3

Lieut. Command'g Richard | Hydrography of Albemarle and Croaton souhur, of Alligator and North rivers; reconnaissance of Wainwright, United States

Davy, assistant.

Lieutenant Commanding J.

N. Maffitt, United

navy, assistant.

States

Hatteras inlet.

Hydrographic reconnaissance of Beaufort harbor,
North Carolina.

A. D. Bache, superintendent; Measurement of base on Edisto island completed.

C. O. Boutelle, assistant;

and C. P. Bolles, sub-assist

Astronomical and magnetic observations at north
end of Edisto base connected with main triangu-
lation commenced; secondary triangulation of
North Edisto inlet made.

Secondary triangulation.. C. O. Boutelle, assistant; C. Measurement of preliminary base near Savannah;

P. Bolles, sub-assistant.

Lieutenant Commanding J. N.
Maffitt, United States navy,

assistant.

secondary triangulation from north end of Hutch-
inson's island to Elba island, Savannah river.
Hydrography of Charleston harbor and approaches;
reconnaissance off St. Helena sound.

Lieutenant Commanding John Reconnaissance of St. Andrew's shoals.
Rodgers, United States navy,

Astronomical and mag- J. E. Hilgard, assistant...
netic observations, and
secondary triangulation.

....

H. L. Whiting, assistant; and
J. H. Adams, sub-assistant.
(Double party.)

Lieutenant Commanding John
Rodgers, United States navy,
assistant.

Inspection of progress of work.

Reconnaissance of Florida Keys and of part of the
main from Cape Florida to the Tortugas com-
pleted; preliminary base near Cape Florida meas-
ured; reconnaissance for base near Cape Sable
made; reconnaissance near Cedar Keys com-
menced.

Observations for latitude and azimuth; magnetic
declination, &c., at Key Biscayne; preliminary
base near Cape Florida measured; triangulation
of Key Biscayne bay and of Florida reef adja-
cent commenced, (part of season)
Triangulation near Key Biscayne continued;
topography of Key West and of adjacent keys
executed.

Reconnaissance of Cape Canaveral shoals execu
ted; hydrography of Key West harbor and ap-
proaches nearly completed.

2

Lieutenant Command'g James

Alden, United States navy,

assistant.

F. H. Gerdes, assistant...

Reconnaissance of Cedar Keys; recommendation
for a light-house.

Primary triangulation continued to Chandeleur
islands, (part of season.)

Secondary triangulation.. C. M. Eakin, assistant; S. A. Triangulation of part of Mobile delta; connexion
Gilbert, sub-assistant.

3 Topography

4

Hydrography

of Mobile bay and outer coast made; of Missis-
sippi sound and adjacent bays continued westward
into Lake Borgne.

W. E. Greenwell, assistant... Topography of west shore of Mobile bay and of

Lieutenant Command'g James
Alden, United States navy,
assistant.

Main and secondary tri- R. D. Cutts, assistant; S. A.
angulation.

Gilbert, sub-assistant.

delta completed; of north shore of Mississippi
sound continued westward of Pascagoula.
Hydrography of Mobile delta completed; of Mo-
bile bay nearly completed.

Main and secondary triangulation continued west-
ward and southward from Galveston bay; pre-
liminary base on Galveston island measured;
triangulation of East bay continued.

Under instructions to continue foregoing work.

Under instructions to make minute surveys of sites
for light-houses in San Francisco bay; to make
general surveys required by engineer department
in same bay to execute land-work of harbors
of Bodega, Monterey, Senta Barbara, and San
Diego, in California, and of Columbia river (to
Fort Vancouver) in connexion with general sur-
vey of coast in Oregon; and to unite in general
reconnaissance from San Francisco to San Diego..
Latitude and longitude of Point Conception. Under
instructions to determine those of Monterey, of
southern entrance to Santa Barbara sound, of
Trinity bay, straits of Fuca, &c.

Under instructions to execute topography of sites
of light-houses at Monterey, Point Conception,
and San Diego; topography in connexion with
work of other parties.
Hydrography of Mare island straits, San Pablo
bay; reconnaissance for sites of light-houses at
Cape Disappointment and New Dungenness;
preliminary survey of entrance to Columbia river,
and determination of places for buoys; general
general
reconnaissance of coast from Columbia river to
Monterey; report of sites for light-houses at en-
trance to San Francisco bay and harbor; under
instructions to examine sites for light-houses at
Monterey, Point Conception, and San Diego, and
to unite in foregoing operations.

