The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-01-21


coast several of the harb0rs have been carefully
amined. In addition to this good progress has been
made in the survey of the waters OF San Francisco
bay. plan Of the city has been published to which
will soon be added the adjacent topography. The
trangulation embraces the waters OF San Francisco
and Suisun bays extending from Mare Island Straits
to the entrance and for several miles up ana Gown
the coast. The topography has been completed ior
a chart Of San Francisco bay. and the photography
will be executed the coming winter. The trlanguia-
tion OF the Columbia river has been extended thirty
three miles from its mouth.
A commencement has also been made IN tne sur.
vey Of the Santa Barbara islands, including the land
surveys, by the Godetic method. In connection WIN
this rapid progress of the survey on this coast obser
vations have been made for latitude and longitude,
and the magnetic variation. The geographical p0-
stion Of the coast from the Straits OF San Juan de
Fuca to San Diego, has been established; the lati-
tude and longitude of the most important headands
having been determined by sufficiently numerous and
reliable preliminary observations The latitude OF
seventeen stations and the longitude OF nineteen sta
tons and the magnetic variations OF seven stations
have been thus determined. On the Atlantic and
Gulf coast the usual attention has been given to the
same subject. Magnetic observations have been
made at thrty-three stations. Sixteen longitude and
seventeen latitude stations have been occupied, and
ten base lines measured. great extension has been
given to the method of determining the longitudes of
cardinal points by using the electric magnetic tele
graph method Of admitting Of Ia. degree Of prTeshl
exploration of the Gulf stream has been continued
Great progress has been made in publishing the re-
suits OF the survey. Forty-two charts, elaborate and
highly finished, and forty-two preliminary chartshave
already been published and twentyseven sheets are
in various stages Of engraving. The geographical
positions determined by the survey, from its COM
mencement to July, 1851 have been published. inc
latitude and longitude of 5000 points have thus
been given to the public and furnishing information
of great value for general and local purposes Many
special examinations have been made to determine
the proper sites for lights ghtboats, beacOns, and
buoys, along the whole coast, from Maine to Texas;
and as regards the Western coast the entire duty of
selecting SITES has devolyed upon and been performed
by the Coast Survey. gives me great pleasure to
acknowledge the piompttude with which this duty
has been performed and my confidence in the results
thus reached.
!. 1t has been an arduous and responsible duty, re-
curing in each case personal examination, and in
many accurate surveys OF the localities. Much
valuable information has also been furnished in
nection with the river and harbor improvements,
greatly expedting the plans for prosecuting these
works, and making available the results of the sur
yeys and the personal examination of the superin-
/, tendents to this branch of the public service.
In view of the very extensive correspondence
which necessary appertains 70 such extended and
varied operations it is respectfully that
the same authority as to receiving sending official
communications connected with the survey, now eX-
ercised by the several bureaus of this department,
may be extended to the superintendent of the Coast
Survey and to the Assistant in charge of the Survey
Office, the Superintendent being necessarily absent
in the field much of his time. The duties of ranking,
now thrown upon this department, are extremely
onerous, while it produces delay incompatible with
that prompt despatch of the business Of the survey
always to be desired.
MISCELLANEOUS.
In pursuance of the act Of 3lst August last, au-
thorZing the formation Of Lighthouse Board, one
officer OF engineers of the army and of the topo
graphical engineers, two naval officers of high rank
and two civilians Of distinguished scientific acquire
ments have been designated by the President to form
this Board and one officer OF the navy and Of the
engineers as secretaries. The Board so constituted
Immediately organized and entered upon the duties
assigned them by law. The clerks employed upon
the lighthouse business being one temporary clerk
from the Office of the Secretary Of the Treasury, and
four from the Fifth Auditors Bureau, were, as re-
quired by law, transferred to the Office of the Light
house Board
The Board has been assiduously engaged in the
proper duties assigned it. From the practical know
ledge andhigh professional and scientific attanments
combined in the eminent gentlemen comprising it,
there is no reason to doubt that all the benefits
tempated by this new organization Of that branch of
the public service will be fully realized.
detailed report of the operations of the Board
comprising such changes and improvements in the
present system as in its judgment have become ne
Cessary, is submitted with the present report
Under the act Of the 3lst August last, providing
for the construction Of not less than six out
ters the department advertised for proposals for the
building of six vessels of designated size and finish
Proposals have accordingly been received, and the
contract for the whole number has been awarded to
the lowest bidder, under ample security for its faith
full execution. The appropriation made will be suff-
Gent for the constructor OF said vessels and their
perfect equipment for service
OF the several custom houses authorized, or in
COZ rse of construction that at New Orleans has pro-
crossed as far circumstances would permit; that
at Savannah has been completed and occupied at
Charleston the foundation is progressing with all pos
sble despatch. Sites have been purchased, and pro-
posas publicly invited for the erection Of custom
house budingsat Mobile, Norfolk Bangor Louisville
St Louis, and Cincinnati. Sites have been selected
at Bath and Waldoboro' Maine land Wilmington, in
Delaware and their purchase will be completed when
jurisdiction
from the States in which they respectively stu
ated in accordance with the requirements Of thejont
resolution Of September, ls4l. A site has been
selected for the building authorized at Richmond,
Virginia. So much Of the appropriation however,
will be absorbed by its purchase that it has been
deemed advisable to delay for the present any steps
of requesting from Congress an additional appro-
priation and the removal Of the existing restriction
as to the amount Of expenditure. Contracts have
been made for the erection OF the custom house
buildings ut San Francisco, in California, and
Pittsburg, in Pennsylvania and the buildings
will be prosecuted to completion with the utmost
possible despatch. The restrictions imposed upon
The department by limited appropriations in the
various acts authorizing the erection of custom
houses and post Offices, forbid in many the erection
Of ire-proof buildings, or the adoption Of plans
embracing style OF material comparable with
many of the local public or private buildings in the
same places.
Within these limited appropriations in many cases,
accommodations must be provided for the custom
house, post Office, United States courts, offices for
United States Marshal, and Clerk of the United
States courts The great value of the papers which
must necessarily collect within the buildings embrace
ing the above mentioned Offices, demand that every
precauton should be taken on the part of the govern
ment to prevent their destruction by fire. Some of
the appropriations at the control of the department
have been reduced by the purchase of the necessary
site, or were originally so limited as to render it
doubtful if the contemplated buildings, with proper
accommodations, can be erected without additional
appropriations being made. Special communications
in relation to of these win be made to Congress
soon specific information can be obtained.
The contract for the extension and re-organiza-
ton of the Baltimore custom house building, has
been concluded, in conformity with the act Of the
last session.
The great distance and consequent difficulty and
delay in communicating with Oregon has prevented
any definite progress being made in the erection of
the proposed building at Astoria.