Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-06-02
NUMBER 10.
From the Buffalo Democracy
A Monument Worth While Erectiup

: n 7 =
Hassler, the mathematician, conceived In his
home in Germany the ambitious project Of cor
verting the Atlantic seacoast Of the United States
OF America into an imperishable monument Of his
lame and his labors. The communication Of his
desire to plan and execute for our government a
complete survey o. It's eastern coast, led finally to
his engagement to do the work.
How he performed II, is well known to that nor
tion Of the public which takes an interest in nayi
cation, and In the federal legislation connected
with the hydrographical bureau at Washington. To
but few, however, is known the absorbing passion
with which this distinguished mathematician pur-
sued his lofty purpose Of erecting durable mon
ument to his memory in the American coast sur
pyey. In heat and in cold--in rain and in shine-by
night and by day--did he, bred to the best socie-
ty, and familiar with distinguished men In his own
and in this country labor at his task upon the sea-
side, on exposed headlands, in wet swamps, In
marches, in the broiling sun--exposed to swarms
Of insects and the miasms Of damp and unhealthy
localities.
lie was in the habit Of correcting the work Of
his subordinates, and revising and generaizing
their results, at his lodgings in Washington Once,
while thus engaged, the carriage Of the Russian
Minister, Mr.. Bodsco, came to his door. The foot
man rang, and the door was opened BY "a small,
STOPPING man, with spectacles, and clad somewhat
remarkably Iii green baixe loose coat %
is Mr.. Hassler INF" I
He Isl
" The Russian Minister would like to see him.
/" Let him enter rp--and the door was left open,
and the green baize and the spectacles and the
STOPPING form receded into large room
Mr. Bodisco entered there alone, found the Sur
veyor surrounded with maps charts, and written
and figured memoranda, that covered all the floor.
He introduced himself to Mr.. Hasser and said that
he had been commissioned by the Russian Empc.
ror to offer him employment in his Empire, at any
salary he might see fit to name-that II he had pc
euniary engagements here, they would be paid for
himthat time sufficient to close his affairs would
be allowed him--but that his early departure for
st. Petersburg would be desirable.
The German listened till he closed, and in sim
pie language told the diplomatist that he was not
working for money, that he was building his mon
ument upon the American coast, and could not
rest till 1t was DONE To the suggestion that he
was receiving an inadequate compensation for his
labor, the mathematician replied, " In money, sir
no get paid-but shall accomplish one invaluable
labor for this American republic that shall never
perish. That, Connt, is much better than money"
How wise was his ambition--if ambition Of pos
thumous fame Is ever wise The reputation con-
ferred by wealth is as evanescent as il Is vulgar
Only works of genius and benevolent utility en-
dure the corrosons Of time, and retain place In
mans memory. Long after the names Of the
Rothschids shall have been utterly forgotten in
Europe and America, De Foe will be held in gen.
eral honor for his Robinson Crusoe, and Harriet
Beecher Stowe be revered and honored for the
glorious humanity of Uncle Toms Cabin.
On the Atlantic coast the now dead Hassler is in
afectionate mention among all seafaring men and
dwellers near the beach. They speak admiringly
of his passionate, sefdenying devotion to his great
work. His venerstion for landmarks, too, which
sailors can SO well appreciate, is often talked Of
The navigators of the dangerous Delaware Bay
will remember Liston's poplar, below Reedy Island,
and the Bomb hickory, famous landmarks in those
waters. These great and much cherished trees in
tervened in the survey frequently, and interrupted
the observations. 1t never entered Hassler's head
to cut them down; but at great trouble he made a
station thirty miles of, upon the height of bleak
Iron Hill, and there got his observations by firing
tar barrels at night at the base Of the trees SO dear
to the Delaware Bay navigators.