast when a9GA that
COST by sundry schemes Of Annexation. &c
In proceeding with the Survey, Mr. Hassler's idea
70 begin 81 the great commercial mart Of New |
York and extend % another gwen point a. the South
Establishing places OF observation At both ends. |
Prof Bache however, found that the line of commu
nicaisn extended only to these two ends there would
be difficulty in the Observation OF internedlse poin's
Accordingly be adopted system OF separate centers
or In other words the grand Trisngulsi!on OF the
Coast Survey the number Of points OF observation on
which is 10 be limited only by the means placed 81 his
disposal The mode Of operation be proceeded or'eny
to explain. IL,
FIRST bsseue Is measured, from six to ten miles
in lensth as accurately IL 10 possible 70 maze II
From this by measuring sssn al the exemiues o. tne
base system OF Trsngulstion is procured Of grsda
ally Increasing sire. The base 10 enlsrged extended 20
greser distance and thus the surface OF the EARN
covered with = network Of trisnsles each slce o,
which 10 calculated from the OF the snge ana
ifea sAs Originally determined lsasts o; he sss~