The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-03-04

sarycy might be used for such . purpose, il
It would prove an injury to both the navy aud
the country The concentration OF civil works
III the hands OF TIE navy, is calculated entirely
to dis0rganixe that service
II may be said that the navy has now acquired
experiences Ia this work itself, by which they are
competent now TO conduct IL. This is not the
ease, for the navy has not learned the land-word
which constitutes four-hflhs OF the whole. This
argument also supposes the coast survey to be
stationary, whereas every year, rs science adj
yances, the work advances with it. Witness all
the improvements in astronomical and magnetic
instruments,and methods in geodetic instruments
and processes in telegraph operations, applied to
geodesy, in topography, and in autobiography,
within the past ten years.
2. The organization of this work. and the ar
rangement of all the details Of expenditure, are
such as to insure the most rigid economy.
Any array Of figures which separates the cost
OF a work from its results, can give no valid IN
formation rs to its economy. The amounts ex-
pended in different periods of the survey as de-
rived from direct appropriation, and from the
supply Of officers and men from the Navy De-
partment, have been stated by this Department
in an official report, as late as the year lSf9,
and to this report refer as containing the min
ute details of the subject. (Exec. Doc, No. Is,
Senate 30th Congress, I'd SESSION.
If we compare it with foreign surveys, we
find that our land-work cost per acre not one
half or one-third the cost of foreign surveys
Thus my predecessor states (Senate Doc, No.
26, Both Congress-, I'd sesson)
81 have taken some pains to inform myself in
regard to the relative cost of this and foreign
work Of similar kind. OF these, two of the
most important works are those of France and
Great Britain.
"The tertiary triangulation and Topography of
France cost, on an average, one hundred dollars
per square mile, or fifteen cents and six mills
per acre. This is exclusive Of the cost Of the
great geodetic work by Delambre, Mechain,
Blot, Arago, and others
"'rhc estimates in l847 for the secondary
triangulation and topography of the trigonome-
trical survey of Great Britain, commenced in
1871, by the ordnance corps, are ut the rate OF
$l03 81 per square mle or sixteen cents and
two mills per acre. This is exclusive Of the
army -pay Of the ordnance officers, but inclusive
OF the pay Of three companies of sappers, num-
berng 3l5, employed upon the work.
"Ihe near approximations of these sums to
each other Indicate that they are standards OF
comparison; they average fifteen cents and nine
mills per acre, which is between twice and three
times the cost of an acre of secondary triangu-
lations and Of topography taken together, in
the coast survey, as shown by the expenditures
OF lS47 and 1913.
"Thc surveys of Wurtemburg and Hesse
Darmstadt cost, respectively, % and 90 cents
per acre.
"Simiar data for the cost Of the photography
in foreign countries, are not before me but
may mention that the appropriations for hydro
graphy Alone made annually by Great Britain
as contribution TO the navigation and commerce
of the world, have amounted in ten years--from
1887 to 1877 TO more than four times the APP
preparation for the survey of the coast of the
United States, land-work and photography both
inclusive; and this is besides the appropriation
for the trigonometrical survey"
The comparison of the land-work with that OF
our own land surveys, shows, that with all the
typographical detail which is introduced on the
coast survey maps, the cost of the work, excu-
sive of reduced drawings, was less than the av-
erage cost of the land surveys of the United
States; (Reports of Superintendent Coast Sur
vey, 1913 and 1879 also without drawings
Including the astronomical and geodetic work,
the measurement of bases, and the triangula-
tons, the cost of the land-work does not reach
the maximum paid for surveys of the public
is thus compared with that in which the geo.
graphical positions Of points are entirely unde-
termined, it shows the economy of the coast
survey in strong light. These comparisons
were made in years when the number of officers
of the army on the work being small, the result
was not sensibly effected by their employment.
The cost of the photography is less under the
control of this department, than other parts of
the work, since the acquisitions made by the Off
GERS in charge of the photographic parties, de-
pend upon views acquired in the naval service,
and can only be controlled by naval allowances
and usages. 1t is believed that all the economy
which can be practised within the limits Of the
organization is effected, and that all the expendi-
lures are closely supervised. There is nothing,
however, in the comparison between this part of
the survey and others, to show that this is the
most economical part Of the work, or to lead to
the inference, that if by an increase of the navy,
the whole survey were placed in the hands Of
naval officers, its economy would be greater than
at present. Upon this subject it is not ncces-
sary to go further into particulars, though it can
be done if desired.
8. 1t is very difficult to ascertain the cost of
the surveys heretofore made under the Navy De
partment, for the appropriations give 10 idea Of
the money spent upon them, having been APP
piled merely TO cover the extra pay of the off
GERS employed, while vessels were built, or pur.
chased, or hired, repaired, supplied, their crews
paid, and numerous officers furnished and their
transportation paid, without the expense being
charged to these surveys If it be contended
that the officers would have been paid if not so
employed, it may be replied that they would
have received shore and not duty pay much less
extra pay, and that vessels supplies and men,
constituting the larger part of the expenditure,
would not have been paid for at all, unless so
employed. The practice of thus covering up
expenditures, is erroneous The principle that
officers not wanted are to be retained in service
and occupation found for them--t may be, the
most uncongenial to their professional pursuits
lis one that requires only to be broadly stated
to command universal dissent.
Under the control Of the Navy Department,
the survey of four harbors (including a river of
inconsiderable length, in connection with one OF
them,) cost the large sum of S63,023. A com
plete survey of the same in connexion with the
coast survey, would not cost one fourth Of This
sam. But this sum of $4,000 does not cover