The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-04-26
THE HYDRoaRAPa1O BUREAU.
The Work It is Accomplishing for the
Maritime Community

| The Work It is Accomplishing for the
Maritime Community.
There is possibility that the branch
photographic Office here may be transferred
to some other port Charleston wants it.
Lieut.. F. H. Sherman, U. s. N, who has
! been in charge Of the office since the trans
fer OF Ensign Waters by whom it was
established in 1889, Is likely to be ordered
elsew here soon, and unless the proper effort
Is made to retain the office it may be re-
moved.
The office has proved its value to the
maritime community in many ways. Its
work IS NOT as we'll understood by the pub
lie, however, as it should be, The service is
q branch Of the navy department. There
are now in operation nine branch stations.
at Boston, New York, Philadelphia,
Baltimore, Norfolk Savannah, New Or
leans, San Francisco and Portland, Ore,
with authority granted by congress for the
establishment of two more, one at Portland,
Me-, and another at Chicago. The service
embodies everything that pertains to navi-
CATION, the securing and dissemination Of
tra0e wind reports, ice reports, fog reports,
wategspout, earthquake and ocean current
reports, the rating and comparing of chro-
nometers, correction and distribution of
pilot charts and all navigation charts, no.
tlces TO mariners, and the distribution of
SS@@SAAN
time interests
The working of the photographic bureau
Is directly connected with the navy, being
IN fact, part of it. Pilot charts and gen
eral printed information are issued monthly
and are distributed among maritime men.
The plotting and tracking of floating
wrecks on the pilot chart brings vivIdly to
the eye one of the dangers that besets navi-
gaUion in the open sea in these days of high
speed vessels. The soundings made
by vessels Of the navy are COM
piled and put in proper shape
TO benefit sea-gotng men. The
results OF recent surveys are collected and
all information bearing upon navigation is
communicated to the maritime world
AT the Savannah Office alone over 20 900
notices are issued to mariners on various
matters and information is directly supplied
to over 1000 people annually. Upward of
3OO pilot charts are circulated and more
than that number of barometers are COM
pared. Over 600 vessels are visited every
year at this port and information is col
looted and given upon maritime matters.
1t Is not only by seamen that the services
of the office are sought, but railroad offic-
ials, lumbermen and all who are confronted
by marine question In their business
seek its aid.
The value Of the work and the Importance
Of maintaining the office here are thus seen.
the photographers pay, which is provided
for in every instance, he being an officer Of
the navy, is about 800 year.
Lieut.. Sherman's reports for the last two
years show the interest that Is taken in the
bureau. A summary Of the work done by
the office includes information gathered
upon trade winds, ice, wrecks, fogs, storms,
use or oil in storms, currents, meteors,
water spouts, Gulf stream temperature, gen.
eral information. The articles distributed
include pilot charts, weekly supplements,
notices to mariners, coast survey notices to
mariners, light lists, buoy and beacon lists,
list Of merchant vessels, nautical monograph
No. s. West India hurricanes, use OF oil,
monthly weather reviews.
The work of the office embraces vessels
visited, information furnished to individ-
uals, general information furnished,
barometers compared, Thermometers COM
pared, office charts corrected, vessels charts
corrected, office light lists corrected. ves-
sells light lists corrected, and buoy books
corrected.
Lieut.. Sherman is assisted by Mr..
Clarence Hatch, who has been con-
| nected with the Office since it wns estab-
lished. Lieut.. Sherman has built up the
station TO its present effectiveness. Its value
| is recognized by shipping and all CONNER
| cial interests, and the business community
will hardly consent to its removal, should
such step be contemplated. If other sta
tions are needed, as they are, subof1ices
may be established at Charleston and
Brunswick.