The Washington times., 1895-06-19
COMMERCIAL GEOGRAPHY,

The question may be asked What is
commercial geography"
1t is that branch of geography which
treats of the production and distribution
of the resources of the earth; Of manufac-
tories and markets, together with the
routes of commerce. Other matters are in
volved, such as climate, labor. land,
trans portation and justice. II is that
part of geography which till recently
has been little studied and less taught.
Schools for commercial education are now
numerous in Germany and other European
countries, as the injury 10 Enelard's com
merce by the Germans can best testify.
Commercial geography is of undOubted
value TO the student. inaSmuCh as it is
necessary for him TO know about the staple
articles OF commerce, their relative
values and importance; about raw ma
terials and where they re found and
produced; about the processes of manu-
featuring; how interchange is effected:
the ratio of home consumption 70 export.
The man of business must in these
days OF fluctuating prices possess a
knowledge OF CONNER rciaI routes, rail
ways, and waterways.
He must realize the effect OF Russia,
Argentina, Egypt and India on America 5
control OF the food markets OF the world.
In other words, he must understand the
principle of supply and demand and the i'm
portance of superiority in quality and
preparation.
The formation of cabinets now. along
the lines of commerce, the fact that many
wars have their origin in commerce, also
that the Nicaragua and the Behuug Sea
controversy are matters of International
Importance, although depending properly
on commerce, all tend 10 show the growing
Importance and influence OF commerce and
to make ii essential that commercial geOg-
raphy should be understood. The de-
yelopment of the East adds another reason
for this study by bringing in the Japanese
and Chinese as new competitors.
That the status of the business man, the
commercial king, is so changed to-day, is
a strong reason for his education to the
position he now holds as almost the regu-
lator of the world. He must be d man OF
extensive knowledge and broad culture.
His time is limited and his training must be
practical; nothing satisfies these require
ments so we'll as the study of commercial
geography, which comhinestO agreateXteut
culture with bread and butter knowledge
Even meagre outline suggests 70 z bright
and eager mind the broader fields of culture
and a limited study viii give useful
knowledge for the citizen, who lies back
of the business machine.
In the study of commercial geography in
cial Geography is the text book. but much
original work is required from the pupils,
as the statistics of trade are fluctuating
and thework of one year will not answer
for the next The material for work is fur
nshed by the magazines and current press,
and interest among the pupils is shown by
the great number OF clippings bTOughtiby
them.
During the first part of the year, the facts
of physical geography are studied, to show
their Influence on trade routes and the
production and distribution of the great
staples of commerce In connection with
this work, sketch maps of trade routes,
the central states with the acreage under
cultivation, number of bushels per acre and
value OF bushels per acre, are required.
In the study of each staple the method
of cultivation in this country is contrasted
with that of other countries. The advan-
tages and disadvantages of each, the near
~, tl'.s1'rof raJ hHroa -tnt the