The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-21
Entract from The Report Of The Hon. Thomas
Cor1oin, Secretaryg the Treasury, December
lG 1870.
Coast Survey.


The Coast Survey was organized in 1913, and
placed upon its present footing by legislative au-
thority.' BY that organization the land opera
tons, constituting four-flths of the whole, were
assigned to civilians and officers Of the army,
and the photography to officers of the navy.
| The distinguished and scientific gentleman
who has so long and so well superintended the
| work, with this temporary corps, were placed
under the supervision and control Of the Trea-
sury Department. to which all works affecting
commerce and navigation. it was believed, should
be properly committed. 1t was also thought
that officers Of the army and navy could not be
brought to act tremendously together under the
control of either the War or Navy Departments
This organization was the result of the OK
| perience Of the work up to that time. 1t has
proved eminently successful in its operations !;
the rapidly of its progress, az well as its accu
racy, and the magnitude of its results, have
commanded the applause of those most distin
guished for scientific attanments in Europe and
America.
This department has from time to time, as the
work demanded, called for as many officers Of
the army and navy as could be spared from their
appropriate duties.
"A application for an additional number Of
officers of the aruIy is now pending before the
War Department, and will, it is expected, re-
ceivc favorable consideration.
When the recent war with Mexico was de-
carcd there We're five officers of the corps Of
Typographical Engineers and nine of the line Of
the army employed in the coast survey.
| The service thus becomes an admirable school
of practice for such of the graduates of West
| Pon. and the officers of the navy as had II pre-
objection for the science called into practice by
the work, each being engaged in his appropriate
sphere.
While the scientific character Of the survey
is such ms to reflect lasting credit upon our
country, it is also emincntly practical in its re-
suits the highest branches of scientific knowl-
edge arc made subseryient to The most useful
purposes.
The economy Of the work deserves common.
dation. 1t will DO found that rs much usrtul
| work is DONE and as much advantage to the
country and mankind obtained for the same
amount Of expenditure, as in any other depart
ment Of the Government In this respect the,
last seven years have shown gain in economy
of one and threc-quarters to one over the ex-
prndturcs before ut time for the same work
This may be ascribrd to the enlargement Of the
scale on which the work proceeds, which also
greatly tends to hasten its final completion.
The trigonometrical portion of this survey
now extends unbroken from Portland, in Maine
to within fifty miles Of the Capes Of the Chesa-
peake, and, with m interval of about one hun
dred miles, which is rapidly filling up, to point
BE- yond Cape Ilatteras
1t has been commenced in South Carolina
Georgia, and Florida; is complete in Alabama.
and nearly so in Mississippi; and has been
commenced in Louisiana and Texas. The other
operations follow closely in their order, and the
publication Of the maps and charts keeps pace
with the feldwork. Nearly one-half of the coast
Of the Atlantic and of the Gulf of Mexico ha>
been surveyed. Since our recent acquisitions
Of territory on the Pacific parties attached to the
survey have been actively employed on the coast
and have contributed important Information to
this Department in regard to the p-oHer sites
for lighthouses ard othcr aids to nl,'i rnt;an
A detailed report Of the 'rHrre>s Cite wore
will be submitted to Con res, at 1 arIJ reri9I
o,