APPENDIX No. 2.

Report of the landmarks of the coast of Oregon from Point Adams to boundary of Oregon and California, by Lieutenant W. A. Bartle United States navy, assistant in the coast survey.

WASHINGTON, December 11, 1850.

SIR: The coast of Oregon from Point Adams (the south point of th Columbia river) to the parallel of 42° north, or the boundary of Oreg and California, will be better understood by the following classificatio and description:

1. The section of coast from the Columbia to the Kowes river,: Cape Arago.

2. From Cape Arago to the line of 42° north of Cape St. George. Th entire line of coast, when seen from a distance of ten leagues or more at sea presents the appearance of a high and precipitous shore, densely ti bered-an unbroken line of forest: which, perhaps, may account for the very imperfect and incorrect descriptions heretofore given, when it ha been stated to be "an iron bound and inhospitable coast."

A nearer approach and examination of the section from Point Adams to Cape Arago shows that the prevailing character of this part of the coas is sand.

Throughout this extent-a distance of 165 miles-132 miles is a sand beach, and only 33 miles of rocky cliffs where the ocean touches the shore.

The cliffs or rocky promontories result from the prolongation of the spurs from the coast mountains, or that ridge of high lands which stretch along the coast, at varied distances from the shore, separating the interior table lands from the shores, except through the valleys which reach the sea shore.

The whole country is densely wooded, whether high or low, the prin cipal tree being a fir of heavy growth, occasionally found intermixed with pine, alders, and other trees.

From Cape Arago to the line of 42°, or for a distance of eighty-five miles southward, there are only about fifteen miles of sand beach-there being a very marked difference in the coast to the northward and southwark of Cape Arago, the coast to the southward being higher or lowe cliffs as the coast hills approach to or recede from the coast.

From latitude 42° to 42° 30', the hills are at some points bald, or onl timbered on one side of their peaks. In this region, where the coast rang recedes from the shore, there are very pretty coast prairies, covered with rich soil and grasses, presenting very tempting sites for habitation. Ther the Indians have taken advantage of these sunny spots, and their villages line the banks of the small streams which flow from the mountains.

Coast of California.-To the south of Cape St. George the shore linis principally composed of high, rocky cliffs, regular in character, with plling and only partially timbered peaks until we reach Trinidad bay, where the whole country is again densely wooded. Here again we have a snd beach of near forty miles in extent.

From Mendocino to San Francisco, the coast rises higher in varied shapes of peaks or rolling hills, partially covered with oak and redwood A rich growth of oak and a fertile soil characterize this portion

of the coast.

Nearly every danger to navigation on this coast, 600 miles in extent, shows itself above water.

Very truly, your obedient servant,

WASHINGTON A. BARTLETT, Lieutenant U. S. N., Assistant Coast Survey.

Professor A. D. BACHE,

Superintendent U. S. Coast Survey, Washington.

APPENDIX No. 2 bis.

Letter of the Superintendent of the coast survey, applying for the detail of officers of the Corps of Topographical Engineers, with the reply of the Secretary of the Treasury, enclosing a copy of a letter from the Secretary of War.

1. Letter from A. D. Bache, Superintendent of coast survey, to Secretary of Treasury.

2. Letter from Secretary of Treasury to A. D. Bache, Superintendent of coast survey.

3. Letter from Secretary of War to Secretary of Treasury.

4. Letter from Colonel Abert to Secretary of War.

No. (1.)

HILL'S STATION, October 3, 1850. SIR: Within the past three years, three officers of the Corps of Topographical Engineers have been relieved from service on the coast survey, without being replaced. I have been made aware, by personal communication with Colonel Abert, that the exigencies of his service did not permit the details which I desired, and have therefore foreborne to make applications which must be declined. The wants of the coast survey are, however, now so pressing, that I have no choice but to request that will make application to the Secretary of War for the services of four officers of Topographical Engineers, including one to replace Captain Humphreys, who has recently been detached by order of the Secretary

of War.

you

Superintendent United States Coast Survey.

Hon. THOMAS CORWIN,
Secretary of the Treasury.

No. (2.)

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,

October 25, 1850.

SIR: I transmit herewith a copy of a letter, dated the 24th instant, from the Secretary of War, with accompanying report from Colonel