Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-11-26

from powerful battery OF quantity is then so passed
mat the engraved and rolled copper plates become cleo
trode ana an eecroyc action goes in the solution
OF suphate depose OF copper the engraved plate
then proceeds by the decomposition of the suphate while
the freed acid attacks the rolled copper plate and so
plies suphate OF copper to the solution This action is
continued first in vertical and then in horizontal no.
ston of the plates until the of copper deposited
is sufficient to make plate that viii bear free handling
The solution in the horizontal vat is heated by constant
heater from leo to 1902 during work. the original and
deposited plates are then withdrawn together from the
solution filed around the edges, and separated along the
iodine layer The original is thus released and this de-
posted plate, called Alto is in turn used as marx
ON which to deposite new plate In the same manner
This plate is perfect copy Of the original and is found
to be better for printing than the panshed originals,
account Of the and purity of the cop
per- This process has attained the greatest certain
ty when in skilfu hands, and is used constantly with
perfect confidence. 1t affords great facility for erasures
for inserting views and subsketches and for extending
the limits of plates 1t has been applied to plates of the
largest size with degree Of best appreciated by
inspecting set among those nowat the Crystal Palace
including original Alto and basso duplicate
each forywo by thirty eight inches in size and except
the alto, one-eighth of an inch thick.
Next and last comes the Printing Department. which has
for its simple function the business of copperpate print
ing, and in which the methods those usually employ
ed in copper and steelpate printing The ink is worked
the face and into the lines of the plate by hand ink
roller the plate being warmed for the purpose Of soften
ing the ink, by placing it an iron box filled with steamy
vapor from distant fire and boiler The Of sur
plus ink is then wiped from the face of the plate by rub
bing it with rags and the wipng is then completed by
rubbing with the palms of the hands, method for which
good substitute has yet been discovered The wping
being completed the plate is laid the bed of copper
plate printing press the sheet of map paper is laid its
face and they then drawn, by hand crank move
ment under the heavy pressure of the press roller Ban
kes interposed between the and the paper
On lifting the paper from the plate, the ink before lodged
in the engraved lines appears the impression n ridge
lines The process of mixing, wping and pressing
out plate quite rapidly SO that fine copperplate
ally gives only from 1000 to 500 perfect impressions
though the largest eecroype plate yet used nowhstand
ing the exceeding fneness and decacy of its work. gave
ZOO unmpaired impressions. Steel plates give
much greater number Of prints before falling many
100000 being sometimes attained but these not used
in the Coast Survey Oce because the original cost of
engraving them is from third to half greater and
erasure from them is also much difficult Nor
steel plates yet eecroyped hence they do not afford the
facilities for the altos for plate extensions for
the insertion of views &C. which that process gives and
which than compensaes the greater wearing of the
copper The printing of the sketch plates in the Annual
Report is done by the process Of transferring the ink from
copperplae impression to the face of stone, and
printing from this transferred ink in the ordinary
of photography This process thus becomes of cons
derable Importance as without it the usual number of
report impressions would about twelve copies of
each plate entering that work.
Considerable attention has been bestowed in the Coast
Survey Office the improvement Of the pressing process
to obyiae the distortion Of large sheets in printing
by substituting iron for wood and other materials in the
large printing press employed for the largest maps
uniformity has been secured and the distortion produced
by the roller has been partially remeded by the mode of
passing the paper through the press press printing
by the pressure of plane surface is still considered very
desirable and Mr.. Saxton has been experimenting for
this purpose. paper is also much desired which shall
have its bres composed in fetng and not arranged
one direction, as in ordinary paper.
The part borne by the Archives in the progress of these
various operations sufficiently obvious, being indeed
but the careful administration of the original materials to
which constant recourse is had.
is
structon and repairs of instruments for in field and
photographic work Theodotes transits zenith sectors
sextants &C. will get out of order by use, and it ndis
pensabe to have skfu special workmen to repair these
injuries Considerable work is also done in this depart
ment towards making and repairing Office instruments
The system of accounts accountability, and dsburse
ments is simple and thorough, special disbursng agent
being charged with the entire detail of monetary admins
tration under adequate rules and instructions
comparison of the Coast Survey Office rs it now is
with what it in 1914 would strikingy illustrate the
progress of the Survey Then the Superintendent
able daily TO inspect all its operations, and to verify in
person the work in hand. Now, he scarcely find
time for detailed monthly inspection; much has the
extent both of field and Of office work been increased by
organization into sections and other changes. The AS
sstant in charge Of the Office down the time when
Capt. A. A. HUMPHREYS of the Typographical Engineers,
relieved by Maj l. STEVENS Corps ofEngneers
at the close of 1s49 was able to do the duties now de-
volvng the various heads Of Office Departmeuts-only
however, by ruinous over-applicaton. To Major (now
Cow STEVENS the present office organization much
ing his efforts. On his appointment Governor Of Wash
ngton Territory in March last Capt II. W. BEyHAM, Of
the Corps Of Engineers, appointed his successor
The experience in administrative duties acquredby officers
Of Engineers and Typographical Engineers has proved
exceedingly opporune for the discharge of the compca
ted functions Of this position In further testimony Of
the esteem in which these officers held for admnisr
tive duties, may mention that they and more
desired for Office duty two besides the Assistant in charge
now being this service also two others field duty
The Superintendent is himself striking example Of the
value Of this peculiar species of training, his education
West Pointer and Engineer officer being the best
possible for producing union Of scientific aud admins
trative talent
We must not further protract remarks Office /
work and organization is it needful to do for in
the number and character Of tho maps, charts, and
sketches produced viii always be found the best proof
aud criterion of the efficiency and organic perfection Of
the Coast Survey Office These being open TO public in
specon at the Crystal Palace and elsewhere, will speak
for themselves and win fully atone for the deficiencies
and mperfections of the analysis which conclude
TO UNITED STATES MAIL COSTRAC-
TORS AND THE PUBLIC.
AUDITORS OFFICE Posr OFFICE DEPARTMENT,
NOVEMBER /, 1853.
has long been the practice Of this Office pay the drafts