* 
308 Annual Report on the U. S. Coast Survey. 
importance of which, in reference to economy and accuracy, 
must be manifest to all acquainted with operations of this kind. 
That detached surveys conducted upon different plans and 
principles cannot produce a satisfactory map of a country, has 
been proved as often as the project has been tried. The head of 
the work should have constantly in his mind a distinct plan of 
the whole, leading to definite final results; he should be allowed _ 
full scope in the development and prosecution of this plan in all 
its parts, in their proper order of succession ; and then and only 
under this condition he should be held responsible for the quality 
and the rapidity of the execution. The plan proposed by Dr. 
Bache has met the approbation of the head of the department 
under which he acts, and has received the support of Congress 
for three years past. Even the existence of the war has not 
prevented the increase of appropriation which has been called for 
by the continued extension of the operations. The superintend- 
ent has also been liberally aided by the head of the navy depart- 
ment, and has thus incurred the responsibility above alluded to. 
The manner in which he has met this during the past year 1s 
shown in the report before us. It exhibits an improvement in 
the quality of results, and an increase in quantity over that of 
the former plan, which may-be estimated at double the amount 
for an increase of fifty per cent. in the cost. 
_ In accordance with this plan the field work was extended dur- 
ing the year 1844 into nine states, and the summer of 1845 into 
thirteen, in 1846 into fifteen, and during the past year mto 
eighteen, namely, Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode 
Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Del- 
aware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Geor- 
gia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas. The estimate 
for the next year will provide for operations in every state on the 
coast of the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. 
e chief part of the operations in one of these sections, 
namely, that from Point Judith to the Capes of the Delaware, 35 
completed, and the work has made very considerable progress 10 
two others, viz., in the section of New England and that em- 
bracing Maryland and Virginia. The triangulation was com 
menced in 1844 in a fourth section (North Carolina), and in 1845 
in a fifth section, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. oer he 
e in 
