The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-19

dent to remove those ''twin relics" of the war,
Ku Klux and carpet-baggers.
Hydrosraphic Researches aud the Revival
Of American Commerce..
The great problem Of the revival of Ameri-
can commerce and shipbuilding is now deeply
exercising Congress and the public mind. For
several years this subject has been spasmod-
ically discussed and rediscussed, and yet
nothing has been done. Like the Sybilline
books in which the fate Of Rome was sealed
up, each time the question comes back upon
us it makes larger and heavier demands upon
the wisdom and ability of the statesman. 1t
will be a lasting misfortune, II not shame, If
some measure is not now earnestly put into
execution for restoring this great American
interest Commerce is to nation like the
ancient stream Of Pactolus, which ran down
into the streets of Sardis, richly freighted with
gold, and it is for us to decide whether it's
treasures shall be diverted into other channels
| than our own.
The remedies for the present depression Of
commercial and nautical activity in America
lie partly within the power and control Of the
people. But there can be no doubt it lies within
the power and the duty of the national legisla-
ture to do much for Its resuscitation; and the
people are looking to that body to do all that it
can to that end. Without at this time going out
of the way to concoct new measures, great
service can be rendered the shipping interest
by the reform and Improvement Of those
branches of government enterprise specially
created to fosteSand advance these interests.
geographic Office, the Storm Signal Bureau
and other minor departments of q scientific
character. Some years ago, when the Coast
Survey was established, it was argued that the
additional safety its charts would give to our
vessels would encourage investment in ship
ping and give an impetus to trade and naviga-
ton. While that institution prosecuted its
legitimate work there was much accomplished
of which the country might be proud, although
| its charts of our coasts and Misunderstanding
been made, not on the Mercator projection,
| to which all seamen are accustomed, but on
the spherical projection, which is practically
useless to the great majority of sailors-have
never given satisfaction. Still, the Coast Sur
vey, Notwithstanding this and the complaints
that it has become mere adjunct of Yale and
Harvard Colleges, and spends its energy and
means in fitting out Agassiz expeditions, is
capable of performing an inestimable service
for the country. With little of the spirit Of
its former Superintendent-the lamented
| Bache-once more infused into It, and cut
| A. - 80 ce4sn
country would not begrudge the large appro-
priation of two-thirds of million annually
made it.
But the shipping and navigation interests
are much more deeply interested in another
government bureau which, at present, is
receiving annually less than one tenth of the
Coast Survey appropriation. We allude to
the photographic Office, which is charged
with that profoundly difficult and important
responsibility of furnishing series of charts,
not for the coast alone, but for the entire ocean,
from pole to pole. 1t has heretofore been so
crippled for means that it takes years to do
work for which there is pressing exigency.
IF at this time we were at war with England,
our ships and fleets Of gunboats actually
could not 90 to sea for want OF charts, for
which our navy is dependent on Great
Britain. There are, moreover, many parts of
the ocean for which not even British cartog-
raphy has provided, especially along the
eastern shores of the Pacific, in which we
have an increasing and national interest. Not
to dwell on details, the calculation of many of
the great problems Of navigation and ocean
currents, and prevailing marine winds, upon
the settlement of which commerce 80 much
depends for its rapid and economic transits,
and It's safe deliveries of merchandise, cannot
be too carefully pursued; and after the gov
eminent IL in possession Of such information
as commercial and nautical men most need, no
expense should be spared in its widespread
dissemination. It must be long time before
the United States can hope to rival England
in building steam vessels and the only i'm
mediate possibility of the extensive develop
ment of American commerce lies In the direc-
ton Of giving to the sailing vessel the means
of making nearly as fast time and quick trips
on the ocean as the average steamship makes.
The advancement of photographic knowledge
and the improvement of the models of ships,
which Congress might well encourage and
stimulate by high rewards, would 60 far
toward encouraging and awakening the long
depressed and dormant spirit of nautical enter.
prise in this country.
We can now only suggest or point out these
one or two directions in which immediate and
energetic action should be taken, and these
will in turn suggest others. But whatever ID
done, let IL be done quickly. The nation
cannot afford to neglect this great question,
unon which ita honor an a great Power n,