The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-04-18

II we were to search the records OF the
Coast and Geodetic Survey at Washington
We should find that very large fraction OF
them are the surveys. the discussions. and
the Recommendations forming the docu-
>. mentary evidence of the part that Survey
has taken. within the past sixty years. In
promoting the prosperity Of New York city.
The very earliest work Of the Survey was
done In New York harbor and its neighbor-
hood. and the discovery Of Gedney's Chan
mel. one OF the results OF that work.
was worth immeasurably more than the
entire investigation cost This channel.
one OF the harbor's most important enc
frances. was unknown until developed by
the survey completed In 1895.
From that time to the present day. few
years have passed in which the Coast and
Geodetio Survey has not been called upon
TO examine ut least part OF our great har-
Dor or Its approaches: and five OF the prn-
cipal surveys. tho last one In 1885 81. covered
nearly Its whole area. In one aspect. even
the earlier Of these numerous surveys still
have a most important value. They may
have been superseded long ago as guides to
navigation. or for other operations requir-
Ing the latest information: but they are
Ddii NoEy Nhiuubio III tho bbhdy VI tho AOiOco
that are increasingly shaping the shores.
the channels. and the shoals. It Is only by
comparing the later. with the earlier sur
veys. that correct idea can be obtained OF
what Ia going on under the water from day
to day and from year to year.
When this community realized In 1885 that
. great harbor. like Q great city. needs
strict supervision to preserve its efficiency.
II H.. r.. 81. SnI
Tho first action OF this body was to write
TO President PIERCE asking that hydro
graphic engineers be detailed to aid In
making the necessary surveys and sclen-
tihc observations. The letter was referred
10 Prof. BACHE. Superintendent OF the
Coast Survey. and he at once arranged q
moro elaborate and extended system OF
work than had been In use. Associating
with himself three distinguished engi-
neers In the service OF the Government.
the four experts formed the Advisory Board
10 the Commissioners.
This Board made an exhaustive study
OF the entire harbor and Its branches.
Many Of their recommendations were
adopted at once. Others. involving large
expenditures. were not carried out till later
years. Some recommendations were neg
lected until. as the Board predicted. the
consequences became intolerable.
Every now and then new conditions have
developed. presenting new problems for
solution. Twenty-Five years ago the New
York Chamber OF Commerce called upon the
Superintendent OF the Coast Survey to
consider an apparent change going on in
the formation OF the hsrbor OF New
York and its entrance. which. II not
attended to and corrected. threatens
10 be productive Of very great in
Jury" The surveys that were begun to
determine the causes OF these changes were
completed In 1875. This thorough investi-
CATION had some very interesting results.
one Of the most beneficial OF which was that
relating to the East River.
For some years previous to 1878 there had
been a number OF projects for making docks
aud wet basins in the East River that would
practically have closed 1t. The results that
would follow these proposed works were
discovered by the investigation OF the
Coast and Geodetic Survey. whose Superin-
tendent. Prof. PIERCE. wrote:
Elf ihs EASt River cut on. the sOTsspsadiRs
decrease In the now Of water Woald involve PFspOr
AOaAts decrease In the water space over the bar or
Fduetsa OF the depth Of the water BpOa tAs bar Of
about IhEss fees Sad sRShaL"
This announcement stopped the proposed
"improYements" In the East River.
At the instance OF our maritime and COM
mercial interests. another complete survey
Of tho harbor was made In lSS5-57 with a
particular yleV TO increasing Its facilities.
One Of the valuable conclusions founded on
this survey was the endorsement OF dredg-
ing As the cheapest means Of deepening the
water In Gedney's Channel. Ii had long
been supposed that the Hudson had outlets
for It's waters through both the NarrOws
and the East River. but this survey demon
stratsd that while that stream has two out
lsts for its commerce. Il has only one for
its waters. Reasons we're also found for
believing that the sewage from the cities
o. New York hEThOr may sometimes.
~