59 



after combined under the name of the "Division of Chart- 

 Construction." 



This building, though the most convenient that could 

 have been obtained at the time of its selection, has proven 

 since to be ill-adapted for the delicate work of engraving 

 and printing charts on account of lacking the requisite light 

 and stability. 



A number of important improvements were made in the improvement 

 Office during the year. A change of the compasses upon compasses, 

 charts was effected by dividing the true compass into de- 

 grees instead of points. 



A systematic plan was adopted in the construction of uniform scale 

 charts, so that, as far as practicable, all harbor-charts were bor^.i?art8 0r 

 made upon the same scale. 



No magnetic variation charts having been published by 

 the United States, the Hydrographic Office has been hith- 

 erto wholly dependent upon those issued by the British 

 Admiralty. During this year an independent collection collection of 

 of data was begun, with the object of preparing an Amer- understates l°Z 

 ican series of such charts. The work of investigating and natl °" charts - 

 compiling a list of accurate geographical positions was com- 

 menced for use as standard reference-meridians in the con- 

 struction of new charts. 



Changes were made in the designations of two of the chart Division 

 divisions of the Office, in order that their names might more ty Ch ait-Room 

 clearly indicate the character of the work performed in them, ? V eiy S t'l Division 

 viz : the " Chart Division " became the " Division of Supply " S& oK Je Di " 

 and the Admiralty Chart- biooin the "Division of Issue." 



The growing appreciation of the importance of tlie work increase in the 

 of the Hydrographic Office to the sea-faring world was shown drographic r office 

 during the year by the constantly increasing demands for P uMlcatlons - 

 its publications. Merchant captains evinced their interest 

 in furthering the objects of the Office by eagerly contribut- 

 ing hydrographic information obtained on their voyages ; 

 and, in some cases, even cabled from Europe to the Office, 

 at their own expense, accounts of storms or wrecks encoun- 

 tered in crossing the Atlantic. 



During the year a set of Index-charts of the world was Comp ] eteaet0 f 

 designed and published, showing graphically the exact I ^ 1 | S bed hait8 

 region embraced by each general sailing chart printed by 

 the Hydrographic Office, as well as the "chart number" by 

 which it is known. 



