New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-10-23
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

AN HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY OF THE SNllhD
STATES by Townsend MacCoun' pp. NV NJ.
Those who host remember the crude and buhHn"s
methods of instruction half a century ago. UT o'o"
less will rejoice most keenly when theS cN"'i'"0
such works as this. Among all the Improvements
made in so presenting and arranging Information 'ha'
~ shall be readily gained and firmly fixed In memory
perhaps mono deserves higher credit than mat Gnu
bodied I'm this book, and IN tho larger WORN ssu," ~
1886 by the same publisher. enutieo L"UOe''o"
Historical Atlas Though adapted 10 inc uso Vi
Schools these works have already been chosen as
textbooks in many higher Institutions ana possess
roh p,erits of method that there fey Students
bowcvcr advanced who may not use them with great
advantage.
Tho historical Geography traces the history Of the
United states by series OF maps, from the earliest
dreams Of geogsphers down to the admission OF iour
new States this year The first of the maps was sent
by the eminent Italian astronomer Toscanel TO Chris
topber Columbus TO letter Of inquiry. and
showed China to be only 81 degrees west OF Europe
when Columbus started eighteen years later TO reach
China by western sail of 5000 miles. relying upon
Toscanells map and the latest science of his dav he
little imagined that China was 5000 miles distant ana
that be would find new world about where the
Italian had placed China The next map. that Of
pa vInci was drawn after the discovery OF Sonth
America and Florida. when this continent was sup
posed to be island of the shores of Asia Next
comes a map OF 1880, in which the geographer %
scribed America sort OF extension Oh inc lhuios
and then map of 154l, in which America was
recognized as continent Successive maps illustrate
the settlement or exploration of each part OF The
continent giving the names and locations OF settle
p,cnis aud ports and the routes OF explorers.
Afterward comes the of occupation Every
grant OF territory power Is I'm turn illustrated oy
map showing its boundaries and relations 10 o'her
grants with their dates. Gradually colonies were
evolved and their claims in The same way placed
,.,ra ,he eve then INDEPENDENCE was achieved, and
the narrow strip Of territory along the Atlantic, which
was yielded to tho victorious colonists is contrasteo
with the vast territory beyond which was stl hed by
France England and Spain. Each ceSslon OF 'er-
ritory each change resulting from war or purchase Is
thus illustrated. and afterward in the same manner
the growth and admission OF States. the organization
Of Territories and the precise boundaries OF each'
The exact information here given In small compass
but 1, such a way as to be indelbly fixed in the
mind Will surprise many Intelligent men VINO have
supposed that they well acquainted with theH
country's history. For instance, how many Ainell
cans remember that part Of the present STATE OF feh
svlvania on which Erie stands, was ceded py
Ncw-York to the United States in 1871. and by the
United States sold 10 Pennsylvania in 1882 or that
as late as there long strip of unorganized
territory between Tennessee and Georgia. while Georgia
then included most OF what is now Mississippi ana
Alabama!
The forty.four maps are accompanied by forty-four
pa-eS OF remarkably compact text. In when 'he
changes Illustrated briefly described with all Inc
explanations necessary enable student 10 compre-
bend them. The work has been prepared with care
from official authorities and is so far complete thar
the formal admission OF states, though not yet
effected Is shown with their exact boundaries IL
would be difficult to put much information into such
compact form by any other process and quite impoS-
mile u, so nut II in any other way than by successive
illustrating maps as mind the relations of The
facts stated.