Evening star., 1916-03-22

When, in 1911. provision was made
for instituting the coast and geodetic
survey Hassler was designated TO pro-
ceed to London for the purchase of in
struments His mission also was 10
design the appliances The war of 1872
caught him III England and throughout
the conflict he was held as an alien
enemy. II was not until four years
after his arrival that he returned to
America and started the next year the
work of the survey.
The first operations of the survey
were in New York bay and its APP
proaches. Here the main forces of the
bureau We're engaged until in April
1918. it was suspended abruptly by
short-sighted spasm of economy that in
1925 drew from Jefferson this: Il re-
gret much that the survey was not car
cured safety for the navigation of our
coast. 1t would have been an honor
able monument of the state of science
at this early period of our history
The rapid growth of American com
merce could not be menaced long. how
ever. by dangers which made naviga-
ton Of the coast and waterways un-
certain sailor and shipowner, and in
reply to an imperative demand Con-
gress. July 10. 1892, decided that the
coast survey should be resumed, and
Hassler again became superintendent
of the bureau.
Besides directing the survey Hassler
was put in charge at this time of the
newly created office of weights and
measure. necessity for which had be-
come apparent by his examinations of
standards used in the country's Gus
tonhouses. This relation between the
two bureaus remained unbroken until
the present bureau of standards was
established, fourteen years ago.
Expansion of geodetic operations Of
the survey into the interior. made in
I Z nm n a Of
of 1872 and 1878, has brought to COM
pletton a big network of primary tri-
angulation. which is the foundation for
satisfactory demarcations of political
boundaries and the preparation Of ac-
curate national, state and county maps.
For a study of the law controlling
the operations of the magnetic needle
with its Importance to the mariner and
every landowner in the states formed
since the American revolution, the sur
vey has carried its Investigations along
the coasts and adjacent waters in every
state and territory of the Union and
in all the inland possessions under the
United States flag except Guam and
Samoa. stations, at which components
Of the magnetic force have been OBJ
served. now number 5000.
Dr. E. Lester Jones, present head of
! the survey, who is arranging the cen
tennial celebration, plans TO have the
Swiss minister. DIR. Paul Ritter take a
prominent part in the exercises be-
cause of Hassler's connection with it's
early history.
Plans for the Celebration.
The celebration VIII open in the
auditorium of the New National Mu-
| scum. beginning at 80 o'clock in the
afternoon Of April s. The speakers at
that session will be DR.. Hugh NJ.
Smith, United States commissioner Of
\ : &c ~
/ Of the department of terrestrial mag
/ netism. Carnegie Institution of Wash
! ington: DR.. s. w. Stratton. director of
/ the bureau of standards, Rear Admiral
George Otis Smith, director of the geo
/ logical survey.
/ There will be another session at the
| same place al o'clock in the evening
Representative J. Hampton Moore,
| Brig. Gen. W NJ Black, chief of the
1 Corps of Engineers. L. s. A; George X.
| Putnam. commissioner of lighthouses:
George Washington Littlehales. United
| states Navy photographic office.
| The following day, at . pm. Prof.
| William Henry Burger. professor of
! civil engineering, Northwestern Uni
| Fersity, viii speak as also viii Rear
| Admiral Richard Wainwright T. s. ~
retired; DR.. otto Hilgard Tittmann.
president of the National Geographic
Society and former superintendent of
| the coast survey: DIR. Charles Lane
| Poor. professor of celestial mechanics
| Columbia L University. and DR.. Douglas
| Wilson johnson, associate professor of
| geology, Columbia University
| The centennial celebration will close
| with a banquet AT the New Willard Ho-
| tel the night Of April 6. at which the
| speakers Will be President Wilson. DR..
/ Paul Ritter. minister Of Switzerland
| Secretary Daniels of the Navy Depart
meut, Secretary Redfield OF the Depart
| ment Of Commerce. Or. Thomas Corwin
I Mendenhall. the oldest living ex-super- :
| intendent of the survey
! During the celebration there will be
an interesting exhibition at the Ma :
tional Museum Of the work of the sur
vey and the Instruments used.