Evening star., 1921-08-21

VEIL ENGAGED IN CHANTING THE
through its triangulation. This tri-
angulation extends from the Atlantic
to the Pacific. from Canada to
Mexico. along the coast of Alaska.
over a major portion Of the Philippine
islands. and connects Porto Rico with
Islands. In this triangulation the
geographic positions of thousands Of
points on the earth are determined
accurately. These points then be-
come the basis for the maps made by
the various mapping organizations
In private practice. Along the coast
thesr points are made use of in the
construction OF charts issued by the
survey. These points of reference
are also made use of whenever
questions Of boundaries between
states arise. numerous instances of
which might be mentioned.
A MOTHER branch of the work con-
sists in spreading over the coun-
try a network Of points the elevations
Of which are accurately known. These
elevations are made use OF by the en-
gineer OF the construction Of railways,
canals and other such works. AL
ready there are available the eleva-
tions Of more than 10000 bench marks
in this country; all elevations are de-
termined with reference to the mean
elevation Of the sea.
In it's surveying operations cover
ing mountains topped with snow and
the hot sands of the arid regions. the
field officers Of the survey meet many
problems that have to be solved. FIRE.
Quently an observation station will be
loca ted in the midst of a forest. on the
top of a tree 200 feet above ground.
These points are generally off the
Travelled roads. and the problem Of
Transporting the instruments and per-
sonnel is one of taxing ingenuity. But
in every case when an of1cer has been
ordered to do a certain piece of work
his seasons report states that the
work has been done.
les, the survey is recognized as acting
in a thoroughly impartial capacity,
both in respect to its evidence and its
technical advice and assistance. Its
decisions are. therefore. always taken
as final.
to it's activity in such, matters. A no
table instance occurred in 1916 in the
settlement OF property rights In a suit
against the city Of New York for
large damages due to the construction
Of a subway under the Harlem river.
the line Of mean low water In 1851.
and the evidence. based upon the line
as delineated on a, map prepared from
surveys made by this bureau in 1855
and 1856, was furnished by request
and at the expense Of the city OF New
York.
It should be emphasized at this point
that the work of the coast and geo.
detic survey has been the means OF
saving thousands and thousands OF
lives. 1t has also settled many dis
puted questions and prevented law
of dollars to. property owners. :.
The question naturally arises In
the mind of the reader as to
whether or not the members of the
survey performed any important part
in the late war, and while it Is true
"over the top" yet the work they per-
formed aided very materially in the
winning of the, war. When the call
to arms came the members Of the sur
vey were ready, and they needed no
training camp. no training cruise.
the. part assigned them. The services
performed by these officers covered
wide range and included. among
others, duties OF a special and highly
confidential nature with the air serv-
ice; service. with the division, of mill
as executive officers and navigators
on troop transports and other vessels
of the United States Navy; the prepa-
ration of battle maps on the battle
folds of France; perfecting gYroscoptc
compasses: as instructors In schools
Of compass adjustment, for officers In
the Naval Reserve, orientation. and as
officers in the artillery branch Of the
Army. = ~ - ~
It is not a spectacular feat Of hero
ism to be the navigating officer on
vessel, loaded with INT, which did
1ifeboats with 1t because Of the alb
solute certainty that IL anything hap
pened lifeboats would be Of Xno use.
# was to such work as this that some
Of the officers of the survey were as
signed. ~
Another officer of the survey was
devices for locating submarines. ana
in this work hesmade notable COM
tributions. These contributions were
the result, not only OF technical
training , and native ability, = but
principally the result of experiences
In the use of the wire drag, which
surveying Instrument, by the coast
and geoietic survey In years preyi-
GUS to the war, Under hts immediate
direction there was developed, the
indicating sweep. which was sue
eisn esn1u waters s and a fi1isd ' serious s gap
left by other devices. The work on
anti-submarine devices, 1t IL evident.
was not only highly iTnportant.. but
it's successful functionfng helped ma-
terially In winning the war and, In
this work. n,1meroHs devices of one
III a nj q i, h q aroa ,davalAnea to-