Morning journal and courier., 1882-03-31
ResurVey of Long Island Sound.

The importance of a resurvey of Long Island Sound has been laid before the United States Coast Survey. In fact, the estimates of cost are being made. The entire resurvey may cost as much as $100, 1000, and in return for that expenditure will increase the reve- nues of the country by ten times that amount. That it is necessary is proven by the frequent discoveries of new shoals, rocks9and other obstacles in the channels which either did not exist at the date of the former survey or were missed by the hydro graphers who made them. This does not in- volve blame to the officers of the former sur veys for at the time they were made hydro graphers had neither the knowledge, the in- struments, the experience nor the precision which they have since attained and now pos sess. A survey of 8 water communication like Long Island Sound made at the present day would, barring the natural changes caused by change in physical conditions last for all time.
 The Photographic work on Block Island and Long Island Sounds was done by Blake and Gedney between the years 1885 and 1889, before the majority of the assistants now on the coast survey were born-between 43 and 47 years ago,-when the present superin- tendent of the coast survey was but ten years old, and when our ideas of the preci- sion necessary in survey and our knowledge of the best methods of execution were not so complete as now. Besides, in this long period of over 40 years the physical changes have been very great, so much so that in many cases new surveys have been imperative ly demanded in certain harbors, and made either by the Coast Survey out of it's limited appropriations or by special act of Congress, or by special appropriations by the local authorities Then the old method of surveying hydrographically was not as perfect as that now in use. The traverse system then in use frequently skipped or missed dangerous rocks and shoals The changes of years, the results of. the tides, currents, harbor Instructions and the ,cease- less wash of the waves have altered not only the depth and shoals, but even ip many cases the outlines of the shore and so after the surveys of 1885 to 1889 it became necessary to make re-examinations as far as the limited means of the service would allow. These were mostly made between 1641 and 1873. Blake, Gedaey, the two Baches Davis Pat terson Porter, Craver, Huger and Woodruff all had, so to speak, "a shy" at these more particular surveys yet the East River itself was last regularly surveyed between 1887 and 1841, with some special surveys of particular localities in 1866-1873.
 The skill experience and labor of the off cers to take charge of and carry the survey to completion will cost the country nothing, as the officers of the coast and Geodetic Sur vey receive their annual salaries in whatever work they are employed. Nor will there be expense for the building, purchase or hire of vessels, which the same service would no doubt furnish as it did in the case of the special surveys of Lake Champlain and the Delaware river
 The typographical survey of both shores from Block Island to New York would occu- py (working two efficient parties) about five years and would cost about $40, 900. Should it be convenient desirable to ploy more parties, say four, the cost would be the same and the work would be com pleted in two and one-half years, or less. The Photographic survey would progress equally with the shore work and would cost about the same amount-say $35, ,000-mak- ing 8 total of $75,O0