64 National Geographic Magazine. 



surveyors of the water, and had added not a little to the im- 

 provement of Hydrographic methods. The History of the Sur- 

 vey shows a steady advance in methods of work from its foun- 

 dation to the present day. But so equally has the march of 

 improvement been due to the zeal and untiring efforts of the 

 civilians and officers of the Army and Navy alike, that any dis- 

 tinction would be invidious. 



The plan of reorganization of 1843 provided for a detailed 

 survey of precision. It was to be based on an exact triangula- 

 tion that would insure positive results, that the location of a 

 danger or the development of a new channel, should be beyond 

 doubt ; and that the survey, when completed, should fit together 

 as one continuous line, in which the distance and direction of any 

 object on the map from any other object should be true, whether 

 the objects were in hailing distance of one another, or at the ex- 

 tremes of our boundaries. So well was the scheme conceived, so 

 perfect has it proved in operation, that it is substantially the 

 guide for the closing labors of the great work, notwithstanding 

 the many improvements that experience has wrought in the 

 details. 



Those engaged upon the Survey have been quick to profit by 

 experience, and the master mind of Professor Bache, the second 

 Superintendent, was not slow to adopt that which promised in- 

 creased economy, rapidity or improvement. He drew from all 

 sources. Science contributed her quota and the great inventive 

 genius of the American people played an equal share in producing 

 the final results. 



The researches that were necessary to obtain the information 

 required by law " for completing an accurate chart of every part 

 of the coasts," have produced results of great economic and 

 scientific value to the whole people, aside from their bearing on 

 the interests of commerce and navigation ; and which will con- 

 tribute to the welfare of mankind long years after those who 

 labored for them have passed away. A brief reference to a few 

 of the many instances that might be cited to illustrate this per- 

 petual influence to benefit our fellow men, may not be without 

 interest to some of you present. 



The application of the method of determining latitude by the 

 measurement of small zenith distances, introduced by Captain 

 Andrew Talcott of the Engineer Corps, U. S. A., while serving 

 as an Assistant on the Survey, developed such radical errors in 



