The Alaska daily empire., 1923-01-11
JONES MAKES ANNUAL REPORT
 FOR PAST YEAR
Advocates Extensive Work Tn Alaska-Purchase of Dutch
 Harbor Recommended.

The need of further and more ex- tensive work in Alaska by the United States Coast, and Geodetic Survey and reasons for a recommendations for the purchase from the North American Commercial Company, of their property at Dutch Harbor, by the Federal government, to be used as supply base, are fully discussed ia the report on the work done in Alaska by the Survey. as made by E Lester Jones, Director, United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, in his annual report to the Secretary of Commerce, for the fiscal year, ended June 30 1922 The portion of the report devoted to the work done in Alaska is as follows:
 'The work being done in Alaska by the Coast and Geodetic Survey should receive all possible support as Alaska is entirely dependent upon water-borne transportation for It's connection with the.s outside world and adequate charts are needed tc protect the lives and property en tering and leaving the Territory.
 "It has always been the policy of the Coast and Geodetic Survey to expedite the surveys as rapidly as funds are made available, but these have never been furnished in suffi, cicnt amounts to enable the survey to meet the urgent demands made upon it as q result of the rapid eco homie development of the Territory Much of the information shown on our present charts consists of mere adaptations from tho work of early explorers and nayigators. wholly in. adequate to insure the safety of yes sells traversing tho waters. Lives and property have been lost as a result of this condition, and the fact that the losses have not been much greater must be attributed to the knowledge and skill of the local navl- gators rather than to the safeguards furnished them by the government.
 Requests for Surveys
 The rapid development of Alaska along commercial lines is well illus trated by the growing number of re qlests for surveys and for informa. ton pertaining to areas where sites for proposed industries have been newly selected. In the past scatter ing surveys have been made in the strenuous effort 70 meet the needs of commerce. but the industries have far outstripped the progress of these surveys. wholly through lack of sui ficient personnel and equipment with which to keep pace. One of the mosl urgent present demands js for a further extension of the much-need ed wire-drag surveys. These should be pushed with all possible haste IS in the deep.. fiordlike channels oi Southeastern Alaska survey by this
 ing that all dangers have been To cated.
 ''The Photographic and topographic surveys commenced in 1917 from Dixon Entrance along the outer coas have been extended northward tc Moves Island. The largest survey vessel operated by the Coast ant Geodetic Survey is now engaged fl extending this work northward to ward Sitka. This work not only in cludes detailed survey of the shore line but depths are obtained from tht beach to-t 1,O00-fathom curve. Int locations of fishing banks in thii vicinity are obtained on these sound ing lines.
 Three vessels have recently beer transferred to the Coast and Geo detic Survey by the Navy Depart ment. These vessels were built fol mine-sweeping duty by the navy anC will be altered to make them suit able for surveying work. They vii take the place of two vessels of tht service already condemned and solt and one other which will be disposed of this winter. These new vessels on account of their size, power, an. seaworthiness, will help material. | in expediting the charting of th' open waters of Western Alaska. Sur veys are much needed for the de yelopment of the oil fields in thi locality. There should be revision