The 8u7'vey of the Coast. 65 



the star places given in the catalogues, that it led to an almost 

 immediate call for better places, and arrangements were made 

 with the observatories of the countr}- to obtain the necessary ob- 

 servations, the Survey to pay for the labor involved. Stimulated 

 by the knowledge that better work was required to meet the new 

 demand, observatories deficient in instruments procured ncAV 

 ones, and soon furnished more accurate star places. Continued 

 observation has added still further improvement until to-day we 

 have catalogues that furnish the highest degree of precision. 

 Professor Chauvenet defines " Talcott's method " as " one of the 

 most valuable improvements in practical astronomj'^ of recent 

 years, surpassing all previous known methods (not excepting that 

 of Bessel by prime vertical transits) both in simplicity and 

 accuracy." But the advantages of the method have been found 

 to be of a practical nature also ; as it is productive of large 

 economy in time and labor and has reduced the cost of the Sur- 

 vey many thousands of dollars. 



The introduction of the Electric Telegraph was utilized by the 

 Survey immediately on the practical accomplishment of the first 

 line built, as a ready and improved means for determining longi- 

 tude. Indeed, before Professor Morse had demonstrated to the 

 world the truthfulness of his theories and experiments, the bare 

 possibility of their success, and availability in the instant trans- 

 mission of time, had been discussed on the Coast Survey, and the 

 method to be first employed fully considered. But as in the 

 application of all things under new conditions, experience is the 

 teacher, and improvements were frequently made, until finally 

 the invention and perfection of the " chronograph " has brought 

 the method to a degree of precision that little more can be 

 looked for. This method of determining longitude, introduced, 

 fostered and perfected on the Coast Survej^, has been more far 

 reaching than geographical boundaries. All civilized nations have 

 adopted it as the "American Method," and by the greater ac- 

 curacy and reliability of the results the whole world has profited. 

 The saving that has accrued by the more perfect determination 

 of longitudes and the consequent increased safety to commerce, 

 may be counted by millions every year ; until one stands aghast 

 in contemplation of the immensity of the sum, and fears to 

 reckon it, even approximately, much less to prophecy what it 

 may reach in the future. The system is but a natural sequence 

 of the development of the telegraph, but emphasizes in a marked 



