The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-12-06

cepted by the best photographers as appli-
cable to many maps produced In the United
States. "This map" said that periodical.
"is ono Of tho many route maps issued In
America which In point OF workmanship
and scientific value have little merit. 1t
may serve very well as railroad guide for
travellers: but in spite OF It's numerous
hachures showing mountain ranges. 1t is
impossible from the map to get any def-
nite ideas on the topography OF the country.
Where attempts are made to chow topoR-
raphy, the lettering is more or less illeglble.
The colors, as on most OF these maps, arc
neither expressive nor In good TASTE"
The situation. however. is not one to dis
courage lovers Of good maps. We have not
had the advantage OF detailed Topographic
surveys upon which to base general maps
OF the greatest accuracy and value. But
these surveys are rapidly advancing. Mr..
BARTHOLOMEW says that "in the United
States and Canada surveying and mapping
have. within recent years. made more rapid
progress than In almost any other part OF
the world" Massachusetts, has just printed
IN edition OF $4,000 OF her fine topographic
survey maps. which are selling at nominal
sum. The new map Of New Jersey Is also
within the reach Of every one. Rhode Island
is placing her recently completed map In
every school In the State. and the
detailed survey map OF Connecticut ts
practically completed. Tho influence
Of this and similar work carried
on by various States and the general
Government Is sure to be felt. A demand
for better maps will DO gradually developed:
but It Is none too early to frown severely
upon certain remarkable specimens OF map
making that IRE having some currency.
There Is now hanging In tho reading
room OF q public library in this neighbour
hood q new. largo scale school map OF ono
OF our States on which are skilfully and
glaringly depleted about oil the faults and
shortcomings Of our poorest maps. It can
not he criticised. however. for shabby
treatment OF topographic detail. because 1t
altogether scorns topography, Represent
ing State whose northern part is noun
famous. State that can be more ade-
quately mapped than Ohio. TOR instance.
because It has been partly covered by
scientifically correct surveys. this map
falls to show that there are any contrasts
whatever in the surface features. II the
conflding students In Alabama schools.
which this map Is intended to adorn. had
not nature before them. they might draw
from the map the valuable inference that
their State Is as fiat as kitchen floor.
On the whole. we have reason to be graft
flied with the progress Of our detailed top
ographic surveys. without which the best
map making is impossible. Mr.. BARTHoLo-
NEW alludcs to the fact that. valuable as
our survey maps are. they cannot DO COM
pared with European surveys In exactness
Of Topographic detail. He might have gone
further and said that our maps do not show
the minuteness of detail that is seen In the
European maps. But the work OF mapping
Europe was shared by tho various Govern
ments. who in their limited areas were ablo
to carry out a minute survey OF all the
physical and artificial surface features. The
work we are undertaking is too enormous to
admit at present OF the greatest refinement
OF execution. But 1t is sufficiently minute
and exact to servo as reliable basis for ad-
mlruble map making. .....
Our area is so vast that long time must
yet elapse before our topographic surveys
arc completed. and it may DO that tho
northern third of this continent will never
be even fairly we'll surveyed. About ninety
one per cent. OF the land surface OF Europe
has now been completely surveyed In its
topographic aspects. while tho trigono-
nietrical surveys OF this continent as yet en-
brace only about fifteen per cent. OF its area.
According to Mr.. BARTHOLOMEW, the area
Of detailed topographic surveys in North
America now embraces l.150.0Oo square
tho NJ tnn0cyra nhtc and n.
graphic reconnaissance surveys and route
maps. 100000 square miles: the area Of
general geographic sketch maps. largely
approximate, 100000 square miles: and the
unexplored territory. $4,000 square miles.