Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-04-19
MANDER r. w. kESSlER
On Service to Navigators

On Service to Navigators
WHAT the general public knows about
w the photographic office and its rela-
ton to navigation IS probably little or moth
ing. and TO nsk the average citizen just
what service this office extends to mariners
would be another Conundrum for him to
answer. Cor, 'Dander X. W. Kessler, head
of the local photographic office, outlines the
principal duties of the office and the service
rendered mariners So that it Is easy to see
that the hydrographi" department to mod
ern navigation is As important HS the ship
anchor or any other of its integral parts.
Commander Kcsslcr cmphaszrs the i'm
portancc Of photographic service TO both
the navy and tho merchant marine mas
much Rs it provides the charts, warnings,
information, etc., essential to safe naviga,
tiOn. Many great sea disasters hr3 avert"d
by this service. and its valu" to followers
of n" sea and shipping interests is incstt-
muble. Its further value to the navy Is
apparent Commander KeSsler is firm
believer in the United States hydrogrnphir
Office uniting with the International Hydro
graphic Bureau in the operation of
worldwide service 10 mariners.
For Safety OF Vessels
ITO insure the safety of our naval vcS-
sels and merchant marine they must be sup
piled with accurate charts of all waters
into which such vessels may al any time
be called on to go, AZ well as the cor
responding sailing directions, nautical books,
etc, and all other information and knowl-
edge which cun be collected that tends to
aSsur" them navigatonal safety at SCa.
The principal office for supplying this
data il under the control of the Navy De-
partmcnt and is known as the hydrOgraphic
office. located in Washington, with branch
hydrOgraphc Offices in various coast and
luke cities.
The functional duties OF the hydro
ID huIf inp bttIp
and other units OF the navy with charts Of
the high seas and Of foreign waters, with
accompanying information Of all kinds
necessary for safe and efficient navigation.
II secures from the coast and gcudctiC sur
vcy. which is under the Department Of
Commerce, charts, etc., covering United
States territorial waters and tide tables Of
the entire world, and from the Lighthouse
Bureau, also under the Department Of
Commerce, the light and buoy lists Of
United States waters and issue them to
naval vessels Also to supply information
and keep the 'harts Of all kinds corrected
to date for all waters of the globe.
additional duties of the photographic
office ar" to produce and plaC" on sale At
cost Of production, for I'll" benefit OF our
merchant marine and other naviguturs IN
general, charts Of the high seas and foreign
waters with the assurance that the infOr-
nation is dcprndahI" for the correction and
revision Of their charts in accordance with
the latcst available information.
Needed Warnings Issued
The issuance 0f warnings to all vessels
wherever they may be-, changes dangerous to
navigation or the existence Of wrecks dcrr-
hrts, iccbrrgs ind the like, when 1t Is pos
sblc to reach III" vessels, il no small part in
the duties Of th" office.
'Th" photographic office supplies its
branch offices with Il complete file or charts
OF the world. sailing directions, light lists,
etc., which urr kept corrected to date, where
masters and other officers of vessels may
compare their charts and sailing directions
to assure themselves that they have the
latest corrections
shipping agents and others Interested
can obtain information regarding distances,
conditions of navigation, waters, facilities
Of ports regarding depth of water, docking,
repairing, fueling, harbor regulation and
pil0tag". Correct time CHn also be obtained
daily, ns the Naval observatory sends its
noon tick ~ all branches.
9TH" branch offices receive for issuance
to the maritime public the following publi-
cations, free Of charge Daily Mcmos, which
contain reports Of important dangers to
navigation and any changes Of nuvigatiOnnl
marks the Weekly photographic Bulletin, Il
summary of information contained in the
Daily Memo; Weekly Notice to Mariners.
containing all information that leads TO
changes in charts, sailing directions, etc,
This tells what charts and books should be
revised and changed and gives the exact
phraseolOgy on the necessary change.
The navigator Is thus kept informed of
the latest changes In photography, in lights,
buoys and navigational marks Without
l this the navigation charts and publications