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Show 13 The officers of the United States Naval Observatory have, as heretofore, extended kind assistance to the survey. The only casualty to be noted during the year has been the death, from fever, of Astronomical Assistant Wm. W. Maryatt, while engaged in carrying on his observations at Bozeman, Mont. This was one of the last stations to have been occupied by him during the season. He had gone forward, after having been very successful at the other stations; and was stricken down soon after reaching Bozeman, and, after a short and severe illness, died at that point. The survey lost a most valuable assistant, and the profession of astronomy an accurate, faithful, and zealous worker. ASTRONOMICAL BRANCH. The classes of astronomical work conducted by the survey have been of two distinct grades.: 1st. Those at the main or primary station, where, by the most refined methods and use of the best class of instruments, the astronomical coordinates are determined with the utmost accuracy, and the meridian line of the point carefully established. 2d. At positions in the field, where, in order to carry out the scheme of survey, sextant latitude checks are required, and at other points where, the telegraph being accessible, the meridian is determined by comparing local times, the watch- errors having been obtained by sextant observations. The latter class of stations are more or less numerous, in accordance with the character of the area surveyed, and of the points within the same whose position can only well be determined by this means. The others are at specifically- selected points near the fields of survey, and from which, measured and developed, bases controlling the trian-gulation can easily be laid out. The main or primary points occupied during the season of 1873 were; 1. Georgetown, Colo. 2. Hughes, Colo. 3. Colorado Springs, Colo. 4. Labran, near Cafion City, Colo. 5. Trinidad, Colo. 6. Ogden, Utah. 7. Green Eiver, Wyo. 8. Winnemucca, Nev. 9. Virginia City, Nev. 10. Bozeman, Mont. 11. Santa F6, N. Mex. 12. Fort Union, N. Mex. OBSERVATORY AT OGDEN. A substantial observatory, of three rooms, with brick superstructure ADd stone foundations, has been built at this point. The walls are completed, but the dome and the middle observing- room are yet unfinished. The co- ordinates of this position, as referred to the meridian established by the United States Coast Survey at Salt Lake City, and that of the United States Lake Survey at Detroit, Mich., have been determined. In the season of 1874 it is intended to exchange signals with the United States Naval Observatory at Washington, and resulting therefrom another check will be introduced. The several results will be discussed in the astronomical volume. The meridian of Ogden will then be assumed |