The Alaska daily empire., 1921-09-28
CURRENTS OF.
 PAC|F|C WILL :! BE OBSERVED
Recent Wrecks Lead to Sur Winds Create Move
 ment of Water.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2S.-Reccnt wrecks on the Pacific notably those of the Alaska and the San Jose. have moved the Coast and Geodetic Sur vey to lay out program for next seasons work, in which it will con centrate it's chief efforts on 5tuiy of the currents of the Pacific, those treacherOus movements that have proven so disastrous to ship ping:
 Observations already mads have resulted. in the remarkable disCov- cry that winds on the Pacific Coas, create ocean currents, not in s.eir own direction. but in direction 20 degrees to the right of the wind. Thus, a wind blowing parallel with the coast creates a current that tends to set vessel on shore.
 Col. E. Lester Jones, director of the survey, in an interesting letter to Representative SinnOtt of Oregon, tells about it and about the surveys plans, as follows:
 "I was very glad to receive your letter of September 9, relative to d study by this survey of currents along the Pacific Coast, for it is matter which has long been giving me deep concern and which have emphasized repeatedly in my reports and in special publications dealing with the matter.
 "The danger to navigation on the Pacific Coast has long been appre- ciated by this bureau, and have re- peatedly requested increased appro- priations for the purpose of making d systematic study of the current conditions on that coast.
 Appropriation Is Small
 Our annual appropriation for tidal and current work for the whole of tha United States and Alaska is only $15,0O0. making it impossible to use a vessel for the purpose of mak- ing detailed study of the treacher- ous and little known currents of the Pacific Coast. Canada. with far shorter coast line and lesser mari time interests. expended annually for, tidal and current work, $45.O0O before the war, and at present is ex- pending annually $3O,O00
 By taking advantage of all avail able means, such as light vessels stationed along the coast, we haze secured considerable information, even with the meager appropriate lon at our disposal The observations made at the light vessels have brought out the important fact that contrary to general belief, wind creates current on the Pacific Coast not in it's own direction, but in direction 20 degrees to the right of the wind. The importance of this discovery lies in the fact that a wind blowing parallel with the coast produces current which may tend to set a vessel on shore, d fact which until now has been unknown to nayi- gators.
 "FOr the coming calendar year this survey will issue current tsbles for both the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts of the United States in which the tidal currents and the wind cur rents will be given, based on such observations as we have been able to obtain.
 But to bring out to the full the effects of the currents. it is neces sary to make systematic study of the currents all along the coast. An appropriation of $60,000 will permit tha uSc of a yaSSn1 to sapuro ohcorv tiOns at critical points between light vessels, which is absolutely neces- sary to link together data obtained at the light vessels.
 Devote Funds to This Work
 "In view of the importance of the matter as developed by observations so far obtained. it is planned during the present year to curtail as far as possible other important activi. ties. and to employ the funds so con. served for the use of vessel for.