New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-02-23
II. s. COAST SURVEY.

Observation-Disclosures TWO TO EIGHT MILES
ysom THEIR TRUE fosITIoN-NEw-YoRK HAIR
soH-pANGKR or ENCRoACHMENTs - QUAY
LINE TO IINI1 THB DOCKS AT JERSEY FLATS
w,.p,NcToS Feb ls-Prof. Benjamin Peirce,
y,.ersntsndent of the United States Coast Survey,
yes.Arfay presented his annual report TO the 'wo
Boueee of Congress. The report is very voumiuous,
alling some $50 pages of manuscript, ana wDen the
rotorts Of ASSISTANTS on special departments are
added 10 will De sweled much beyond lts present
rize The report presents good evidence tnat .Re
getnIts of the last years work do not fall Den'iu
,r,ceAipg wears in immediate or prospective Vaine.
IN. following portions will he found of interest:
In one OF its branches The survey has been IN
rrosress within the present year In each OF the sea-
.oard states Of the Union, and geographical positions
have beer determined in several OF the interior States
Tie subdivision OF the coast into sections has been ad-
hered 10 The harbors most freQuenod and the coast
approaches most dangerous 90 foreign commerce aud e
tho ooastng trade hst surveyed in the order o.
their importance and charts issued from time to time
met u G immediate requirements a commerce and nay
.caiicn without waiting fOr the completion OF Work on
intervening stretches Of coast IL will be readily I'M
dOstood however that while thus meeting important
iocal needs general interests OF commerce were
much concerned in the development of the parts OF
s.sst intermediate between the surveys OF the principal
pts For these intervals aud in advance of the issue
t ns charts for general purposes, the local trangua
tons which were drst completed must be lolneu'
q has consequence followed mat parts
Of the Atlantic land Gu coasts, unsettled on account
q. the low wzoy and sickly character OF the shores
occupied by Psrties OF the survey and as was
To bt expected tnsuy impedmeDts are encountered IN
rushing the trangulaton Among these is the neces-
ity OF depending npoa distant points for supplies re-
CURED by the PARTIES and in some places the only fresh
water 10 tad brought many miles during the work
uf The great lines of trianguaton along eSch
coast are absolutely necessary and are organic parts OF
tie original plan Of the BY such means more
than u 0oo points in all have been well determined in
tufe aud longitude Tor defining the shore lines OF the
adjacent oceans bays. harbors. inets and river Ell
frances the trianguauon itself has been checked
at 10y elaborate observations for geographical
position.
" anyone he disposed to look grudgngly the appro
IoGs fOr tho coast survey, he may be treasured by
PIof Perces statement that including all Its methods
aud pocesses the outlay for the survey Of the coast
and harhOrs and for the determination of points in the
staes, costs less than onewenteth OF one per
ceut, JeckoUe6 upon the cOastwise commerce Of the
United states.
manifest special advantage inures to the seaboard
States IN the determination OF points requisite for de
trnc the tend OF the shore line The main points
preserved by In the ground and by recourse t'
them ultimate surveys along the seaboard can be
prosecuted AZ moderate expense But the geodec con
necton between the survey of the Atlantic and
t,veral Important questions outside Of the advantage
WhCh attaches accurate OF the Interior de
yeld uyOI' such connection Congress has therefore
wsy authorized the determination Of points III sucl
Of the Interior states make provision for their topo
graphical geological surveys Already the advan
tacc generally and II Will be universally
recogu1ed by the interior States. In New Hampshire
the work is well advanced, part Of the outlay FOL
determining geographical points Is met by the STATE
Treasury. The sum appropriated by Congress TO
IL. of this small. but within
the yeas the seodetc connection has been carried
tue states OF New-Hlmpshire, Vermont. New YORK
Wisconsin and Minnesota. for the northern line; IN
NJ MARY land West Virginia, Pennsylvania. Illinois. Mis-
and Colorado, for the middle and in Georgia and
Alabama for the southern, the points following each
cter IN al elevations most available FOR the
determination OF long lines OF nglation. In each OF
stations have been occupied selected, and
when number Is increased each state Will have a
framework upon which % construct State map. While
The tenett 10 the State is immediate advantage TO tho
General Government is equally certain in the future.
In Of the old states OF the Union map errors in
regard prominent landmarks have been detected by
The work OF this year the position marked varying
from two 10 eight miles from the true position. The
IubJe advantage gained by such corrections is unques
IoLa5ic.
NEwYoRK HARBoR.
rbs report OF last year commented upon the increase
Of the Jersey Flats and mentioned the fact that deposits
Nv tidal action longer take place in the middle OF the
Plate formerly, but rest rather the exterior
sope thereby encroachiDg continually upon the deep
wafer the channel Most OF the shoaling as
made manifest 10y the survey, artificial and is due TO
tno dumping Of material dredged from the city slips
and elsewhere but, exclusive OF this there evidently
much deposit brought TO this locality by the
sinee therefore, the Flats longer a catch
basin for sediment but merely the subordinate purpose
Of udal reservoir there is apparently no good reason
Why they should not be turned TO account for docks
aud oomueTcal occupation, due caution being OBJ
served III regard 10 the exterior limit OF structures To
tbis end it deemed important in the survey
progress 70 determine the proper outer limit OF
patton. Observations were accordingly made on the
admit Of comparison between the transverse
OF veOCues aud the normal sections, the princi
pa object beRg 70 show that the line along which
abrasion takes place would be the safe limit OF
enay line WheU depths would not alter after walls are
built Observations OF ike character were extended by
Assistant Mitchell. and under his direction by Sub
Assistant II. l.. Marindin aud Mr. ]. b. Weir up the
HJdson IN ton with careful sOundngs in order
"a determine how the occupied harbOr lines OF New
York CITY and Jersey City have affected The channel.
and the tine 10 afford means for predo ting the
eocts which would be consequent upon the occupation
OF the Jersey Fats Changes contemplated by the New
York CITY autlorit6s in regard to the harbOr lines
drawn after careful study by the United States Ad
vsoIy COgnci 10 s5,3 Will be kept under In the
jnyosiiCation now p0Iding
In the East RIVER many observations were recorded
for the Of the Boaff Of Commissioners in Brooklyn
pier lines. There the Of velocity
carried across the river and clearly showed the eect
of encToaehneuts made by the two cities upon this
fined arm OF the These, also landmarks established
b. the Commission OF llj7s, had been changed under
special legislative enact'nents and the Commission
DOW acting has merely t. modify the old limits to
include recent encroachTe without increasing the
difficulties OF navigation which induced by the
ch9nge. Two tidal stations and 1877 curren, stations
NrrC nNcnnled N Mr Mlfrhelrs narfr Ih. .nhonna.a