The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1895-11-05

{. explain the process of map
making Icy describing the various
stages through which ordinary maps.
such as those in any school or refer.
ence atlas, pass.
FIRST OF all, says writer in Golden
Days, the geographer decides what
KIND OF map is required for the pur
pose Indicated by the publisher or
author, the extent % country TO he
shown, the amount of information re-
quired, aud the like.
Furnished with these data. the
craftsman proceeds TO prepare the
drawing He determines the projec.
ton and scale upon which the area to
he included in the map can be best
showh. This projection is drawn
within the specified limits. and is
generally suhdivided into perfect
network OF small Squares. The
material used Ill its compilation, he it
nm engineer survey sheet, hydro
graphic chart: or n traveller : manu-.
script map, is similarly squared" if
minute accuracy is desired.
The outline--that is, the coast line
and rlvers-is then carefully drawn in
pencil, and when mixed over the sheet
is handed to an cngraver, who places
tracing of it face downward on n
finely polished copper plate that has
been previously coated with "A thin film
OF wax. BY careful rubbing the "out-
line on the paper is transferred to
the waxed surface of the plate, of
course IN the reverse.
with sharp-pointed grnvers-which
arc worked from the elbow, and not
Ike pen or pencil from the wrist
the engraver cuts the various lines
more or less deeply in the plate. As
he advances, proofs are pulled for the
purpose of revision and when the out
line is finished and finally passed n
proof is taken on which the craftsman
proceedsto write i'll the names selected
by the geographer or indicated by the
author or publisher.
The lettering is in various STYLES and
sizes, according to the import and
relative value" of the names. Some
are sloping, others upright, some in
ltalic, others in Roman. The writ.
ten-ln' copy is then given to letter
engraver, who cuts the names in re-
verse on the outline rlate. exercising
the greatest care not to make the
slightest mistake, rs wrong letter or
name entails great deal more trouble
TO correct than to cngrave at first.
Surprising, for instance, that n
name has been wrongly engraved and
has to be put right. To make the re-
qulsite alteration, it is necessary,
first OF all, to gouge out the entire
name, and with a pair of callipers to
mark its exact position on the back of
the plate, which is then laid, face
downward, on small anvil of pol
ished steel
The indentation of the face of the
plate is then forced up from the back
with hammer and punch. The name
is regraved correctly, and the adjoin-
ing names and outline damaged in the
process of erasure or punching are re-
cut.
When the names are al cut. n let
ter proof is taken and carefully re.
vlsed. When pressed, final proof is
taken, and on this the craftsman fills
In with with brush mountains and
hills in sepia
These the hill cngraver reproduccs
with the graver in more or less fine
lines, or by process called hitch
etching, which is thus done: The
plate IS coated with composition
called etching ground, on which the
tops OF the hills are traced
The different altitudes are shown
by varying the strength OF the lines
which Is affected 10y allowing the acid
used TO bite them in TO remain on
the plate for longer or shorter time
until the requisite color" OF shade is
obtained.
The printer takes an impression
technically known as a transfer
from the plate, on specially prepared
paper, coated with u preparati,n
easily influenced by damp, usinr for
this purpose an ink susceptible to
heat.
After being cleaned and etched"
with nitric acid and gum arabic the
stone of maps is ready Tor the mn.
chine printer, who fixes il securely on
the bed-plate of one OF the lithoerapbic
printing machines, and from IL the
map is printed, first of all in black
The portions of the map colored vel.
low, pink and blue are separately
transferred and etched ON other
photographic stones, and printed. one
after the other, in the order named.
Each map or sheet OF maps is tbus
printed once for the black and once
Tor each color, except in the case of
certain secondary colors, such rs
green or purple, which are produced
by printing one of the primary colors
over another thus, red or pink over
blue gives purple; blue over yellow
gives green.
Many Of the cheaper maps, both
large and small, are not engraved on
coppor-plate or zinc, butare written"
on the photographic stones from which
the BLACK is printed or transferred
to another stone for printing from.
On such maps the hills arc drawn in
chalk.
Political maps arc colored 10 show
clearly the Limits of counties. or other
political divisions, while physical
maps of counties and continents are
often colored geographically that is.
tho different attitudes are shown bv
different colors, or by different tinfs
OF the same color.