New-York tribune., 1875-11-17
THE BJrREAU OF NAVIGATION.

co.sT Surveys AND soUNDINGs or TIR YEAR
THE PRELIMINARY WORK or THE IsrHMUs
CANAL CoMPIETED-THE GREAT NEED OF
GOOD CHART OF TIRE NORTH PACIFIC.
WAsHISGToN, Nov. 16.-The annual report
Of Commodore Daniel Ammen, Chief Of Bureau OF Nayi-
cation, has been made Commodore Ammen first speaks
of compasses and compass stations, and says that for
vears mast the Bureau has promoted far possible,
the construction OF marine c0mpasscs known AZ
duid" II il supposed that those now IN use are in
feror 10 none compass observatory has been built
and supplied with the proper testing Instruments at
BrooFlinc, Mass, near the mandatory when supplies
compasses for the navy Daring the past year, con-
siderable number Of Old cOmpasses were disposed OF at
public auction. and the stock Of navy liquid eompasses
has been augmented by the purchase Of number Of the
most improved patterns The supply "I nanteai charts
and books is being increased Most Of the charts and
sailing directions now used III the navy are OF Govern
manufacture.
The work Of geographically determining az many
points s are supposed necessary in Central America and
In the West Indies was prosecuted last year by the
United states steamer Fortune, and this year by the
Gettysburg. The longitude OF Panama Aspnwall, San
tiago dc Cuba, and Havana have been determined by
means the telegraph. The work nov IN course Uf com
petion will include points on the Wmdward Islands and
the northern South America. The survey Of the
outer coast OF the Peninsula OF lower California, and
hat OF the Gulf OF California had been concluded ny
Commander George Dewey, commanding the Nara
pansett The Gulf absolutely uDslirveyed, but Is
now ciently examined and determined Tor the safety
OF navigation Commander A. j. Mahan commanding
the Wasp has made much-needed surveys at the mouth
OF the Rio de Ia Plata. owing to no appropriation the
survey the North Pacific Ocean has been abandoned
The work II so extensive that n would be mere
urotense II attempted without appropriation sur
ncicnt 10 purchase or buid ny contract
suitable steamer and two threemasted sehooners
10 serve az assistants. The probable cost would be
$4,000 The survey Of the North Pacific Ocean is
necessity. without II Tie loss OF nIe ana property WI"
yearly increase. --,
far the pruose from those employed ON tie North Pacnc
station running SUR ey be made OF inc ,9sst OF nuate
mala This would render the surveys OF d1ri NJ Nltes
cont inuous BeIing straits To Cape Horn since
completing the lines OF deep sound ngs III the face
Oceau1OT cable purposes, another me h,S Deen iun ny
le United steamer Tuscarura, under tue command
of Commander Herhrr from San Francse0 10 TIC sand
wch siands and soundngs were als0 made on the
return ~ the said from the Navigator Islands 70
onoulu Additional deel.sea s3undngs VIII soon D. "a "a
progress between the sandwich Islands, tbe coas OF
Australia and Ncw-Icaland.
la regard mterocedc surveys this work, which hah
been carefully prosecuted iOi n.c tsos W W. o VI VI
more miles south of the mouth OF the Napp on te hNcf
Atrato length satisfactorily accoDp.iShca lhe
Gers and zeal intelligence and faithiunesa o their
subordnates Not officer man has ruceunbed 10
climatic influence. though doubtless many carried the
fields OF operation. since the last report eaieiu
survey OF the Isthmus of iahAnla mas pen
made. the computations completed, and the whoie
| nIsced before the lnteroceaur Canal COmunihsion
reconnaissance the west coast Was also made OF the
Rio Chepo aud the San Bias Route where te de Waeis
Of the two oceans approach nearly than at any
other point SO careful and minute has been tie exam
manifest lnferory other known points that no doubt
now ss ~ the approximate labor necessary Ia tho
construction of mteroceanic ship canal No several
poins Careful and elaborate surveys would necessarily
have to he made in advance at any point heIetoofe
examined before beginning the construction of the sp