New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-12-05
THE COAST SURVEY.
NEW AIDS TO NAVIGATION.

OCEAN CURRENTS 1AbULA1ED-WOkk OF sOh-
vEY IN THE PAST YEAR.
tFRoM An OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE,
WASHINGTON, Dec 1.-The report of the
Coast Survey reviews the general scheme Of the work
and its connection OF the surveys Of the coast with those
OF the interior. Before these careful observations
began, great errors existed in the charts OF
the sea-cOast and the maps of the interior, in the
one case leading TO dangerous plumbers In navi-
CATION, the other to notable in projecting
lines Of canals and railways, and in opening aud ex
tending mines. The faulty condition Of our present
maps has been repeatedly brought to the knowledge Of
the department by urgent appeals from the state
authorities The outlay needed to correct this class OF
is small in proportion the benefits that will be
conferred
The superintendent reports that reductions in the
nua appropriation have caused the suspension of most
important classes OF work. for which there is constant
public demand An additional estimate is therefore sub
mitted for continuing work through the pres
ent year With the means allotted. good progress
mas been made IN the general operations OF
tranguahon topography and photography, ana
commensurate results appear III the lssue Oh cnnrs
Tor navigation. These publications. give exact knoNl-
edge respecting the tides, in addition to correct shore
nj OF mariners, separate tables are computed anu
printed TO show for year in advance the rise ana ran OF
ports of the Atlantic Gulf OF Mexico and Pacific coast
OF the United States.
OCEAN CURRENTs-MAGNETIC VARIATIONS.
One Of the Investigations of the year proves that in
formation respecting currents may
ing the velocity and direction. any hour OF any day
for the use OF navigaors The superintendent reports
that with such data the current that except by
chancel battles the mariner NAV be made av lable
as facility in approaching leaving the coast, ana
success. by the observer who was detailed for the
investigation or equal Importance with a knowl
edge of the currents and tides along the sea
board the variations or the magnetic needle at differ
ent stations. by elaborate discussion, after eoatng
with older observations, II has become as possible 10 pre-
diet the variations Of the compass OF IN" tides Calls
for Information from TINS branch OF service are frequent
and now include inquiries ~ regard 10 the magnetic Nai
aons in former yeara wei ~ 1T present; exact dis
and directions the stations occupied for tr
ahgualohi changes Dy jhea eUoh Oh ine sea- - SHOWN
by reference 10 Typographical Sheets the conditions that
tend 20 preserve or niure channel ways IN htbOrs d
heretofore the collateral data neediu for the impol
tDt work Of placing buoys and other aids 10 navigation
along The seabOard.
SURVEYS DURING THE PAST YEAR.
As usual brief statement will be given OF the opera
lions of the fiscal year preceding that for which est
mates are presented in detail The work done in
tire year ending June 80. 1871 has included hydrogapy
Of the coast Of Maine ut Desert Island sound
ncs in Esgemosgin Reach ami Isle Haut Bay tidal
Obseyat ons Al Inc entrance OF Pcnobscot Bay opog-
graphy OF the the PeuObcot from Hampden 10
Bangor: sOundngs near the entrance Of Sdco River,
Maine; tIangIaiions in the vicinity OF Mt
Washington \. H.. tidal observations at Bos-
ton; and OF the coast, tidal currents observed
in the Gulf of Maine; the tauglalion OF Taunton River
Mass; tidal observations at Providence, r. L. topog
raphy of the vicinity OF NeW-lIdvcn Conn; primary
rianeuation across the Hudson River near Albany
dal observations at Governors Island, Brooklyn aud
sandy HOOK observations with the pendulum at New
York CITY, supplementary souIdugs ~ Gedney Chan-
mel triangtation in Northern NewJersey the hydroe-
efaPhy of Bmncgat Bay. including Toms River, ~ |
Hook aid Cape May. and FOR Delaware Bay |
and river; Iianguation IN Eastern lennsy wanna san,
ing notes fOr the coast o! Maryland aPd Virginia ana
for the cstuaic Of Chesapeake Bay dctci mnatQn OF
pen and cape ChdrieS Va Iu insertion on mars ~
Ca shore line survey and -Iaphy Of the lhdr OF
Baltimore cry for United states Commissioners; deter
mnauon OF the magnetic ethtntso OF "dSlingtou OIt
surveys IN tAc vicinity OF sini'hs island, ChesLIeake
c,vla: topography OF the shores OF the James
/. ycr Va. nom City Point upward to Kinc,land
iidal observations Fortress Monroe; selection OF sta
tiou points I'm west Virginia for gcodeuc work primary
Carolina; photographic examination between iatteras
and oregon luel, and Of the Frying Pan sAoas " C.;
tended In Pamlco Sound, Currtuck sound, and |
East JAKE n e. sHd ana az, North LGGps Kay
Long Shoa Point and ~ Hog Island, y c.. photography
completed in Core Sound and Boguc Sound, y. C.. |
topocrauhy Of the vicinity OF Cape Fear River, WI
ary between North Carolina ala south Caroiina exam
tween Cape Fear ana - Mays River. Ga; tidal !
