SCIENCE. 



FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1884. 



COMMENT AND CRITICISM. 



The primary work of oar Hyclrographic of- 

 fice is the publication of charts, based on origi- 

 nal surveys of distant coasts, by officers of our 

 navy ; but at present we take only a small part 

 in this form of maritime exploration. During 

 the past year, only one vessel has been en- 

 gaged in such surveys. In unpleasant contrast 

 with this, the review of hyclrographic recon- 

 noissances and surveys published annually in 

 the English Nautical magazine, for example, 

 shows how largely our ship-masters must de- 

 pend on British charts in their vo}~ages. The 

 coast-survey does admirable work on our own 

 seaboard ; but, in addition to this, our gov- 

 ernment should take its proper share of the 

 general hydrographie stud}' of the world, com- 

 mensurate with our wealth and maritime inter- 

 ests. New surveys of the northern coast of 

 South America and of parts of the West In- 

 dies are urgently required, and their execution 

 would be a well-chosen initial step towards the 

 desired increase of our trade with the Spanish- 

 Americans. 



The collection of data for the physical study 

 of the oceans is an important supplementary 

 work of the same office ; and by the recent 

 establishment of its branches at six of our 

 ports, intercourse has been greatly increased 

 with ship-masters, from whom a large share of 

 valuable material is obtained. The demand for 

 the pilot chart of the North Atlantic (see Sci- 

 ence, No. 69) has steadily increased ; and some 

 captains have even telegraphed from Europe, 

 at their own expense, certain observations of 

 special interest, made on the vo} T age across, for 

 publication on it. The distribution of blank 

 meteorological journals to voluntary observers 

 has more than doubled during the past year ; 

 and ship-masters have been stimulated to make 



No. 95. — 1884. 



immediate report of inaccuracies of charts, and 

 matter of all kinds pertinent to hydrography 

 and cartography. 



Americans are often called upon to contrib- 

 ute toward memorial funds which are designed 

 to honor distinguished Europeans. Among 

 recent requests of this sort, we remember the 

 subscriptions which were opened in honor of 

 Berkeley, the early friend of education in this 

 country ; Tjmdall the reformer ; Charles Dar- 

 win ; and the naturalists Balfour, Barrande, and 

 Miiller, — every one of whom is well worthy of 

 high honor from Americans as well as from Eu- 

 ropeans. Probabl} T the amount which has been 

 raised for all these commemorations is quite 

 moderate, constituting no adequate expression 

 of American sentiments, and no important part 

 of the entire sum collected. The value of the 

 gift is doubtless in the international or cosmo- 

 politan aspect which it imparts to the memo- 

 rial. But it is quite possible that each of these 

 tributes has taxed some one in this country to 

 a very considerable extent. Committees have 

 been formed, circulars distributed, small sums 

 collected, and a good deal of correspondence 

 exchanged ; and all this with very slight re- 

 sults. We raise the question whether it is 

 worth while to make such efforts ? Is the re- 

 turn worth the exertion ? The truth is, in our 

 opinion, that what force we can command in 

 the direction of monuments ought to be ex- 

 pended in memorials to be retained in this 

 countiy. Among secondary educational in- 

 fluences, monuments to great men hold a most 

 important place. They not only honor the de- 

 parted : they inspire the enthusiasm of 3 T outh, 

 they encourage lofty emulations, the}' lead all 

 classes to think about the men who have con- 

 tributed to the advancement of our civiliza- 

 tion. 



We are only at the beginning of the monu- 

 mental epoch in this countiy. Having honored: 



