60 National Geographic Magazine. 



only the channels by which the fleet might enter, but their rela- 

 tions to each other and the points of vantage that should be 

 utilized in obstructing them ; and in modern warfare to know 

 these things only approximately will not suffice, for precision is 

 practiced now in the art of war, as well as in the arts of peace. 



The lack of charts of our extensive Coast line, or indeed, of 

 any practical information that could be utilized in a systematic 

 defence against foreign aggression, was only one of the many 

 perplexities that surrounded our forefathers in building the 

 nation. By their valor they had wrested a jewel from the British 

 Crown, and had inaugurated a system of government by the 

 people, which on their sacred honors they had sworn to defend. 

 But not a generation had passed away when they saw new dan- 

 gers, and were forced to contemplate again taking up arms in 

 defence of their rights. The land was theirs, even far towards 

 the setting sun, pioneers had explored it, and they knew whence 

 might come a hostile foe. But of the waters from far away to 

 the eastward, that flowed on until they washed every shore and 

 filled the great Bays, even to the heart of the Republic, they 

 knew little, save that over that almost immeasurable expanse 

 might come the fleet of destroyers to penetrate they knew not 

 where, and inflict incalculable damage months ere the dreary 

 tales might be told. It must be remembered there were no tele- 

 graphs, no railroads, no steamboats, in those days, and time taken 

 by the forelock was time gained. The speed of man could not 

 be overtaken as we see it to-day in the wondrous inventions of 

 the last generations. Each community was dependent upon it- 

 self, alone, in time of danger, to ward off the blow or yield to a 

 more powerful foe ; assistance could hardly be obtained in months 

 and perhaps not then. It was not possible for any man to study 

 or to learn the j^oints of danger, and prepare a system of defence. 



President Jefferson in his far-seeing statesmanship, threatened 

 with war, realized the danger. A survey of the coast he believed 

 essential to the national defence, and to the prosperity of the 

 nation in time of peace. Had his wise counsels prevailed and the 

 survey been prosecuted with vigor, instead of being almost imme- 

 diately suspended for a quarter of a century, thei'e can be no 

 question but that it would have saved the people millions of dol- 

 lars in expenditures and put other untold millions into their cof- 

 fers, through the impetus it would have given to commerce years 

 before commerce actually had a name in many that are now 

 thriving seaport towns. 



