The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-06-21
A TYPOGRAPHICAL MAP OF MAINE.
Advantages that Would Accrue from
II to the State.
An Important Factor In the States
Deveopment.
Interesting Letter from Prof. Bay
ley of Colby University.
WArERv1LLE, Me-. June 16, 1890.

The degree OF enlightenment of q commun-
ity or State is measured partly by the knowl-
edge which the individuals of the State pos
sess, concerning their own surroundings.
Measured by this standard, the old State Of
Maine is found more lacking than any of her
sisters, old or young. in the Union. Almost
nothing is known definitely about our nat
ural resources. 1t Is believed by those,
whose opinions are worth recording, that the
State possesses within its borders resources
which If developed would make Maine a
wealthy State, instead Of a poor one, and
would enable its citizens to remain at home
to earn their living instead Of going out into
the far West or South to accomplish with
their energy and money what they cannot
accomplish at home. AS rule those sons
Of Maine who seek their fortune abroad, are
men who, with small capital, are endeavor-
ing to use this in such way as to make it
yield them comfortable living 1t Is such
men, with small capital and much energy,
who give stability to and promote enterprise
In the community, and such men are leaving
us annually by the hundreds to seek homes
in the West and South, and to aid in the de-
velopment of these regions.
If Maine is to keep abreast OF the other
States it must seek in some way to persuade
its young men of energy to remain within Its
borders, and to do for it. what they have so
successfully done for the West, and are now
attempting to do for the South. 1t must in
vite its brains, bones and sinews to stay at
home, and aid In the development of home
industries. 1t must offer the rising genera
tion opportunities for the investment Of its
activities, and must print this offer in char
acters of unmistakable import.
The only way in which true knowledge
Of the possibility of our resources may be
made known is through the agency OF geo
logical survey, similar to that which has
been established by so many of the more en-
teIprising of our sister commonwealth. 1t
is not our intention at present to call atten-
tion to the necessity for such survey, al
though the necessity is a most pressing one.
1t is generally well known that twice within
the history of the State attempts we're made
tolearn something of the nature of the wealth
lying beneath her surface. In neither case,
however, was the attempt successful. Both
surveys were stopped by the failure of ap.
they were established could be consum-
mated.
Although, as has been said, the necessity
for thorough survey of the State is press
ing, no attempt should be made to in
augurate one until better maps are available
than those that exist at present. 1t is sad
truth that of all the States In the Union. our
own State is worst provided with maps. Not
even an approximately correct map of the
larger part of its surface is to be found. The
State has made no provision for topograph-
ical survey; the counties are not wealthy
enough for such an outlay Of money, as
would be required for such work the cities
alone have been able to afford the exnease Of
mapping their territory, and and the city maps
are themselves lacking in many Of thu re-
quisites of good maps. They are not at all
suitable for the delineation Of geological
facts.
But it is not alone for geological purposes
that good map of the State should be pro-
vided. A typographical map, on which the
features of the lands surface are repre-
sented is valuable aid to manufacturing,
farming and engineering enterprises. A
large portion of the money spent in the con-
struction Of railway is expended before
shovel full Of dirt is turned, before tie Is
cut or rail is laid. Before the most eco
nomical route for the road can be determined
dozens OF lines must be run through the
country by surveyors, in order to discover that
one, along which the least amount Of excava-
tion is necessary, and the smallest amount Of
filling is required to yield grades, over which
a large number Of cars may be drawn with
moderate expenditure of power. A topo-
graphical map on which the hills and valleys
are clearly marked, the widths and courses
of streams plainly given and the swamps
carefully plotted. does away with the neces-
sity of numerous trial lines, thereby makes
the expense of railroad building less, and en-
ables capitalists to invest their money In
roads, which under other circumstances could
not earn sufficient income to render their
stock productive. A topographic map also
depicts the surface features of country in
such way that manufacturer. in search
of a location. where is an abundant water
power, may at glance learn where such
location exists. To State, such as Maine,
where the water power is abundant and
easily reached, map of this kind would
prove invaluable.
But in addition to the benefits which would
arise to the manufacturer and capitalists
other benefits no less direct would arise to
the farmer and to the citizen In any other
line of business. were an accurate topograph-
&c map Of the State available. Space will
not permit the discussion of these advan-
tages. 1t will be sufficient to refer to a re-
cent remark Of the director of the United
States Geological Survey to the effect that
many calls have been made upon the officers
Of the survey for maps Of the Appalachian
region by persons intending to made bi,ycle
tours through the mountains. By noting
carefully the contour lines ON good map
person may, in his own private room mark
out line of travel which will carry him to
his destination, without compelling him to
learn by experience the situation Of hills, the
grades of these. the nature of the beds of
the roads to be followed, or the character Of
the country through which they pass. All
these may be determined within ones own
room, provided good map Of the region de-
sired Is at hand
If such map will aid the bicycler to such
an extent, is it not probable that it will do
much toward tightening the burden of those