The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-06-09
Our photographic Service.

No reason exists for any clashing OF
interests between the Coast and Geodetic
Survey and the photographic Office. or
for any misunderstanding as to their
respective duties II each confines its work
strictly to the service assigned TO it by law.
Their functions are entirely distinct.
II is the business of the Photographic
Office to procure and republish charts.
made by other nations, Of foreign coasts
for the benefit Of our Navy and our com-
mercial marine. and also to direct surveys
by our naval vessels on foreign unsur-
veyed coasts when opportunity permits
and TO publish charts Of these surveys and
sell them to n~avigators at the cost Of paper
and printing.
1t Is the business of the Coast and Geo.
detic Survey to chart all the coasts and
harbors of this country " for the benefit
Of navigation, commerce and the public
defence" to undertake researches In the
ocean that will benefit commerce. as, for
example, to determine the pathways OF
the Gulf Stream; and TO perform other
specified duties that have nothing to do
with photography and therefore cannot
possibly come into conflict with the work
OF the photographic ONCE.
There Is no such thing as completing
hydrographic work. 1t will continue as
long as m exists because changes
are constantly occurring In coast lines
and sea bottoms near the coasts and fire.
auent recharting Is necessary for the safety
OF navigation. The law assigns foreign
| charting to the photographic Office and
home charting to the Coast and Geodetic
| Survey. Nothing can be clearer than this
distinction between the photographic work
of the two bureaus.
The vast extension Of our coasts by the
acquisition Of new territory has extended
the sphere Of operations Of the Coast and
Geodetic Survey. OF the nine small vessels
In its service three are engaged at Porto
Rico, and the steamer Pathfinder Is chart
ing coasts and harbors in Hawaii. This
work will continue till safety Is assured
for along all these coasts and
In all these harbors.
The British photographic service Is en-
tirely in the hands Of a civilian force under
tne ulTtCllOIl u ule nuHnTdlty. OuT tOdst
Survey. on the other hand. was specially
organized to secure the harmonious CO.
operation Of civilians. officers Of the Navy
and officers Of the Army. and for many
years these three classes Of experts, each
In its own department, have successfully
cooperated in the work Of the Survey.
When they could be spared. as many as
fifty naval officers have been detailed at
a time for service on the Coast and Geodetic
Survey vessels; warships are not employed
because they canno run into creeks or
estuaries and It costs far more to keep
them moving than It does little vessels
built specially for the Surveys work.
But many naval officers think the time
has come for them to have a larger share
In the photographic work Of the Govern
ment. SO a larger appropriation was asked
for the photographic Office. Congress,
by its final vote. showed that it agrees in
the view taken by many scientific men
throughout the country that the present
system has worked we'll for a half century
and there Is no reason for changing 1t.