The New York herald., 1874-12-24

ever traversed. Into these regions War Depart.
vains nav been sent; their practical
va vaaue ~ tue moment may not meet the wants OF
the settler or the operator but II Is necessary 20
tne government tnat the place and size OF these
present and prospective operations through rhem
and because o. Their subsequent entry and sale 10
parties desiring TO avail themselves OF the home.
stead right, &c. Into these remote tnacces sslbie
and often dangerous regions parties OF the sur-
to evolve practical results from the problems
intrusted 10 them. And what are some or these
from purely governmental necessity these refer
to delineation OF The surface and description
OF the resources OF the area surveyed can be
easily understood. while from broad, nationa,
standard grows the desirabihty OF investigating
further into scientific questions, solely bearing
upon the distribution OF forms In natural history
and In discussion oi ,he structure OF the eartn's
crust, from stra tigraph'ca and other known
rela,ions' rhsslea !, and perhaps, Pract,ca. ap,
wants OF man. fhe great secret .! so.idity for a
work OF ths nature must grow, however. rom the
cost, granting which, apon .hs as foundation
Gay rom time 70 time cluster the iabors OF the
nelds beyond tae present do..ai1 OF knowledge,
drawing from nature hidden truths, 70 formulate
them INTO law nevertheless the mission Of
she engineer remains the same, and In It's sln pie
way should apply all That Is great aud ali tina; Is
sman OF formulated science 10 the practlca. oDJec!s
ACCURATE MAPS
Making maps scientifically accurate throughout
all their parts OF the interior has not original
proposition been attempted until late years.
Our admirable organizations, the United States
Coast Survey. United states Lake Survey ands
River and Harbor surveys. answering special pur.
poses, and the expeditions for exploration and
surveys, and more lately the land surveys. have
been the priaelpa sources rom whence have
grown the authentic maps OF the country out
little question has ever been raised as 10 the ex-
penditures made for carrying on these great
works, but The utility OF furthering extensive
schemes ofSurveys founded upon a broader policy
OF the great interior west OF the Mississippi, has
repeatedly received an apathetic hearing at the
hands OF Congress. The only method OF securing
permanent position Tor q survey organization,
IT seems to me, Is to place 1t as subject to the
needs OF department oil the government, ful6ll.
lug which IT Will reach phases or economy to in
teror sectional interests, and with 1t vii! grow o
policy coequal with the wants OF the government
SO settled and lasting as to bring to the support
OF enterprises under 1t In course OF time many OF
the best educated minds OF the country, whether
military or civil. While writing my last annual
report some OF the and needs OF explorations
and surveys came INTO my mind and were re-
corded.
would endedvor to impress upon your minds
the importance OF these surveys so far as relates
TO their uses to the government. In so dong
may nave undertaken too much, since am but an
humble worker in small fraction OF this great
ned, vet II one sets forth the plan, wherelrom has
grown to the War Department the economy
promised Ia the early stages OF this work, one
might well De pardoned for venturing upon the
yet untrOdden fields from which other portions OF
the government might gather fruit.