Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1871-12-15
THE CO.yST SURy'RI'.

Almost every one has some knowledge
of our coast survey, but comparatively few
have kept trace of its history, or have any
adequate conception Of the magnitude of
the work. Its Importance, however, is
more obvious. Remembering that we
have n fore gin commerce whose annual
gold value reaches seven or eight hundred
millions, or more, and employs some twen-
ty thousand vessels, and two hundred
thousand seamen; that our coastng trade
gives employment to half as many moro
vessels and men; that the passengers car
ried are many hundreds of thousands, and
the safety OF all this property and these
lives depends upon the accurate knowl-
edge, which the coast survey is endeavor-
ing TO gather up and disseminate, no one,
certainly, will question the necessity. The
wonder is, that ii was not sooner appreea-
ted, and, in earlier years, tue work press
ed with enthusiasm and energy. Surely,
an average OF moro than three hundred
wrecks every year on our coast, with the
fearful loss OF human life as well as oil prop
erty which they involved, should have led
10 the annual expenditure of more than
en- ships, if that would in any manner
have helped to lessen the peril. Yet not
even this was expended. The work was
delayed for moro than quarter OF a CEN
fury after it was commenced, with hardly
anything accomplished.
The first earnest fort to organize a coast
survey was made in 1907. In his message
to Congress that year, Mr.. Jefferson recon-
mended the establishment of survey "for
| the purpose of making complete charts of
our coast, and The adjacent shoals and
soundings." According TO the recommen-
| dalton fifty thousand dollars were appro-
| priated, and the Secretary Of the Treasury,
| Mr.. Gallatin, addressed circulars TO the
| principal scientific men in the country ask
ing their opinion as to the best plan to be
| pursued. Among those submitted that of
| Mr.. f. r. Hassler was preferred. This
| gentleman was native OF. Switzerland,
and had been engaged in the trigonomet-
rical survey of that country, and was emf
nently qualified to superintend the similar
work which he suggested should be under
taken along our coast. No beginning
however, was made till 1911, when Mr..
Hassler was sent TO Europe to purchase
the necessary instruments and standards
of measure. This was just at the breaking
out of the war which caused him to be de-
tanned abroad as an alien enemy till 1915.
On his return to this country he was for
maly appointed Superintendent of the sur
vey, and commenced his work in 1917, in
the vicinity Of New York. Before he
could publish the results of his first years
labor, however, tho work was discontn-
ued and another interval of ten years al
lowed to elapse before 1t was resumed
And this time II was not the necessities Of
war that lnteriered, but the lack ofapprecla.
ton of the importance of the work on The
part of the part of the people and of Con
gress. But in 1928 the Secretary of the Ma
Wy again earnestly presented to Congress
the Importance of rec establishing the sur
vey. Yet it was urged without success
till 1882, when the measure was carried
and Mr.. Hassler put in charge ofthe work
which had now remained at n stand-stil
fourteen years. But from this time it con
tnued 10 be prosecuted with whateve
means were placed at the command of Mr.
, Hassler till his death, in 1913. At tina
/ time the survey had proceeded from New
York East as lar as Point Judith, ant
{ South as lar as Cape Henopen or, in all
over a direct coast line of less than iiv'
t hundred miles, though 1t had been thirty
r six years since the effort was begun, ant
, the other lnbors which have since beel
? added TO the original plan had then hardI!
been even projected. This, however, wa
] far less the fault of Mr.. Hassler than of tn