Page:Science vol. 5.djvu/61

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��>llf. The oEBcer now in cliarge of the hyilrograplilc office appeared before your committee in person, and g>ve it a very cle&r account of the work his office ig actUHiiy doing.

Besides the tiydro^raphic work of Ihe cooat-sarvej, — which isconducted, and bM always been conducted tintler existing hiws, under the direction of the super- intendent of the coa»t-8urvey, — this hydrographic office is not only supplying eorrected charts lo the Tetsels of the nary, but is collecting informalion as to ice which endangers every ship or steamer of the great lines which connect our northern ports with Grvat Britain nnd France; and It alio publL'ihes con- stantly information as to changes In lights and buoys, and discoveries by all nations of shoals and dangers Dot laid down upon the charts in common use. It publishes at short Intervals, not only printed informa- tion by bulletin sent to commercial centres In this country, but pilot charts, especially of the North Atlantic, giving the latest Intelligence in regard to cufrents and winds, and the location, when tastseen, of all floating wrecks and derelicts, and of the ice- bergs and other floating ice which through the whole spring, summer, and fall seasons, lie along the eastern edge of the Great Banks, directly in the track fol-

d by hundreds of steamers and lailing-vesaela,

'iDg many thousands of traveller^, passengers.

immigrants, and the millions of dollars of our

irta and imporls. This work of the hydrographic office is evidently of great value and iuiporiance lo our commercial and biisiij(<ss Interests, and must save many vessels from wreck, and mKny lives from destruction. Naval vessels uniler direction anil Instruction of tlie hydro- graplilc office also survey foreign coasts and uiisnr- veyed harbors and channels, aiding powerfully in the extension and introduction of our commerce to such coasts and harbors; and they contribute to the knowl- edge of the earth and Its inhabitants by deep-sea soundings, by observations of the currents and winds and storms, and of the bottom of the ocean and of ila thures.

While this work Is scientific work, your committee la not prepared to recommend that it be detached in any way from the control of the navy department; nor can they recommenil that Ihe hydrographic work of the coast-survey, for over forty years conducted ao satisfactorily under the civil control of the coast- tnrvey, be separated from that organization before tbe original survey shall be completed. After that is done, perhaps the work of re-sounding and of re-examin- ing may. without injury to the service, be committed to the control of the navy department. Yet even then correction and revision of the coast-tiurvey charts will require some co-ordination, some author- itstivs connection between the coast-survey office and the parties and vessels engaged in these re-ex- arolnalions for correction of our coast charts.

from the terms of the act under which your com- ■ilu«e is considering this subject, it may be inferred tint the principal question affecting the hydrographic otBce, on which an opinion is desired, is that ol its GOiUolidalion with the hydrographic work of the

��coasvsurvey. The reasons for the consolidation of these two works ander the navy department have been urged with force by the secretary of the navy in his last two annual reports. Bui there are also cogent reasons on the other side of this question. The coasUsurvey was specially orgHnlced to secore the harmonious co-operation of civilians, officers of the navy, and officers of the army, each in his own department, and yet in a single well co-ordinated work. No Bcieniific department of the government ha« worked more successfully through the forty years in which this organization has been in operation. Each of the three branches thus harmoniously co- operating has received the benefit of the skill and professional experience of the other.

An oi^anlzatlon of this sort ilionld not, while its work Is going on, be disrupted, except for very Strang reasons affecting its efficiency. We would also ad' vert, iu illustration of the advantages which onr military and naval officers have derived from their connection with the coast-survey, to the brilliant list of military and naval men during the civil war, who derived a very Important part of their professional training from their experience on that work. Such a list would include an array of professional leaders which it would be difficult to collect from any other associated body of men. We suggest the names of Porter, the Rodgcraes, of Meade, and of Humphreys. Many others might be added, wlio, after service on the coast-survey, rose to high employments In the army and navy.

While, therefore, your committee is not prepared at the present time to recommend the proposed con- solidation, it does not conceive that congress should adopt measures looking to the separation in per- petuity of the two branches under cotulderation. The policy of the coast-suney should, we conceive, be directed towards the completion at the earliest possible dale of the survey of our coast-line. Its main operations will thereafter be confined princi- pally to the interior, and then Ihe policy of consoli- dating Its hydrography with the work of the naval hydrographic office will be open for consideration. We are therefore of opinion that the hydrographic office of the navy department Is worked with all due efficiency as it la now organized, and that no change is at present nece*aary in Its relations to the goveni-

Prelimlnary to our recommendations as to the other three works upon which your committee is called upon to report, it desires to present some gen- eral views respecUng the working of the departments of the government. We conceive it desirable that there should be a clear understanding as to what sorts of scientific investigation may be undertaken by government organizations. We conceive it to be a sound principle that congress should not under- take any work which can be equally well done by the enterprise of individual Investigators. Our leading universities are constantly Increasing the means of scientific research by their professors and students; and, wliile the government may with propriety en- courage and co-operate with Ihem, there la no reason

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