New-York tribune., 1899-12-24
WORK OF COAST SURVEY.
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE IN ALASKA AND IN
p1rEpT0 RICAN WATERS.


Washington Dec. 2a-The annual report OF ns ,ns
Coast and Geodetc Survey for the fiscal year enaed
rune 40 1899 has Just been submitted TO congress-
The report says In part:
In Cuba Puerto Rico Hawaii and ', Aasha % nd I1e
development of the varied resources - po eoounfrv
rd 90 The solicitation OF those interested IN com.
mercal steamers and others this bureau " eah
~ tbasa regions vessel OF the Coast Survey was
sent to Puerto Rico, and during the sedS rs coss,
including the harbor OF Jobos, which was sh9%n 70
be safe refuge for vessels OF any several
parties are now arranging to complete ene yosd
begun last year. SO that IN tne pear and Inaccurate
Snanisb charts the coast OF this valuable island
possession will be as well known as our own Az
The work in Alaska was divided among several eiII
parties and extended from the head 1t % e nslia Of
the Yukon and tho soon TO be Famous go9 neaes ,h
Of Cape Nome 1t was b argey regon 11 about the Lynn
Canal and Porcupine district mat enabled the IN
ernatonai Arbitration G0mmaye HnasTy between Alaska
and Canada at these disputed points " II: IiIt a
Geodetic survey has been designated by the United
States Government to marx the Ilne OF 'nJ
vislonal boundary settled by the modus VNehui
OF October 20. ,, . A..
The enormous increase OF vessels plying to Alas
kan ports has made necessary the immediate sur
vey of a coastne Of 1900 miles IN extent anu tne
publication OF many new charts ne ldsy s s s,,o
OF this coast, including the prevalence OF lo9 nay
caused the loss Of a large number Of vessels N tne
last few years a fact that calls for expedltlous
work and the Survey has exhausted every eHorS
during the last TO meet TINS une&peCte9
demand as rapidly and as fully as posslDie,. anu anu
probably in single year In the history OI tIls
service has more important Work Deen perry ineu
than was accomplished at the mouth o. the YUKON
(ioIovin Bay, Port safety and Cape Nome Inc
coming season will doubtless see whole meets i oI
vessels from every Western port rusnlnS TOWARD
this modern Golconda. 1t is estimated that no
less than thirty-hve thousand persons VIII reacn
this desoate coast next summer IN the rush lor
gold The entire front Of the Yukon delta mas oeen
mapped as well as Cape Nome, which VIII 10 a
large degree lessen the dangers TO be encountered
and prevent many disasters incident 70 an unknown
coast Port Safety, long bay, with Il narrow
inlet making a safe refuge for storm tossed yesses,
was discovered about twelve miles east OF cape
Nome Cioovin Bay was also found TO DO navlSa-
bic for ocean going vessels. The vital Importance
OF this work will be fully appreciated during next
season. . - ,, 49,,
Chesapeake Bay. portions Of the Atlantic coast
between California and Nevada from Lake Tahoe
TO the Colorado River completed. This com
prses a distance OF four hundred miles, extending
over the White Mountains through Death valley
and the Great American Desert. Several trlangula-
tion. precise levelling and magnetic parties were
engaged in work in different parts or the Unlted
States The issue OF charts has been Increased
over 30 per cent about sixty thousand being pup
llshed. Notices to mariners, giving In detall any
change in lights buoys and calling attention 20
any new dangers that may have arisen are pup
lshed monthly and tend in measure TO overcome
many of the difficulties OF coast navigation.