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

usual allowances tor the execution Of surveys
under the Navy Department
have selected these cases because, being Of
comparatively recent date, it has been found
practicable to obtain the items Of expenditure
from the pay rolls and accounts in the Auditors
office without too great loss of time.
The question is not of small difference de-
pending upon nice calculation, but Of four and
skiold economy in favor Of execution Of the
work by this department. No question is made
either Of the relative value of the results Of a
mere nautical survey, and Of n geodetic work
with all its accuracy and refinements
To secure the control of expenditures by the
Legislative, appropriations should as far as prac-
ticable be direct
The covering up of expenditures by making
large appropriations nominally for a particular
object, and their use in some other, cannot fail
to give rise to abuses. A survey of the coast
having been determined upon, it is better that
the full amount of all its expenditures should
be known, than that by drawing its materials,
supplies, or personnel from large contingent or
pay funds, ths actual expenses should not ap-
pear.
The execution of the photography of the
coast survey by officers of the navy has led
twice to inquiries rs to the amount Of cxpcndi
ture thus indirectly mide. The whole amount
thus derived, from 1882 to l849, (seventeen
years,) was stated by my predecessor at $252,-
600; being the whole difference of pay aud
emouments Of officers on leave of absence and
at sea, and the pay and rations of the men EN-
ployed in the coast survey vessels
The average salary of the superintendent, as-
sstants and snb-assstants Of the coast survey
in l843, was about two thousand dollars per an
mn ot 10. oLn f,, ~
hundred dollars. The average Of the salaries
OF the superintendent and assistants Mt the Ma
tional Observatory, under the charge of the
Navy Department, is estimated for 1851 at thir-
teen hundred and SIXTY dollars. The whole
number Of assistants and sub-assstants attached
to the field-parties in the coast survey, including
those on the western coast, in January 1851,
was twenty-seycn; and the number Of assist
ants and sub-assistants estimated by the Navy
Department as necessary in the observatory, a
single establishment, was twenty-five. AS the
civilians thus employed on the coast survey are
greatly exposed in the execution of their duty,
it will be more fair to make comparison with
the assistants engaged ilsthe office of the coast
survey: those inc udlng the computers, draughts-
men, and recorders, are twenty-five in number,
receiving an average salary of six hundred and
eighty-three dollars, or less by six hundred and
seventy seven dollars than in the observatory.
1t appears from this that the administration
under the Treasury Department may in reality
be more economical than under the Navy De-
partment
1t will be observed that in no case where the
direction Of scientific works has been under
taken by officers of the navy has the services
been permanently rendered with the emolument
Of the grade to which the officer belongs, and
that in all the surveys undertaken by the Navy
Department between 1919 and 1882 extra pay
was allowed to the officers, and that up to last
year the appropriation bill contained items for
extra pay fer surveys made ten years ago.
1t will further appear that in scientific works,
nominally undertaken by the navy, or under the
control of the Navy Department, i. is neces-
sary to employ large numbers of civilians under
some o'her name.
Ii civilians are to be employed, the advantage
of placing the work under military department
does not appear.
To cite another case of comparison Of works
directed by the Navy and Treasury Departments,
the cost of the exploring expedition fitted out
under the Navy Department in 1888 was, for
four years, nearly $972,7 81, or S243,l80 per
year, exclusive Of the cost of the vessels en-
ployed and outfits which would greatly increase
this sum, and exclusive of the expenses since in
Cured in reducing and publishing the results,
for which $94400 was appropriated between
1912 and 1876. (Senate document 9th Con-
gress ist SESSION. 1t is not intended to deny
the advantages Of the expedition, nor to cast any
censure upon its expenditures, but simply TO de-
fend the economy OF the coast surveyundert the adj
ministration ofthis department. The largest APP
preparation asked for the coast of the Atlantic
M nd of In, 1,,. H.,
600; that to meet the unusual condition of things
on the Western coast and the purchase of a
steam vessel is Sal 5000, and the average appro-
priation but 800 600.
g. The number of officers of the navy on coast
survey service 10 June, 1850, was Ia ieutenants
and II passed mdshipmen, Sc.-total 81. In
December, $780, the number was 6 lcutenants
and II passed midshipmen-tota 49, These
were distributed in ten photographed parties,
each one under the direction of naval officer
Each single photographic party then numbers
In the average from three to four officers, and
when IN commission, surveying, four to six Off.
GERS. During the Surveying season these par
ties have been distributed along the coast as
shown in the table accompanying the report of
the superintendent of the coast survey They
have executed photographic work in Maine,
Massachusetts,, New York. Maryland, Virginia,
North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Flor
ida, Alabama, Mississippi, Texas, California, and
Oregon.
In 1889, under the Navy Department, four
teen officers were employed in surveying one
river and three harbors in three adjacent States
on the Atlantic; in lsi0-'ll twenty.four in sur
veying three harbors in three adjacent States on
the Gulfof Mexico. The advantage in the pres
ent organization of work will appear by contrast
ing these numbers with those given above In
connexion with this it should be recoected that
demands were made for additional officers for
coast survey service, which have only been CON-
piled with by ordering officers already on duty
and useiully employed from the parties in which
they are serving in the office to Others which
are in commission, taking thus from the eff
cheney of one part of the work to make up de-
tails for another.
Thus in two surveying parties, on very linn
tied portion Of the coast, and engaged in sur
veying harbors more officers We're employed
than on the whole photography of the coast sur
vey. have lefore shown the large expense off
these surveys compared with surveys on the