Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-17
GEOGRAPHIC BIBLIOGRAPHY.
A Note From the Secretary of the Swiss
Society on This Subject.

Society on This Subject.
The Secretary of State has been informed by
note from the Swiss charge d'affaires here,
under date of the It'll instant that in the session
of August IA. 1891, the fifth international con-
gress Of international sciences, assembled at
Berne, announced that it was urgent to elab-
crate and publish in all civilized countries bib
biographies of geographic sciences, following,
so far as possible, uniform plan. and that the
best method of realizing this project would be
to institute in each country a central commits
sion to which the work should be intrusted.
These commissions would maintain with each
other the most constant relations possible, and
should above all conduct their work upon the
same principle and aid each other by an inter-
change of their documents, materials, commu-
nications, &c.
The directing committee Of the congress has
charged the central commission Of ''Swiss geo
graphic photography" TO take the necessary
steps for carrying out the wish expressed, and
above all TO give the resolution the widest pos
sible publicity.
The geographic publications are so scattered
and incompletely catalogued that il is at
present, SO to speak, impossible to collect them
for the study of any question Whatsoever. At
all events valuable time is lost in preparatory
The publication in all civilized countries of
systematic repertories Of geography, placed
within the reach of all persons interested would
be of incontestable utility.
In several countries efforts made in this di-
rection have already been crowned with success.
engaged in a photographic work; in Holland
there has just appeared In three volumes q gen.
eral Netherlands photography.
In Switzerland the commission in question
has undertaken the publication Of "National
Swiss photography" a methodic repertory of
what has been published on the country and its
inhabitants. 1t has grants from the confedera-
ton and from a number Of cantons. II has,
besides the financial support Of q number OF
scientific societies and reckons more than 200
collaboraters.
Under these conditions the Society Of s'swiss
Geographic photography" has lust begged
the Swiss federal council to intervene through
diplomatic channels with the different coun-
tries, in order that the latter may engage the
geographic and other analogous societies in
their respective territories to coincide With
this view and to do their part in realizing the
wish expressed BY the congress Of Bernie Of
1891.
The charge says: Penetrated with the util-
ity Of this demand, my government has charged
me to recur TO the obliging intervention OF
your excellency, begging that you viii call the
attention OF the Geographic and other analo-
Bous socieues exnung IN tne Uniteo cseses 70 inc
wish expressed by the international and geo
graphic congress assembled 1t Berne in 1891,
and to desire them TO further Il by instituting q
central commission charged with celebrating
and publishing photography of geographic
science relating 10 the United States Of America
In presenting you this request beg 70 remark
how desirable IL would be, In the interest Of
geographical science, 70 come to an understand
ing upon this subject, and how the realization
Of such . with would contribute 10 The devel-
opmsnt Of gsography."