New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-08-04
CONGRESSIONAL LIBRARY.


franscencing the grasp of every mind the Advise
creating Designer
CONGRESSIONAL LIBRARY
PROJECT Of Geographical DtOI f7eHt q he Li6TAy|
Congress BY Lieut. + Il hr>r.
The present occasion peculiarly appropriate Tor
bringing sno init ng plan or project which - been Tor
: me months maturing ia my own mind. and which has
been well received by those 10 whom have mentioned H.
trust co not eXaggersie It's merits or overrste rs
Importance anticipating that this Association will give
the Whole weight Of its influence ard indor,ement.
Having occasion Assistant on the Coast Survey TO
maize various researches into special points Of our Coast
Geography found IL matter OF great mculy to oouate
the ysrous authorities bearing thereon, aud stu more dh'
cut 10 make that hsd not omitted some such sutho-
rites possibly of the tint importance IL then occurred TO
ne attempt the collection and mehOdikDg OF Informs
ten relative maps and charts and OF the localities where
they might be found Something has been done IN THIS
Way. but il clear that formidable difficulty
It'll in the dispersion of the materials thus
notxtd To remedy this in part some rscngs aud printed
copies added 20 the Coast Survey collection though
the limited thus applicable prevented anything oos
deriDg COMPLETENESS even IN regard u our own seF
COST Al this siage Of sh-irs 1t CURED 10 me inst
complete and special Geographical Library, not only OF
materials the United States coast but OF those re-
aug TO the whole country TO America At large aud 10 the
Who'll. world would be highly vsu able and TO all such re-
searches whether undertaken for the Coast Survey or any
oibr purpose either of history of science OF commerce.
Of home policy Of foreign relations, The idea al once
connected itself with The Congressional Library as the place
Of al others whore could best be executed and where
would prove OF most value and conv-nivnce Consressb
nsisrg the LIBRARY after ITS burning aud now inc
time wheD this plan can best be- uDdsraken These geo
graphical aids greatly needed Congress Tor tue Gear
understanding and discussion VI many qnesions
both mesc and foreign, and Ia no place could sucn
collection better serve all interests.
The definite plan which 10 me most worthy to be
adopted is esseniia ly the following;
let Let Geographical Department OF the Congress Lit
brsry be established distinct and independently organ
lied with rs executive officer the general direction
being by the Joint Library Committee.
I'd l., special appropriations be- msde for this Depart
ment let the Library Committee set apart portion OF
the neral Library Appropriation tor this purpose During
If
thee appropriations would require to be propofuonAoy
large. ,,,,. A., H.
ton indexng OF ALI important gecsraphi-
cal materials relating 10 the whole world also Ia part %
/ the nece ssary expenses Of administration
Among the materials thus 10 be collected. the following
may BE- mentioned let first class terrestrial globe 3D.
All materials illustrating the early and recen, geography OF
the United States with and Interior, Including
/ traced copies OF all valuable maps and charts IN manu-
script. not published The materials for illustrating
the pat and present geography OF cash State County
Township and City should be gathered by purchase cor
rtspondence tracing 3D. All maps aud charts on the
rem aLcer of America 9Th the admiralty or sea coast
charts OF all the European other foreign states and the
detailed Typographical of their interiors where such have
been mace 5h. The most approved maps published rem
private TesOuTcs whether ~ aliases nautical charts or
mural mapI including publications as physical geography
eu dc booAs, railroad msps, aud city baud bsoss 6h
con pete collection all the rges OF voyages OF dis
cos, ~ and especially those undertaken by the
EDsleh ard French Governments. 7th Geographical,
Geodeic and Nautical manuals and treases With al the
requisite photographed aids 10 the smPles Geographical
investigation.
/ 5,b Having an organization and appropriations for
gathering suoh mass OF material would be OF the rst
mp 10 arrange complete and systemHc ndices or
catalogues which would at once msse known all the ma
tera in each locality ana to have those materials so ar
ranged IS best TO facilitate special research
9Th drawing 10 which materials tor the collection
could b. copied b-s public private
CALI would be very desrabe for the completeness OF this
lchene In this room compilation could De conducted in
TO CODgressola calls and IN keeping constantly
corrected ard eo out et Of State maps on large scses
/ 10 which map publishers should havs free access.
