The Portland daily press., 1890-06-28

day mall from the South and West Will be
due at 1.15 p. m., and be dispatched in return
at 430 p. m. There are also various minor
changes which will be noted in the post Office
schedule to be published hereafter.
the Cost of Typographical Map.
To the Editor of the Press:
In the last article it was stated that the
United States Geological Survey has shown
a commendable readiness to aid those States
that Indicate their interest in the matter Of
procuring maps Of their territory by appro-
priating sums Of money to help defray the
expense Of constructing these maps.
The amounts appropriated by different
States for this purpose has varied, Of course,
with the areas Of the States. Massachusetts,,
for instance, expended $4,000 In the prose-
cution Of its survey. New Jersey spent
$27,372 in the preparation Of its maps. The
legislature of Rhode Island has appropriated
5000 FOR the same purpose. Experience has
shown that the average cost per square mile
to complete such maps as those described is
$40, when a new tTiangulation Of much Of
the territory mapped is necessary, as would
be the case In Maine. The officers Of the
Geological Survey estimate the superficial
area Of State, calculate the cost Of sur
vey, and agree to complete the entire work
Of mapping on condition that the State as
sumo one-half of their cost. In the case Of
Rhode Island the area Of the State is about
1000 square miles. At cost Of ten dollars
per square mile, the total expense Of COM
pleting a map is $4,000. The State has
agreed to pay $4,000 of this sum, and the sur
hoe ad 70 40 hn halQnnQ
money necessary to complete the map (esti-
mated at $4,000 additionally Three commits
sioners are appointed on the part OF the
State to see that the terms Of the contract
between the State and the officers Of the
national organization are complied wlth'
and these three commissioners draw up
basis Of agreement, which is signed by them
selves on the part Of the State, and by the
Director of the United States Geological
Survey on the part Of the organization over
which he presides. A portion of the agree
ment between the Commissioners of the
State of Rhode Island and the Director Of
the Geological Survey reads as follows:
1. The preparation of the map shall be placed
under the supervision OF the Director OF the
United States Geological Survey, who shall de-
termine the methods OF survey and map con-
g. The survey shall be executed in a manner
sufficiently elaborate to prepare map upon
scale of :62500 exhibiting photography, hypsog-
raphy and public culture, and the preliminary
field maps shall be on such a scale as The Diree-
tor of the United States Geological Survey may
select to secure accuracy in the construction OF
4. The hypsography shall be shown by contour
lines with vertical intervals OF 20 feet. ,-,
8. The heights of important points, including
dams. shall be determined and furnished to the
commissioners of Rhode Island.
wooded shall
sented upon proofs of the engraved map to be
furnished to the commissioners OF Rhode Island.
z. For convenience the Geological Survey
shall, during the progress OF the field work, pay
the salaries Of the persons employed a atnerein,
penses shall be paid for the same time by the
State: For the office work on the map the sala-
parties In such way as TO equalze expenses
provided that the total cost to the state OF Rhode
Island OF the field aud office work, including the
electro copper plates mentioned In Section 10 be-
lowshall not be more than $4,000.
3; During the progress OF the work free access
TO the field sheets and records of The topogra-
piers and Graughtsmen shall be afforded the com
missloneIs for examination and criticism; and
should the said commissioners OF the State Of
Rhode Island deem that the work Is not being
done In a satisfactory manner, then the said COM
missioners may, on formal notice terminate the
o. The resulting map shall fully recognize the
cooperation of the State Of Rhode Island.
10. When work Is completed the commissioners
Of Rhode Island shall be furnished by the United
States Geological Survey with Photographic cop
ing is completed said commissioners shall also be
furnished by the said survey with electro-eopper
plates OF the sheets OF the map, without eoss TO
the state in excess Of the $4,000 appropriated by
the State.
This agreement, as will be noted, amounts
merely 10 the State agreeing to pay speei-
fed portion Of the expenses Of surveying its
own territory, while the Geological Survey
assumes the responsibility of producing an
accurate map of this territory and at the
same time assures the State that the work
will be carried to completion, no matter
what its cost, at no additional expense to the
State over the amount originally appropri-
ated by its legislature. The contract is a
most generous one for the State, since it Sc
cures to it as good map as can be made at
not more than half the cost Of its produc-
tion.
The important matter to be considered in
this connection is the amount Of money
which it would be necessary for the State of
Maine to pay. In order to secure the cooper
alton uf the national survey. In round num-
bers the area of the State Is 5000 square
miles. At an average cost of $40 per square
mile, the actual expense of surveying the eu-
tire State would be S330,000, of which the
States share, according to the terms Of
agreement with other States, would be $685.
900. This sum is large one to be expended
for single item. 1t would, however, not
all be required at once. The funds of the
Geological Survey would not admit Of the
completion Of the entire work in one year,
even If this were not impossible from the
very nature Of the work. 1t would probably
take five years to complete the project. This
would necessitate an annual expenditure on
the part of the State Of s35,0O0 Even this
sum would appear at first sight to be incom-
measurable with the practical value Of the
map when published. The amount might be
reduced by excluding frcm consideration at
present those portions of the State In the far
north, and by combining attention to the
southern and eastern portions, where the
bulk of the population resides An irregular
line drawn across the State in such a way as
to divide it into an inhabited and an unin-
habted portion. separates 1t into two parts
of which the former embraces about $1,000
square miles This alone might be mapped
at present, leaving the uninhabited part to
be mapped at scme future time. on this plan
the cost to the State would be $4,000, and
for this amount IL would secure map sur
passed by none in existence. This would
prove sufficient for all purposes for hun
dred years to come, provided county and
to wn officers were required to file annually
with some State officer a report of all roads.
railroads and other public works constructed
within their districts during the year. AS
the State becomes more thickly settled the
mapping of the northern part might be
pushed, or perhaps by that time the United
States Geological Survey might see its way
clear to a continuation of the work, and so
might gradually complete for us, what we
are unwilling to do for ourselves.
1t would be best and more economical in
the end to appropriate sufficient sum Of
money to complete the survey at once, as by
this means the almost inaccessible portions
of the State would be opened up TO prOspec-
tors and others interested In the develop
ment Of these regions, and good fOunda.
tiOn would be afforded for any geological
work that individuals or societies might in
auguTate At any rate the time for action is
the present. Ii we desire the government 10
help us pay the expenses Of mapping our
own lands, we must act at once, we must
show our interest in the subject by inviting
the Geological Survey to help us and by em-
phasizing this invitation with an apprCpria-
tlon. Whether it be decided advisable To
map the entire State or only a portion OF 1t,
a ar ~ fba hal hn