The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-08-25

Ersrcauctsen ~ G@a-zsae P'scsars Gallery
The UsnSeA States De p&rtmous,
The gas on Monday evening Was Lighted, for
the frsl tine, In tho Palace. Il was a unoo,n.
mon and beautifm sght 10 see such an immense
building decorated by 80 many jets of light.
streaming from every quarter and section. There
are some four thousand burners in the build
ing. which illuminate every part. In the glare Of
this immense volume Of light the Palace appears
very different from the daytime aud the long aisIcs
Of stafualy sparkle with new beauties under the Inn
mense and glowing done. II Is contemplated open
ing the Palace in the evening about the first OF Sep
TENDER next.
The workmen yesterday and the day before,
were engaged mostly In the picture gallery. The
sections Of the Italian and Austrian departments
have been robbed OF their treasures below stairs,
and they have been Transferred to this new recep.
tacle Of the fine arts, which will be opened OF some
indefinite time within q fortnight We understand
that the Dusseldorf Academy will contribute to the
gallery of the Crystal Palace some fifty of their paint
iDgs. 1t Is lighted with two rows Of gas burners.
running through the centre, like the arrangement
in the rooms of the American Art Union.
The picture gallery of the Crystal Palace ought to
be something 10 pride ourselves upon: Let its direc
tors see that nothing is admitted there which will
rather depress than please the finer sensbilites OF
the intellect Nothing is more harsh and unpleasant
to the eye Of o cultivated mind than bad painting;
nothing is more agreeable and eieyating than good
one
The number OF visitors yesterday we're 500.
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT.
COAST sUgvEY cENERAL ORG ANIMATION AND FIELD
Among the articles cODgregated in tho Crystal
Palace few 30 much invite intelligent examination.
so imperatiyeiy require the aids Of cea descrip
tive illustration, as the scres of instruments and
charts in the Coast Survey Department. These GRE
selected and arranged with view to exhibiting the
principal methods ard processes employed on this
extensive work; and though the collection is neces-
sary wanting in some essentials it presents means
Of readily comprehending the character, leading
features and results Of this organization. Not doubt
ing that q work 90 truly national and perfect will
possess positive interest for many Of our readers,
and knowing chat the instruments exhibited can
only BIO understood by being described in relation to
the entire system Of operations in which they are
used we propose now to give such general account
Of the history, organization methods and results Of
the Coast Survey as will enable visitors duly to APP
precate the articles exhibited.
Accurate geography is Of quite recent date, and
all old maps and charts especially, are drawn with
fancifuI vagueness quite incompatible with our pre-
sent views and necessities. The surveys Of the
American coast, even including Des Barres' compa-
ratiyey excellent charts had been found SO disoined
and inadequate that the need of a systematic, con
nected and accurate survey of the entire coast of the
United States was distinctly felt On such a survey
being proposed by Prof Patterson, in 1906, Mr. Gala
tin the Secretary Of the Treasury strongly recon,
mended it, and in 1907 o law authorizing it was
passed Nothing of much Importance was done,
however, until 1882, when the work was systematic
ally undertaken, and from that time to the present
annual appropriations and a steady progress have
marked its history. Mr.. Hassler was the first Super
intendent, holding this position first from 1911 to
lslS and then from 1892 to his death in 1913.
He was succeeded in 1874 by Professor A. d.
Bache, who has continued to discharge the
duties Of this responsible position up to the pre-.
sent time. The annual appropriations have in
creased the work by its expansion has made more
rapid progress desirable and attanable Prof. Baches
organization of the entire coast into eleven distinct
sections enables all the successive operations Of the
survey to go on simultaneously in many local.
ties, If this be desired thus giving to the whole work
O much more manageable character. and making at
tain0ble the final results on any particular loo Atty
in comparatively short period. Some work has
been done in all these eleven sections, though only
one can be regarded essentially finished. The
main original operations tending rapidly to com
pleton in four or five sections but even after all is
dore in the first survey, re examinations will CONT
rue TO be necessary at localities undergoing change
1t will require at present rates, not far from fifteen
years to conclude the survey of the Atlantic and
Cuff coasts. and somewhat longer period for
that Of the Pacific coast though larger appropria-
tons would abridge this time If required. The i'm
mense development of our sea coast gives to the
Coast Survey an unprecedented magnitude of opera
tons yet there is no portion Of that long line which
commerce does not require to have accurately de
fined, and no lurking dangers can exist in the ada
cent waters without subectng to formidable risk not
only great and npidly increasing commerce, but
also human life. The introduction Of steam power
into ocean navigation, by causing vessels to follow
the coast without fear Of storms makes them but the
more exposed TO those lurking dangers which thor
ough photographic examination discloses and de-
fines. Moreover, there Is kind Of immortality to
the results Of accurate surveys for, except in
few instances, the results Of correct first survey
remain applicable through an indefinitely long
period. And where changes are progressing
as, for instance, at Sandy Hook, Boston Har-
Dor, and the mouth OF the COlumbia-the
Importance Of accurate surveys, whereby their laws
and tendencies can be decsively made out, is even
greater than in those portions which experience no
change II is fact that the localities undergoing
changes are very frequently just those Of most i'm
portance to commerce. We cannot, then, too high
ly value thoroughly accurate determination Of all
our photographic shore lines for future use IN COM
merce and hydraulic engineering. We need to
know once for ALL the ocean bottom along the shore,
and the tides, currents and characteristics Of the
great deep ITSELF lar beyond our marine league Of
domain. The commerce, which contributes no large
a pait Of orr national revenue, rightfuIy demands
in return that protection which charts based on ac-
curate surveys, alone can furnish. While England
is expending millions upon surveys OF foreign coasts,
ia addition to all she gives for home photography
and topography, we are bound, at least. to urge
vigorously forward this survey Of our coasts not
only own national benefit. but as matter OF in
ternatonl comfy and justice The two thou.