Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-05-11
photographic Office Perfecting
System Of Chdrting the Oceans

WASHINGTON. ID. c.. May TO-
When the imminent peril to Ameri.
can lives and property In Turkey led
the American officials the other Day
TO order the armored cruisers North
Carolina to proceed at the utmost
speed to Alexandretta In Asiatic Iur-
KEY a striking reply was received az
the Navy Department from the com
manding officers.
Have no charts came the WORDS
by wireless from the assembled yes
sells at the naval station at Ghahth-
namo. Cuba. To have steamed TO New
York to obtain the necessary charts
OF the Mediterranean waters 10 be
visited was TO imperil American lives
and American interests just so many
days. besides mourning an additional
expense. Ii being time OF peace rhe
United States was able TO purchase
the desired charts from Great Britain.
and the American warships started
for Turkey. content to be guided in
times of need by British maps and
sharts.
When the battleship feet was Or
dered to prepare ter the trip around
the world. IL took the navy depart
ment four months to buy, beg ana
borrow" the 1000. maps and charts
necessary not only for the battlestips
but fer vessels of all kinds that ac-
companied the big ships OF war
: Practically every officer of high
rank that sailed on the feet has join
ed with commercial and maritime or
ganizations and interests in asking FOR
an extension of the work of the hy-
drograDhic bureau of the Navy De-
f,artment, charged with the respon-
sibility of surveying the oceans. The
most urgent appeal for additional IN
formation In regard to the oceans
comes from commercial organiza-
tions along the Gulf II is probable
, that a campaign will be conducted
| for radical increase in the charts or
the photographic bureau. which not
only furnishes charts and maps Tor
the American navy. but is the only
branch OF the government that can
thus aid the commerce of the United
States.
As a result of the growth of trade
in the South Atlantic. no actiyi-
ties are already to be noted in the bu.
reau Some time In June, there will
appear the first pilots chart of the
South Atlantic Ocean ever published
| by the United States. Thereafter
similar charts of that section of the
ocean will I've printed quarterly.
This chart is now being prepared In
/, the photographic Office. 1t will be
patterned after the pilot chart of the
North Atlantic Ocean but on account
| of the lack of data will not be COM
tplete. II will contain information
concernlng the expected average
condition of wind and weather and
recommended routes for steam and
sail. Derelicts. wrecks, drifting
buoys. ocean currents, storm tracks
and magnetic. variations will be re-
ported on the chart by appropriate COL
ors and symbols. From time W time
special subjects OF interest to the
Navy and commercial vessels will be
included on the chart. In December .
similar pilots chart of the South Pa
cific Ocean will be published for the
first time and will appear thereafter
quarterly.
Information for the new charts VIII
| be obtained much the same as that
for the pilots chart in the NORTH Az
| lantic and North Pacific Oceans
Data is collected for these offices,
from observers aboard ships and from
publications Of other governments.
The Observers are usually ofBcers OF
vessels touching American ports. The
Navy Department has found that
whiia tho mariner e a GOOD observer