Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-02-26
=, Def A. ID. Bache on the Gulf Stream Ex-

pIOratIOns.
Prof A. d. Bache delivered an interesting lecture on
dv evening at the Hall of the University OF Penn
Ion;a mon the photographic Explorations OF the
GnIf Stream" The audience was large ana mteIngent
.io rIotform being occupied by tie University Faculty
and members of the Philadelphia Board OF Trade under
hose ausnces the lecture was delivered The discourse
Of Prof Bache conversational III tohe' anu aU once
enlisted the attention of his hearers.
Tho distinguished lecturer opened by referring to the
Jnos Of @be authorities of the University, through
boso Indness he had been enabled to secure the hail.
T Lon proceeded at once to his subject which he Illus
tated bv means of charts and diagrams According to
his statement the photographic explorations Of the Uni
ted States extend in nine sections, from Name to Texas
Survey lines-bases of measurement-haye been drawn
from nine points between these two widely distant oca
tps which embrace entire coast and very Thorough
surveys of the bays ndentatOnS and other pecuarles
of the coast have been made almost continuously along
the whole line The work its conception 10 MI has
sier who in 1892 together with Dr. Patterson ate OF
the T. S. Mint in this city, brought this important sui
ot so clearly before the comprehensive mind of Mr. JET
eson that he got Congress to adopt the plans of Mr.
Hassier and make the necessary appropriations The
work has been steadily carried on, and an enormous
amount has been accomplished About 100000 in
all has been appropriated which has not only enabled
the Swans and officers having the matter in charge to
carry out their designs but to publish the results of their
SURVEYS and explorations with suitable maps and charts
The survey of the entire coast can be completed IN twelve
years if the present rapid rate is continued.
The United States Coast Survey and HydrO9raphc
operations are carried on much cheaper and quicker
and with less number of men than other works OF a
similar character
The Gulf Stream was first discovered by Ponce de
Leon and first used as an aid to navigation by Antonio
de Antonnus the pilot of COrtez, who took out the
news of the conquest of COrtez by sailing in the line of
the Gulf Stream until it DETECTED too far out of his
course to allow him to follow it. 10 Dr. Franklin we
owe its being placed upon the maps and charts, as from
information received from Nantucket captain, as
well as his own observations. DR.. Franklin the
first person to have its sweep engraved upon the charts
His chart was published in London, but obstinate John
Bull refused to make of its suggestions and it was
not until Dr. Frankn's chart republished in France
that his observations received the attention they deServ
ed To the same great temperature OF the Gull stream
is warmer than that of the adjacent body OF sea water
and the Professor read Dr. Frankns celebrated letter
written about l777 published in the American PhOs
phca TransacOns containing the results OF his keen
and sagaciOuS observations.
The delightful climate of ireland is owing to the Gu
Stream which ashes its Shores bringing the temperature
and the AgOe sea weeds OF FLORIDA to the Emerald
Isle The cotton wood from the southwest Mississippi
drifts to the bleak shores of Norway borne by the mighty
stream and collects to the establishment of the rule pea
SAINTS of that bleak land Accounts of these phenomena
both curious and interesting to be found in the trans
actions of the Royal Geographical and Antiquarian SO
cieties, of quite an old date.
The letter then proceeded to describe, technical terms
the modes of explanation and experiment which hav
been adopted in the American photographic operations
He showed the immense amount of labor which had beer
expended in getting accurate tests of the temperature
not only of the Gulf Stream, but Of the cold pola
current which runs between the Gulf Stream and tn
American shore
He explained the manner of taking soundings, tn
difficulties which are to be overcome before they
relied on and the Thermometers and other instrument
used Some of particularly registering ther
mometer, invented by Mr.. Saxton, (whom Sir. j. Her
shell called the first mechanic in the world before h
knew that he was euogzing an American) are exceed
ingy curious apd ingenious The results Of the immune
rabe experiments to ascertain the temperature of tn
Gulf Stream have been highly satisfactory The deepes
Prof Bache closed with an eulogy of the oficers-G
n. Bache Mafftt, Perryman, Lee Craven, and Others
and aoundced as the subject of his second lecture,
Friday evening next the results particularly in regar
smperature which have been arrived at since P