The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-01-14
REPORT OF HYDROGRAPHER.
work of the once Greatly Increased
During the Year.


The annual report for 1900 of Hydro
| grapher C. c. Todd, Commander U. S. N.
has just been issued by the Navy De-
partment. 1t contains some interesting
information, particularly as showing the
| increased work necessary in this depart
ment owing principally to the Spanish
American War, and the present trouble
in the Philippine Islands. This increased
work was brought about chiefly by the
demand from the ships of the navy for
charts of the waters in the neighborhood
of these islands
In the report are made also several rec
concentrations. Speaking of the made
quacy of the present force of the Office to
prepare the necessary charts for the use
OF ships, he says that 'three-fourths of
these important works and guides to nav
igators have to be purchased abroad; and
It is a fact that even a portion of our own
coast-the northwest-is navigated by our
ships using these foreign sailing direc-
lions, which at once is "A matter OF NOR
| tifcaton and regret to every officer who
rs compelled to use them. In this con-
| nection 1 deem it of Importance to remind
you that the first-ciass maritime powers
of the world have a large force regularly
employed or engaged without cessation.
in keeping up their sailing directions, so
that at all times their ships are amply
supplied with home publications. and in
emergencies they are not compelled to go
to other markets to procure these aids
to navigation. L suggest, therefore, that
the bureau consider the advisability
of keeping a force of not less than six
officers employed especially in the cor
lions, and entirely independent of the cur
rent work of the photographic office, in
order that as soon as practicable the
Navy Department shall be entirely indie
pedent of any market for the purchase
of these publications. BY reference to
the figures laid down in the report of the
division of sailing directions 1T will read
lily be seen how many of these books it
is necessary for us to purchase annually
and circumstances might arise that would
prevent altogether the purchase of any
of these from foreign source. resulting
in possible disaster at critical time.
The well-known conditions as 90 mac
curate charts of the Philippine group
have caused the office, through the divi-
sion of chart construction, TO put forth
every effort to guard our fleet and mer-
chant vessels in those waters by publish
ing as rapidly as possible, corrected to
date by da ia received from there such
charts could be purchased or were cap
tured. These necessarily could not be
considered proper charts for purposes of
navigation. While they are the best pub
hshed. it is realized that they are not
founded upon accurate surveys, and that
many dangers exist in the navigable wa
tiers of the Philippine group yet to be
developed by careful surveying. The loss
of more than one of our yes
sells and the grounding of many
others. well as the obstacles
arsing from this inaccuracy reacting up
on efficient military operations in the Far
East, at once directs attention to the i'm
portance of, soon as possible land
something should be sacrificed to this
end, having a thorough survey prose-
cuted of the more important ports first
and of the coast later that our naval
feet in the Orient, as well as the mer-
chant vessels that must trade there may
be safeguarded.
From personal experience am well
aware that the same condition exists as
to the published charts of the waters
around the island of Cuba as well as the
| present inaccuracy of the sailing direc.
lions appertaining to the navigation OF
| the waters surrounding that island, and
what has been said relative to the Philip
| pines applies equally to the waters
around the Island of Cuba. 1t is there
IOfe recommended lIldI the iOICe WHICH
was last season engaged in the work OF
surveying the Island of Cuba and its har-
| bors be increased for more than one rea-
son. The primary one, of course, is that
we must have accurate charts and good
sailing directions. The second is that the
| disturbed condition of affairs
existing there is impressed by
the presence of these armed YES
sells of the navy operating in those
waters. The third is that while under the
Jurisdiction of the United States we have
a full right to do such surveying as we
see fit Such might not be the case un
les provided for by treaty. when the ju
risdiction of the United States ends II
Cuba. The three vessels engaged there
in surveying work during the past sea
| son have fulfilled their mission in the
highest sense, and the results of theil
work published are standards for al
\ navigators something never before
known-and these charts are now ISSUED
for the benefit of commerce. OF the sur
veys that have been made, there
have been published charts Of Guantana
mo. Santiago de Cuba, all on the
south side. and of Banes. Nipe. Gibara
and Nuevitas, on the northeast"
1t is further stated that, a new office
has been established at Galveston, Tex.
in accordance with the last appropriation
BILL and is now in operation. One mil
lion tons of foreign commerce enter and
go out of the port OF Galveston, and IT
would seem desirab BILE, and I so recommend
that at a proper time the time-ball sys-
tenn be installed at that point.
, ''It is also recommended that the time
ball system be installed at Norfolk with
order that the vast increase of shipping
at that mort NAV be benefited"