johns River, Fla. from Jacksonville southwark
To Hogarth's Bay; photography Of the coast |
Quito Inlet RIA; survey Of the coast and sea water
channels near Cape Canayeral with parts Of The Banana
of the west RI coast OF Floria from Cedar Keys north
ward to Horse shoe Point photography o. me Guf
coast from Pine Point westward 10 hocta"hatchee IN
GLIDING ST. Andrews Bay ana ITS approaches; deter
mnatiCu of points by tIiJugIdtiOu in Ken
lucky, between Cumberland Gap and Lancaster
Court House; measurement OF base Inc and
selection Of points N Tennessee for tG1augildtou
between Knoxville and Nashville lrianguiatOn in tine
northwestern part OF Alabama; photographic develop
ncnt ~ the GU Of Mexico by numerous lines OF deep
sea soundine and temperature observations topography
OF the Of Barataria Bay La, and extension Of
the stations toward tie Mississippi River
WORK oS THE PACIFIC COAST.
On the Pacific coast, beginning at the southern boun
Diary OF California, the work OF Tie year has Included
reconnaissance for trianguation points between san
Diego and Santa Barbara topography Of the western
part Of santa Catalina Island inspection Of field parties
near the shores Of Santa Barbara Channel connection OF
Anacapa and santa Barbara Island 10y uianguauOn'
with stations on the coast OF CALIFORNIA;; hydrOga
NV of the approaches to san Miguel and Santa Rosa
'-' s5,rt, Niorir9 cal: in.shore hydropraphy
across the Santa Barbara Channels Topography OF the
coast north OF Point Conception toward POINT Aigue0;
reconnaissance for inauguration between Los Angeles
and Point Arglelio; tidal observations at Fort POINT
and at SaGcctO, san Francisco Bay; gCoGcuc measure
Ireuts and determinations OF latitude ard azimuth
at Mount DiablO and Mount Helena; ,rcconnals-
sance for gc0detic points between the Sierra
Nevada and salt Lake CITY; topography OF inc
coast OF California from Timber GMch nOrthWard
to Stewards Point Landing; reconnaissance for
triausulaon points on the coast range OF mountains
north OF Mount Ross and sulphur Peak photography OF
the coast OF Oregon from False Iamook ncrthWard 10
Columbia River entrance; topography OF Lhe shores ana
soundings in the Columbia River between Calamct and
Cottonwood Island; tidal observations AT Astoria and al
Port TOwHshcnd W. T.; erection Of signals for trlangua
ZION across the waters of Washington Sound and the
Strait of Fuca; additional soundings along the shores
NJ bidnev Island and Admiralty Iuot. W. T. tOpOgra-
rom Point Orchard south 20 the entrance OF Commence
ment Bay inspection Of Typographical Woik III ms see
ton aud a. yet ~ IogTf5ss tue yd9STgg c or Conn n
steadily in hand for sailing notes ana Othc maritime
data pertaining 10 the Coast Pilot for navigation along
fbe sc1Eoarl Of California, Organ, and Washington
~. 1a1-n foV Alaska