The San Francisco call., 1910-02-13
NAVY FOSSILS AND
lANDLUBBFRS' WAR
photographic Office Objects to
CurtaiIment of Work Done
TO Protect Shipping
Weather Bureau Insists That Its
Meteorological Charts Are
the Real Aids

lHS MAJ htuS
lively conflict is on between the
weather bureau and the photographic
Office over the publication OF pilot
charts. The weather men assert that
the photographic Office is an institu-
tion for fossils. while the men of the
photographic Office insist that they,
IS navy men. are far more competent
than the landlubbers of the weather
bureau TO issue information for the
guidance Of men at sea
Naturally the storm center is in
Washington and more particularly in
the rooms Of the appropriation COM
mlttees OF congress. While the heads
OF the contending bureaus are having
tneir Tits in the capital the two Off
Gals IN charge Of the opposing
branches in this city. FOrecaster Alex
ander 9. McAdie and Lieutenant J. {.
Burnett are on the hest Of terms, re-
Iraining from personalities, but set
ting forth the contentious Of their re-
spective bureaus.
DUPLICATION OF WORK
There is now a duplication of work
ano congress is trying TO have one
bureau 90 the work that is now being
done by the coast and geodetic sur
NeY, the weather bureau and the hy-
geographic bureau said McAdie yes
terday.
We resent the charge that is being
made by the Maritime association Of
New York that the weather bureau is
trying TO curtail the work of the hy-
geographic bureau. Tie attack has
aroused the chief of the weather bu-
reau and he objects to being put in a
false light by the photographic bureau
IF the photographic bureau has any
danger at all it is from the coast and
Eeodetic survey. which furnishes the
great percentage of the data printed
on the photographic charts.
"A board Of five officials, represent
ing the navy. the war and the agricul-
tural departments, three members
holding high rank in the navy, recon-
mended that no meteorological work
need or should be done by any portion
OF the navy for the purpose Of publica-
uon or for the making OF forecasts or
storm warnings, and that all such du-
ties, being purely civil. should devolve
upon the weather bureau. in accordance
with the organic act creating that bu-
reaU.
These charts are distributed with
out charge 10 all masters Of vessels
willing TO take one observation a day.
ship barometers are corrected and set
and other assistance OF a purely me-
teorolosical character given The
weather bureau has been most careful
90 limit its activities strictly to
weather conditions. Il has not inter
fered with, nor does it seek TO curtail
the work of any other bureau"
But the photographic Office is fight
ing hard to retain that function which
it believes belongs to il. Already the
marine underwriters and the Ship own
ers' association have sent protests to
congress against any change in the
pilot chart service Large individual
ship overs, incluring Robert Dollar and
others. have also forwarded protests
Lieutenant Burnett has Just mailed TO
the chamber Of commerce, the board Of
trade. the underwriters and the mer-
chants exchange a letter setting forth
The photographic Offices side of the
controversy
PROTEST or NAVY MEN
Excerpts from this letter follow:
The law establishing the hydro
Graphic Office and defining its work is:
There shall be hYdrogra phic office
attached 10 the bureau Of navigation
ln the navy department, for the i'm
provement Of the means Of navigating
safely the vessels OF the navy and the
mercantile marine. by providing under
the secretary OF the navy accurate and
cheap nautical charts, sailing direc-
tions. navigators and manuals Of in
struction for the use Of all vessels of
The United States and for the benefit
and Use OF navigators generally
THE annual appropriations Of con-
Eress especially authorize the prepara-
tion Of pilot charts: also the pilot char
OF the north Pacific ocean and under
these laws, the photographic Office has
issued monthly, since 1883, the pilot
chart OF the north Atlantic and. since
1898, one OF the north Pacific ocean,
collecting al necessary data for them
from the merchant marine Of all flags
As well as from our own public yes
sells. The photographic office also pub
fishes weekly supplement to the pilot
charts under the title Of photographic
ONCE Bulletins
WORK FOR MARITIME INTERESTS
~Al Of these publications are pre-
pared under the supervision of naval
oficers-men who have followed the
sea Tor profession and who have suf-
fcicntly matured practical experience
10 enable them to exercise proper iudg-
ment in weighing the many varied
slorces Of information. TO reconcile
conflicting statements, 10 set forth the
facts upon which the mariner can rely
with confidence and to exercise A care
in the preparation commensurate with
the interests Of life and property at
stake.
..The photographic Office has worked
hard to safeguard the interests of
maritime people and does not believe
they will sanction the curtailment of
any OF its work, especially by trans
fer to 4 nom -navigatiOnal department. of
the government
CIVIL SERVICE PLACES