The morning call., 1894-05-08

Everything pertaining to the proposition
hBs been presented and the announcement
that the appropriation of $4,000 for the
purpose has been ordered Is expected any
day. That the measure will pass is looked
upon as reasonably certain, as the success
of the Atlantic chart has been surprising.
In fact il has gained worldwide reputa-
tion for accuracy and exhaustiveness OF
detail and is now con sidered as essential
almost 10 the present navigator as COM
pass or a chronOmeter.
1t is admitted beyond the possibility OF
dispute that the seafarng people labor
under the heavy disability Of having clear
information with respect to dangers that
lie along their paths, except they happen
to be of long standing.
In the days prior to the introduction Of
steam as motive power on the hlgh seas
this was not so marked, because then ships
layd so long In port between voyages while
cargoes went out and came In that snip
masters had time at their disposal to cor
rect their charts down to the latest dates
before sailing, and also CLEAN such in
forms alton as was deemed important to
safe navigation. But now times nave
changed and these are the days OF quick
voyages and short stoppages In port
Hence. it is necessary that the naylgators
should be supplied with all possible 10
formation in things nautical.
This the United States photographic
Bureau is doing. and in such a systematic
manner that the bureau Is now recognized
as superior to any similar service In any
country. even TO that of Great Britain.
In an ticip patton of the passage OF the bill
for an appropriation for the Issuance OF
n monthly chart Of the North Pacific, and
in order to show the scope and value of
the measure, the Washington Bureau has
issued a specimen of proposed North
Pacific pilot chart, and copy OF the same
has been received by the branch Hydro
graphic Office in this city. 1t is got up
on the same plan as the Atlantic chart
of praise from all shipping men who have
seen it. 1t is. they declare, the very thing
that bas been needed for years by the nav
igators of the Pacific.
Referring to the plan and purpose Of the
chart. the Hydrographic Bureau states that
1t will give monthly through the chart such
information of timely interest and warning
to mariners as can be collected from the
reports of incoming navigators. 1t will
represent for the succeeding month after
the issuance of each chart, by deduction
from the series of observations that have
been for many years collecting at the Navy
Department In Washington, the wind and
currents to be expected, the regions of pre-
yailing fog and rain. the normal states OF
the barometer and thermometer, the feeding
Grounds OF whales and seals, and the most
advantageous routes to be followed by sail
and steam. The support and cooperation
of mariners and all others Interested in
shortening the duration of voyages OF COM
merce, in enhancing the safety Of naviSa-
tion and improving the knowledge of the
winds, currents and storms of the Pacific,
is asked in order that the work may be as
complete as possible. Blank forms are to
be prepared for navgators, on which they
can record observations OF wind, tempeI-
atures, heights of barOmeters and kindred
data. FROM these the bureau expects to
be aided in the work of preparing the
chart.
This system as regards the Atlantic
chart has worked to charm, and similar
cooperation is expected on this coast.
The advance chart of the North Pacific
Ocean which has been received here
shows the ocean from the equator to 70
113 degrees east. Hence there is large
water space TO cover. The usual meteOro-
logical forecasts abound, with the trend
of currents, and the general information
found upon charts issued by the Hydro
graphic Bureau. the same being, of course,
somewhat less precise in accuracy than
where the seas have been longer covered
in this manner.
The foregoing diagram taken from a
norton of the chart will illustrate the
proposed system of showing and desig-
mating the regions of calms and giving in
formation concerning the prevailing
winds.
AS an explanation Of the significance of
the symbols in the cut 1t may be said
that the numbers inclosed by the circles
show for the current month the probable
percentage of calms within the 8 deg rec
tapples. whose middle points are tue GEN.
ters of the circles.
The arrows fly with the wind and indi.
cate by their lengths measured from the