The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-08-09
sr ROBERT ARMSTRONG.


Tea ospss sssAs 100
s From the New York Times.
IScientiAo Conyenlion 1T cleveland.
rrysa g Geographic. Dsp~smsn. q u. Library Of
CsnSyess.
sss BY LIEUT.. 4. , HukT, U. s. A.
The psosent occasion seems peculiarly appropriate Tor
brinqins forward and Initiating plan or project which
has been to- s0gs mOHths maturing IN my own ml0d
and which has been well received BY those TO whom
have mentioned IT, TRUST do not exsxgefae its merits.
or oVessae s importance, anticipating that this asso-
cIsca viii give il ths whole weight Of lis infuencs and
Hsvin~ ccssjon ~ an assistant on the coast survey
10 make various researches into special points OF our
coast geography. found il matter Of great difficulty 70
coaie The various authorities bearing thereon; and still
more difficult TO make that had not omitted some
such authorities. possibly of the first importance tihen
occurred to attempt the collection and methodzing
Of information relative maps and charts, and of the
localities where they might be found Something was
being done in this way but j WAS soon clear that
formidable difficulty would still remain in the dispersion
Of the materials thus indsxed To resedy this. in part.
some ifscings and printed copies added TO the coas
survey collection, though the limited means thus appca
bic prevented anything bordering on completeness even
in regard 10 our own seacoast
Al this stage Of affair. occurred to tba. complete
and ;pss. ssosaph,sal ssy no, only Of materials on
whole c0untry--t0 America at large, and TO the whole
world-would be highly valuable aid to all such
searches whether undertaken the coast survey
any other purpo,esher OF history, Of science Of COM
meree OF bone policy, OF foreign relations. This idea
Al connected lsef with the Congress Library. az
the place. of all Others, where il could best be executed
and where il would prove OF most value and convent.
Congress s renslang the Library, alter it's burn
ing, aud now 10 the time when this plan can besi be un
These geographical aids are greatly needed in Con-
ess Tor lhe clear understanding and discussion OF many
%p0I,an' as ausss''ons Ooa soms:,c and ofssa and 10
terestt.
The definite plan which seems 10 me most worthy 10 be
adopted i essentially the following:
Lsi gsoEIspaiea! department. of 'hs consrs.. Ii
gsnxed department. with its own executive oiiicerthe
gene. direction being BY the Join, Library Comm,ee
H. Let special appropriations be made for this depart
msnt Of lei he Library Commiee set apart portion 81
the general library appropriations for this purpose During
the period OF collecting the great mass Of existing
iesla these appropriations would require 10 be proper
Ill t., i6s appropriated funds be applied to the col
lecon arrangement and ndexing Of all important geo
crap icai materials relating 10 The whole world ALSO in
part to tbs neees sary expenses Of administration.
" Among The materials thus 70 be collected, the fol.
e. p &. ssv s
geography of the United States both lis seacoa.t
and interior, including traced col les OF all valuable maps
and charts N manuscript and not published. The ma
teraa for usrsng the pas, and present geography OF
esch Sate county township and city, should be gathered
by purchase co'resrondsnce and tracing 8 All maps
" or seAcoaS chart OF all ths Euroe and other for
eign Ssses aud the detailed Typographical surveys ss
y.
moat approved maps published from private resources
whether aliases, nautical charis, or mural maps in
cudng publications physical guide books
railroad maps and city hand books 0. A complete coll
lection oi all the OF voyages of discovery and
exploration, especaIly those undertaken by the Eogish
and French governmens T. Geographical geodetic and
bblioysphcL aids TO e amplest geog nvesrxa
ton.
v Having an organizasion and appropriations for
gathering such Of material, il would be OF the
bret Importance TO arrange complete and systemac in
dces or catalogues which would ., make known
all the material each locality. and 10 have those
maistiss 20 arranged best TO facilitate special
search.
VI. drawing room. in which materials for the COL
lection could be copied either for ills files. or
public and private calls, would be indispensable The
Completeness Of this scheme In this compilation
could be conducted IN answer TO congressional calls and
IN keeping constantly corrected and FLIED ont set OF
State maps on large scales, 10 which map publishers
should have free access
VII. competent executive officer would be able TO
maintain correspondence with persons having special
geogfapA;ca knowledge, and keep list OF persons
who could b addrssssd for additional information
i0feign ed domestic locales Aso corresponding re-
la,ions should be maintaned with foreign geographical
soe'et'ss, and their publications secured with prompt
nsss
VII. The bead Of this department could present,
through the Library Committee, annual report the
geographical txplosaons by and foreign gov.
srnmssS, or by individuals. 20 far as their results
be learned; making this. indeed, synopsis Of all the
interesting and important geographical facts publica
bons fos The year.
IN. h0Osk Tue duues Wnlcn would belong 10 THIS de-
parsmen would be that Of calling attention points de-
mandins examination, localities needing exploration.
Aso. would be able 10 furnish The preliminary inform
anon LOT such exaoFaons, indicate the sources
whence il could be derived
Any one who will reflect on the outline now present
% mus, an sure, c0Aced that here il field hitherto
uo0ccaped among No, wherein much good can be done
oy one Possessing the proper qualifications and that
,osss qusIincaons must be eminenty SPECIAL II success
iu results are 70 be obtained No collection in The Ua
ied SsAtee approaches to the organic or e
hc'sney hers contemplated The Harvard collection, 40
exceiissn IN old maps, IL very deficient in those sre eat
woske Of interof and survey which
the last hfiy yesrs No collection exists in our land
which furnishes ful ma,cIals for extensive inves,ixa
uone, such - are now moro and demanded by
ases1'ons oi history, science, commerce, and policy
formed anywhere besides in the Congress library. As
Congress hss 40 much to gain BY THE plan asd a. the
ssvssl executive departments Washington would find
% great an advantage in such systematic collection, il
noeId really be made paional undertaking. In the
fsc'ties II would furnish the State Department. the
sntneer and typographical bureaus the coast survey the
National Obsefva.oy aad the several naval bureaus The
cost The value Of such collection in lie relations to
sgsation in s illuAisa,oa OF river and barbor ques
ilohs IN its prospective for illustrating history and
generally means OF exalhg and correcting cur geo.
saPn'csi knowlsdke, gives il mos truly the character
proper Tor naionsl enterprise Nor need doubt ihe lib
fa seton q Con&resa the subject be well and earnestly
brought before it, All intelligent mehers musi .t once
perceive he advantage and conyeHisncs 10 ,hemsevss in
dsenan,nk per high uns,s There 10 scarcely day of
conersesopel seeston whoS question of home or
tose4s socastes % coming need full and or.
rect gsoGfaphicA Eeeources Mo.eover Consrsss i al
ways we'll nclined toward actual surveys and explors
tons, and n would Be peculiarly nconsislent ior II 10
iark II nttnfn