National Scientific and luiticational Institutions. 293 



said that, without doubt, the early orfj^anization of the survey was due 

 to the scientific wisdom and pohtical foresight of Jefferson, who reahzed 

 that within a fev: years the country would be involved in a war with 

 Great Britain, and that a thorough knowledge of the coast was essential, 

 not only to the prosperity of the nation in time of peace, but still more 

 to its safet}' in case of invasion. At that time the only charts available 

 for our mariners were those in The Atlantic Neptune of Colonel Des 

 Barres, and the old hydrographic charts issued by the Dutch, French, and 

 English Governmeiats. Jefferson realized that American seamen were 

 less familiar with many portions of their own coast than were the Euro- 

 pean navigators, and he appreciated fully the importance of having a 

 knowledge of this kind far more accurate than that which was possessed 

 by any foreigner. ' ' With the clear and bold perception which always 

 distinguishes men of genius when they are trusted in times of danger 

 with the destiny of nations, the President recommended the survey of 

 the home coast with all the aid of the more recent discoveries in science ; ' ' 

 and in his annual message to Congress, in the year 1807, proposed the 

 establishment of a national surve}^, for the purpose of making a complete 

 chart of the coast with the adjacent shoals and soundings. 



In response to this recommendation, Congress made an appropriation 

 of $50,000 for the purpose of carrying out the provision of the follow- 

 ing law: 



AN ACT to provide for surveying the Coasts of the United States. 



Be it enacted, etc., That the rresident of the United States shall be, and he is 

 herein^ authorized and requested to cause a survey to be taken of the coasts of the 

 United States, in which shall be designated the islands and shoals, with the roads or 

 places of anchorage, within twenty leagues of any part of the shores of the United 

 States ; and also the respective courses and distances between the principal capes, 

 or head lands, together with such other matters as he may deem proper for complet- 

 ing an accurate chart of every part of the coasts within the extent aforesaid. ( Act of 

 February 10, 1807.) 



By the direction of the President, Alljert Gallatin, Secretary of the 

 Treasury, addressed a circular letter to American men of science, request- 

 ing their opinion as to the character of the plan to be adopted. 



In the circular of the Secretary of the Treasury, the work to be per- 

 formed was defined as consisting of three distinct parts, as follows: 



( 1 ) The ascertainment by a series of astronomical observations of the position of 

 a few remarkable points on the coast, and some of the light-houses placed on the 

 principal capes, or at the entrance of the principal harbors, appear to be the most 

 eligible places for that purpose, as being objects particularly interesting to naviga- 

 tors, visible at a great distance, and generally erected on spots on wdiich similar 

 buildings will be continued so long as navigation exists. 



(2) A trigonometrical survey of the coast between those points of which the posi- 

 tions shall have been astronomically ascertained; in the execution of which survey, 

 the position of every distinguishable permanent object should be carefully desig- 

 nated; and temporary beacons be erected at proper distances on those parts of the 

 coast on which such objects are really to be found. 