7ih competent executive officer would be able 70
maintain with parsons having special Geo
graphical knowl.dge and 10 keep ist of persons who
could be tor additional Inform on foreign snd
don e,tic locass Al.o corrs nding relations should
be with or ign geographical societies. and their
/ pubic cations secured with prOmptness
-ib The head Of this Department could present though
the Library Committee, Annual Report on geographical
explorations by own and foreign governments oroy
md duAIs cir results bs learnsf making
this indeed synopsis Of all the Industry And imPor~ns
geoeTaI heal facts or publications Tor the year
ANY one who will reflect the outline nog presented
NUT sure, csd. that here n field hitherto unos
curied wherein muah good can oe done by one
postssIg the proper qu.lncAton' ana 'n. 'ns's ~
hoaiions be sniDeDy special suce' sni results ss
TO be obtained No cOllec"e "a me tn,ei States Ap
proschs the organic comPsiene- or hcscv mere con
ieuplAtec Ibs Harvard COLLECTION 30 stcsisnt IN Oh.
mas very defee in those great works OF interior ana
4xttusve survey which charaferze the last my years
NJ coli. cnn ersfs m aud xbch furnishes full mate
rails for e1ttbslye nyssg,t ns such ~ are now more
ana more cemanced by qu- u history, science, com
uerce and policy There Is probso iiy tha sucn col
81
gress h,rsry IS Congress has go much TO gam oy nus
au and a. the Executive Departments IN ASH
p.op would fud great advantage Ia such system
s,c collection il should really be made nAiionsl undsfs
skrs Ip tie facilities aid furnish the State Depart,
u.Lt th- Engineer typographical Bareau, hs Colss
survey the National Observatoy aod toe ssvsrs
Rnrssps the Gov. rDInent would derive ful eq'Ashs
fr all IL, cost The value of such COLLECTION IN .s rsiA
tons legislation, Ia its illustrations 81 IssI ~ . ~ -
qu. sOn, it, prospective use Tor e''J' 80
in,., "a means Of eIAlng asd correcting our geo.
kposlsoge sives most truly the character pro-
Fc, ns,or Al enterprise Nor need We doubt the liberal
e,cr ~ C,usrsss If the subject be well and earnestly
h,o.ett h.G,rs L. AL intelligent members m1sf az once
4r,ys the advantage aud convent nee % themselves 70,
fcbargipg these high uuss There is scarcely day Of
CopgrsiCIa session without some question of hons Or
fresu localities coming as 20 need correct geogrk-
uhcsl resources Moreover, Congress always wS iat
cred ward actual surveys andexp oraions and yIad
b. recul2ry Inconsistent for lber&ity 10 ,rj
pTsIg the paratiyely thIg amount needed 20 rag
iagrher and the published and manuscript rs.d1
Of such surveys There sPp~srs the whe no vac 20
lection 70 tbs plan proposed and reason 10 qaesto INK
II can be readily executed II those who know nov ip-
lrtc4fe il vi Themselves somewhat ~ Asaysrs-
eu5iieiorhs attainment Of even tbeeAs qas'AonAns M
HoUrg that this association will cordially approve Of
The vi N as presented and BE- ready ~ act In f4Vof OF
,t.ir r.slzston will now respectfully submit the .O.ox-
/ ing revolution; $4,000 49,. ....,
,d ., ., noint 4 com uiftee Of i've ,-rs 20 .-,sre
- n, ia the name Of this association msm 80. TO
~ I'M Iihrzry Committee Of Congress urging on a. 4ad
,,b n on Congress the Advantages Of est4bllsssz
emTi.ts thoroughly organized and literally sa..-isd
.tesi Department - the Congress Library 80
r.,sr therein such PROJECT or plan Of Org aiz "A a %
h. DevsTter 81 al seem the COMMITTEES best a,2e-
81 10 promote rs hnal .efuness and 70 rea
bill - tAe Government and the country al large