Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-14
THE COAST SURVEY.
1t Will Probably be Managed by Prof
NJ. B. GOff, of Allegheny City.
A SCHOLARLY BOOM IN POLITICS.
1t Pays to Make Arithmetics and Almanacs
Now and Then.
SPECIMEN OF JEFFERsONIAN WISDOM

Prof. M. B. Goff, Chancellor of the West
ern University, is enjoying political boom.
There is every probability of his appoint
ment as Superintendent of the United States
Coast and Geodetic Survey. 1t has always
been a position peculiarly hard to fill. be-
cause, besides the business capacity re-
quired, there is necessary thorough, prac-
tical knowledge of mathematics and astron-
omy.
The work consists of making land sur
vey and correcting it by astronomical obser-
vations. To carry on the work, 16 small
vessels and 150 men are given the Superin-
tendent. 1t is the only position Of that
value (S7 900 per annum) which can be
filled by the President without the Senate
confirmation. 1t was ARA nged this way
under the administration of President JEFF
ferson in order to place the Office far above
political considerations. The Superintend-
ent of the survey also has the perpetual
commission of the Government to attend all
International conventions on weights, meas
ures and other scientific subjects, in Europe.
GROWTH OF A BOOM.
Prof. Golf was first announced as a can
didate for the position nearly year ago.
Colonel 7. NJ. Bayne mentioned the fact on
the floor of Congress one day. Congress
man Turner, of Kansas, heard it, went over
to Bayne, and, remarking that he was an
old pupil of Prof COTS, said he was ready
to take of his coat for him. Senator Ingalls,,
also an acquaintance Of Mr.. COTS, said he
would not only sign his petition, but would
call personally on President Harrison on
behalf of the Pittsburg chancellor.
And so the movement has spread. Not
only are Prof. Goff's pupils and fellow
professors scattered all over the country,
but as the author of Goff's famous arith-
metic ne is known in schools everywhere
He has recently received letters from the
trustees of Madison College, trustees of
North Illinois Institute. and from other
eminent educational authorities indorsing
his fitness for the position. A letter, under
date of March q, from A. B. Hyde, Professor
of Greek and Hebrew in Denver University,
contains the following:
If I had not seen your skill and energy as an
executive officer so manifest and proven,
should have reckoned you a man counting
himself like the old Greek mathematician, one
whose deity was geometry and whose fellow
citizens the stars" l wish you might be placed
where these gifts and habits of yours might
best serve our public interests and your vlgor-
GUS prime might be spent in pursuits so con-
genial to yourself. Our Chancellor. Hon. David
H. Moore. who was Chairman of the Presi-
dental electors, heartily concurs in my views
and wishes, though his sudden absence de-
prives me OF his signature. You ought to be
Superintendent of our Coast Survey.
PITTsBURG's SCIENTISTS.
Alexander Martin, President of DePauw
University, writes:
Prof. Goff is eminent as scholar and
teacher. and as special student and writer on
subjects related to the above-named Office !
have been acquainted with him for more than
25 years. During his college course his ''forte'
was mathematics. Since graduation he has
been engaged in teaching and in the higher
mathematical studies, especially in the work of
civil engineering, calculating almanacs, writing
and publishing arithmetics and writing astro-
nomical notes for various publications.
Prof. J. A. Brashear, the Allegheny
astronomer, has also written a strong letter
for Prof. Goff. He says that s. P. Langley,
the eminent astronomer, has been aided on
some of his most difficult mathematical
problems by Gof
A committee of prominent citizens, who
were once Mr.. COTS pupils, will shortly go
before the President to represent Pittsburg' s
claim for the position.
With DR.. S. P. Langley at the head Of
the Smithsonian Institute and NJ B. Gof
at the head of the coast survey, Pittsburg's
reputation as the home of scientists must be
/ extended