1. while the naval observatory is a government institution for studying the heavens in the interest of the navy; the[313] coast survey is an organization employed in a thorough and scientific study of the shores of our country for a sufficient distance out from the land to ascertain all the features concealed by the water that may have a bearing on the safety of our navy and commerce. one examines the heavens, the other the depths of the waters. they are both of great importance.
2. this government undertaking has not been as vigorously prosecuted as some other enterprises conducted by it. as early as 1807, congress passed an act authorizing the president to have this work done. much of it has been done, yet it is not finished at this day. our acquisition of florida, texas, and california has greatly extended our sea coast since the work was commenced, and its accomplishment has cost more time and labor than was anticipated at the beginning, yet we think it ought to have been completed in much less than 60 years.
3. this work, like that relating to light houses, is under the management of a board, consisting of a superintendent, two principal assistants, two naval officers, and four officers of the army. these nine constitute the board. then there are as many officers of the army and navy employed in the execution of the work as are deemed necessary. and the public vessels, by direction of the president, may be used in order to facilitate the work, for much of it must be done at sea. the survey extends 20 leagues from the shore. the surveyors must make accurate charts of the whole coast, in which are laid down all the islands, shoals, roads or anchorage grounds within twenty leagues of any part of the shore of the united states. the courses or distances between the principal capes or headlands must be laid down, together with the soundings (depths of water) and everything else necessary to make a complete and accurate chart of every part of our coasts.
4. an annual report of this work must be made to congress in december of each year, accompanied with charts, showing the progress of the work, the number of persons employed, the expenses incurred, the amount of work finished,[314] and what is unfinished. these reports and charts are carefully preserved, and copies of them may be had at washington for the use of our naval and merchant ships, to which they are of great service, as guides, whenever they are on or near the coast. this work, in its utility, is not confined to ourselves; but the important information obtained by it is of great use to the navigators of all nations who come into our ports or cruise on our coasts. they derive the same benefits from this work that we derive from theirs of the same kind. it is creditable to any nation to do such things as are beneficial to the world, such acts as contribute to the welfare of humanity. shipwrecks belong to the list of terrible calamities which often befall those “who go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters.” whoever diminishes these is a public benefactor.
