The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-08-24

In the scientific convention At Cambridge. Massachu.
s FS;y Isl S. rs0, = Sssas s
esing and lucid account OF the progress Of the survey
from It's commencement % the present time
at the suggestion OF Mr. Gallatin. more thorough in.
ysstigsiion was begun. and finally NJ Hssser was
nens suitable for the purpose could not then be pro-
cured in this country, he solicited and obtained permits
sion 70 visit Europe to obtain them,
In 1918, Mr.. HassleF commenced the survey In 1920
from the idea that be proceeding too slowly in the
work. il was stopped II was renewed in 1886 and was
thought that the sixteen years which had elapsed might
have been sufficient time 70 enable Mr. Hassler to finish
his plans But when he resumed the work, was at an
advanced period Of his life Still. with that ndomitable
energy BY which he was characterized he again toek
hold OF the subject with animation
Meanwhile the country had become more impressed
with the actual importance Of the proect and when the
law Tor the survey was renewed in 1882 there seemed
be extended ideas oil what the work might be- Mr.
hassicr, however, was deferred from vigorous action
1y me want Of proper assistants but at his decease
is44 VIZ rapidly developing his IDEAS for he was train
ang up those upon whose aid he could rely Them how
ever he WAS taken from the EARTH and his labors closed
The hrst year Of the superintendency Of Prof Bache
ednx q js In
1t New York. and to extend to another given point at the
Scoth establishing places Of observation al both ends
Prof Bache, however found that il the line OF commun
cation extended only to these two ends there would be
dhculty IN the observation OF intermediate points Ac.
cordngly pc adopted system Of separate cenres-or,
the number Of points OF observation on which is to be
limited only by the means placed at his disposal The
mode Of operation he proceeded briefly to explain:
First base line 10 measured from six to ten miles in
length as accurately as il is possible to make it, From
this, BY measuring again at the extremes of the base,
system Of trisngolation s procured Of gradually in
creasing size The base is enlarged extending to great
distance apd thus the surface OF the earth is covered
with net work OF triangles each side OF which cal
culaied from the measure of the angle, and from the ORR
ginaly determined length Of the base. This would be
easy il the irangles were upon plane surface but it is
not 90 simple a. would at first appear In these large
lace, but AZ spheroid.
The trianguations il will be perceived. have the ad
vantage that distances OF points between which
not measure can be determined by this system Of calcu
laton, with any required degree OF accuracy.
The next step in the proceedings s the astronomical
character Of the survey The series Of observations hav
ing been settled we can now determine by computation
from the anges the longitude Of any place. or The con-
nexion Of different phenomena.
A point OF the scheme has now been reached where
progress may be very rapid. The chief points being so
Gxed second trianguation Is formed within the FIRST
still more convenient less exact mode of calculation, by
the use OF the plane table, while, by the photographic
corps, picture is made OF the ground beneath the
IN similar manner to that Of the topography above
N--making the matter complete in all its parts.
In prosecuting the work. Professor Bache has aimed to
divide the coast into as many sections he had means
superintcnd. Eight at first laid out Texas made
ninth, and Oregon, since added, constitutes tenth
The first section extends from Point Judith to the
boundary The surveying party this part of the work
has thus passed in five years. with the primary angu-
iaton, from Rhode Island to Maine The secondary ir-
angulation extends along the coast Of Massachusetts
Cape Ann; and two parties are now at workone passing
IRON Cspe Am to and the other from New
season. the party will have reached Portsmouth with the
secondary triangulations.