The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-30
rHE UNITED STATES aYDaoGaAPH,C
SERVICE.

Extension Of the Fields Of Labor of tho
United States photographic Once.
The following petition from many eminent citi-
zens will be presented to Congress In few days,
praying for the establishment OF an efficient gov.
crnment photographic oface:-
To THE HONORABLE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REP.
After the United States government. purchased the
pilates nd Il sie copyright Tor the books published
United States Hydrographlo once at Washington
became the only institution in the country to which
books necessary for navigation.
1t was surely wise measure OF the government
to take the preparation Of the material on which the
safety OF our ships and the lives OF mariners de-
pend into Its own care; but, having done so, and
thus making ing the competition q private parties inn
our shipping should be able to do by allottlng to
IL the necessary force and adequate means.
The United States Is the only great maritime
nation which depends for Its means OF navigation In
. great measure on the labors Of foreign Power,
nations have public institutions which provide them
with sea charts and nautical guides In their own
OF those parts OF the ocean which are the common
property OF all Our own tongue, common with the
this on the part OF The American people.I -
the United States photographic Oaice, in order to
free me nation rom ny dependence on the Engsh
tue two OF any duration might have serious cOnse-
quota 70 the general fund OF nautical inlormanon
sheuld,
FWSE-Pr0vld0 as speedily as possible correct
issues OF all the Charts sailing directions, &C.,
needed Tor ships, where tney not yet at hand
OF all parts OF the globe.
vessels OF war and other craft to be assigned, OF
such avenues OF American commerce OF which there
are none or but deficient charts; and
Tand-Collect through our c0nsus all informa.
ton OF Interest and OF benefit to our shipping In
aSe nsm 9n on
for reference and to publish them as far as expe-
Thn ELECTROMAGNETIC Ocrce nroror,v cor.,tr+oa ,s
not to provide only for the United States naval yes
sells, but 1t s for the benefit OF the whole shipping
community OF the natlan 1t should, therefore, be ut
New York. where there could be an Intimate In.
tercOur6e with the officers OF the merchant service
ye q s % ns @
gers OF which portions Of the seas are full II they
could make their reports personally much confusion
now on the charts In regard TO such dangers, would
be avoided the wants OF the merchant service could
be better ascertained; besides this, the Mariner II
at liberty to inspect freely the important material
necessarily gathering In the archives Of the otice
and with free access at all hours to Its library,
which should contain oil books, &C., on matters Of
navigation published anywhere, would find a store
Of Information aad for self-instructon offered no.
find most important protection OF their interests
by the means then always at their command to ex-
tant or the places OF wrecks.
For all these reasons the undersigned citizens in.
ees4 III shining pray to Sw Liberal
Hydrographic Office, with the suggestion that les
most appropriate locality would be In or In the
vicinity OF New York.
And they Will ever pray.
Signed by J. ID. Jones, President Atlantic Mutual
Insurance Company; J. p. PauIison, President sun
Mutual Insurance Company; Daniel Drake Smith,
President Commercial Insurance Company; John
| v. Tappan, Vice President Union Mutual Insurance
Company; Elwood Walter, President Mercantile
and Fire Insurance Company; John X. Myers,
| President Pacific Mutual Insurance Company; A.
| pany, by Allan McLane, Presidents Brown Bros. b
! Co, the Atlantic Mall Steamship Company, by A.
| w. DimOck, President: q. K Garrison the Panama
Railroad Company, by Daniel Hoadey, President;
Williams 4 Guion; Wetmore, Cryder Il Co.; Grin
nell, Mnturn Co.; Ii. d. Cromwell J. Co., +.
| Alexander 4 Sons. New York and Mexican Steam
snip line; Livingston, Fox Co., Agents Great
southern Steamship Company; Jas. w. Elwell q
Rowland AspInwall, William Il. Webb.