Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-04-16
From the Richmond Enquirer. j
NAP OF VIRGINIA.

delivered to the Executive Department
of this State Our readers are aware
that it was left in an unfinished condi-
ton by Mr.. John Wood, and tn at the
task of collecting the deficient materi-
ais and weaving every thing together
into one great whole has been devoived
upon Mr.. Herman Boye. Most fortn-
nate has this selection proved; for, we
will undertake to say, that no state in
the Union will produce map so COM
plete and SO useful as that Of Virginia.
Some of the surveys of the counties,
which were originally collected, may,
and probably are to certain degree, de-
fective; but that is defect from which
no State map is exempt In the accura-
CIV of most Of these detached surveys;
in the fidelity with which they have
been incorporated together; in the ele-
eance with which the tout ensemble
| has been executed; the extent which 1t
embraces Of the contiguous border
states; length of the roads; soundings
ofthe bays; and in the various statis,l-
cal tables which are inscribed on the
margin of the map, it combines a va,
riety of powerful recommendations.
Mr.. Eoye finding there were many
materials to be collected, when he took
the superintendence, of the work, solici-
ted and obtained permission of the EX-
ecutive, to extend the completion of the
Map to the lst of April, 1925. He
Immediately set about the execution OF
his task. He undertook journey
through various parts Of the State, to
determine the ATTITUDES and longitudes
of certain places specified in the con-
tract; as well as to acquire much use
full information of local description.
He ascertained nearly all the Latitudes
from Meridi anal Attitudes Of the sun
and principal fixed stars-each deduc-
ton being mean of several observa-
tons. The longitudes were principal
ly deduced from observations on the
satellites of Jupiter. Mr.. b. ascertain
ed also the variation of the Compass in
various parts of the State. In fact, it
seems to us, that he has spared no
pains, within the scope of his opportu-
nities-and that his work will rank as
one of high merit.
The scale Of the map was some time
ago directed by the Executive. 1t is
very large; being miles, to one inch.
The scale of Bishop Madison's was
miles to an inch. The present map
takes in at the N. West, some of the
counties in the state of Ohio upon the
same scale-on the north Gas far as the
embellishments, sc. would permiD a
few Of the counties in Pennsylvania
To the n. East, it takes in the Della
ware Bay, with its principal soundings
also the soundings in the Chesapeak !;
the depth of our principal rivers, and
the distances along the principal roads.
Mr. Boye estimates the whole hori-
zontal area Of the state at ,624 square
miles.
On the margin of the Map, he has
furnished several interesting tables
Among these, statistical table, OF our
population in 1910 and 1920, with the
horizontal extent. area, sc. OF each
county.
He has inscribed table Of the COM
parative population of Virginia at the
period Of the four national censuses.
He has given table Of the ATTITUDES
of different places laid down IN the
map, and their longiludes or meridian
al differences with respect to the Ca
pitol in the city of Washington.
He has inserted some valuable sta
tistical and geological remarks on the
State.
He has furnished table of mag
netic variations as ascertained by OBJ
seryations made III the years 1928 and
ls24-From these, it appears that at
Richmond the variation was % To- E.;
at Parkersburg, 80 So E.; Peach Bot
tom mountain on the North Carolina
line, 50 So E.; at Point Pleasant, 50 So
E.; and the greatest at Cumberland
Gap, on the borders Of Tennessee, viz:
40 So E.
1t states that "The materials (of the
map) consisted principally OF the coun-
ty maps, executed nearly all under the
direction of the late John Wood; the
surveys made at various times for the
Board of Public Works, by their engi-
neers, since its first foundation; the sur
veys in the archives of the Executive
Department, embracing nearly all the
boundaries of the State, all the princi-
pal rivers, the Aleghany mountains and
the Blue Ridge, besides several leading
post roads; sundry maps and charts
made for the U. S. government; the
best maps extant of the adjacent states,
and number of other surveys"
Elampstead's Projection, as modified
by the French Geographers, is adopt
ed in projecting the map; the Earth
being considered sphere. The con-
tinuation of Mason's and Dixon's line
in lat. 80 deg. 45 min. AZ sec.-the me-
ridian line between Virginia and Penn
svlvania, run BY DR.. Rittenhouse and