Mat 12, 1916] 



SCIENCE 



671 



mensurational framework of the Coast Survey has 

 been conducted and the topography delineated, 

 the land dips gradually under the sea. It is the 

 province of marine hydrography, by means of 

 measurements of the depth of sea located in posi- 

 tion with reference to the triangulation on shore, 

 to discover and to chart the features of this sub- 

 merged bordering land, thereby indicating the 

 hidden dangers to be avoided by mariners and the 

 channels where safety is to be sought in the guid- 

 ance of shipping. The mission of the hydrog- 

 rapher has thus been that of a pathfinder to lead 

 the way to our ports and harbors, not only at 

 home, but also in the distant countries over which 

 the jurisdiction of the United States extends; to 

 tell the seafarer of the favoring tide, and by how 

 much his compass declines from the true meridian; 

 and to warn him where his safety is beset. 



It must be with no small degree of pride that 

 men should trace their professional lineage to a 

 calling which has prepaid the premium of a policy 

 of insurance upon the seaborne commerce of the 

 United States and made the coast of the United 

 States its best known geographical feature — a 

 calling reaching so far back into the history of 

 our country, so enriched with the heroisms of the 

 sea and with the names of illustrious defenders 

 of the nation, and so unexcelled for the aggregate 

 of its influences in promoting the security of ship- 

 ping and safeguarding the lives of seamen. 



The Contribution of the United States Coast and 

 Geodetic Survey to Geodesy: William Henry 

 Burger. 

 To be printed in Science. 



The Civil War Beeord of the United States Coast 

 and Geodetic Survey, and what the Survey is 

 Doing towards Preparedness: Eear-Admiral 



ElCHARD WAINWRIGHT. 



My acquaintance with the U. S. Coast and Geo- 

 detic Survey for over sixty years is my warrant 

 for attempting to give the record of the field force 

 of the survey during the Civil War. During my 

 boyhood days I have listened to many talks about 

 the deeds of the field force of the survey and have 

 met many of the assistants who served in the army 

 and navy during the Civil War. Their names would 

 sound familiarly to the old cave-dwellers of this 

 city. They were early volunteers of their services 

 to the country, and their assistance was eagerly 

 sought by generals in the field and admirals afloat. 

 The officers of the survey were in frequent consul- 

 tation with ofiicers of the army and the navy in 

 regard to operations along the coast, and in nearly 



all naval and military movements they aided by 

 making reconnaissances and soundings, placing 

 buoys and piloting in interior waters. The field 

 force of the Coast Survey gave valuable military 

 service to their country during the Civil War and 

 afterward they returned to their regular duties, 

 without any of the rewards of rank or pay or pen- 

 sion, for themselves or their families, so freely dis- 

 tributed at this time for military services ; but they 

 had the satisfaction that is the reward of all ear- 

 nest workers of knowing that: 

 ' ' Duty done. 

 Is Honor won." 



Prior to the CivU War, and again some time after 

 its close, naval ofiieers were detailed to duty with 

 the survey. They had the opportunity of learning 

 to command and to exercise their own initiative. 

 They had to learn to conquer difficulties and to 

 make things do, for in no other government serv- 

 ice is more required and smaller means provided 

 for its accomplishment than in the Coast Survey. 

 I am glad to see that the present superintendent is 

 gradually forcing the Coast and Geodetic Survey 

 from its dignified scientific obscurity into the light 

 of the public eye. Congress will not appropriate 

 liberally unless the public is interested. 



The constant work of keeping our numerous 

 harbors and channels correctly charted, with the 

 aids to navigation located and the tides computed, 

 is necessary for the commerce of peace, as well as 

 in preparation for war; and there are points where 

 a close survey is of value to the navy, although of 

 little use to commerce. 



In time of war the field force of the Coast Sur- 

 vey will be needed as it was during the Civil Wax. 

 The army and navy are both very short of officers 

 and there is little likelihood of its being otherwise 

 for many years. A trained topographer would al- 

 ways be of value on the staff of a general. In 

 modern war, with long-range guns, the general 

 must visualize his work by close reference to the 

 map and a topographer from the Coast iSurvey 

 would find little training necessary to keep the 

 new features and movements of the troops plotted 

 ready for the commanding general. 



In the navy a skilled hydrographer would prove 

 a most valuable addition to the staff of an ad- 

 miral. His power of quickly locating his position 

 on a chart would be of assistance in bombardments, 

 blockading, mining and counter-mining. 



On the practical side the work of the survey has 

 been well done and with economy. The Coast Sur- 

 vey charts stand at the head of all others for ac- 

 curacy, execution and general usefulness. The 



