The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-11-26
MAPS AND BICYCLING.
Hapmaktng Has Been Bocmed By the
Popularity of the wheel.

llapmaktng Has Been Bocmed By She
Popularity of the wheel.
There does not seem TO be, at first
glance, any direct relation between
maps and bicycles, but there is, and
map publishers report that cycling ID
responsible for a new and enlarged de-
maDd for road maps, especially those
mounted on muslin. Heretofore the
maps in most general use have been
railroad maps, and the greatest care
has bee1 taken to make them exact. the
United States being far ahead of all
other countries in respect of the manu-
facture Of maps giving the locations Of
cities and towns, and the railroads con-
Meeting them. In England, France
and Germany the manufacture of
typographical maps has been carried
much further than IN the United States
maps giving the road elevations.
grades, water courses and declivities--
due perhaps in a great measure to the
fact that the construction Of such maps
is under the direction of the war depart
ment. with abundant means and ample
facilities, whereas in the United States
the market for maps Of all kinds comes
from the genral public. OF late, how
ever, it has been found necessary, IN Or
der to supply the constantly-incressing
demands of bicycle riders for good
road maps, to add to the stock Of such
publications, more especially such rs
are on muslin. In the last four years
there has been an enormous increase in
tho sale of road maps. Those sold in
New York give chiefly the Westchester,
Long Island. Staten Island and New
Jersey territory through which tho
BEST roads run.
Tn headquarters Of the map-mak.ng
business of the United States has long
beeen Chicago, and not until the rise Of
the bicycle as the most approved
method of travel has New York cbal-
lenged Chicago's supremacy. Map
making has been carried of late years
to q point at which cbtapness and nc
curacy may be said 10 meet Tbs
foundation Of an ordinary map
is a plain copper plate smesred
with ordinary lsmp-biack. Over
this - spread like Aim . ocmpo-
sition Of soft white wax. and the map
drawing, made on engineers firm blns
paper, is spread over the film Then,
with knife somewhat resembling ono
OF the parts Of compass. the lines are
drawn into the WAX and the trncing IS
removed. Nsp-makers have small
Continuance which much resembles
what is known as printers stick, tx
cept that, instead of providing for
many lines of type, it provides for ore
Only. This line is set" and thea the
type metal. which is copp~r-faeed. 10
heated. As heated IL is applied to i5e
wax adjoining the point marsed by
each city. and when wisxdrzwn Ic.res
the name Of the place clearly Ds-ksd.
After the wax composition has hard
eneri 70 Is sufused with acid. which !
makes a complete cast, and from this
cast the electrotype Is nzsds from
which any number Of maps may bs
printed. The chief cost of rnapz- t5er~- !
fore, is the first cost, and. thar provided /
for. the other expenses are inEign.f- |
can't, paper ard wooden or muslin
mounting being the chief ones.
The increased popularity Of maps.
through the Requirements 81 bicycle
riders. has reduced visibly ;he cost. SID /
thisis oneof the beneAciaie1eets vAieh /
have followed the bievcle ersze> S.il /
another beneficial effect q the POPLAR
ity Of bicycIiag has beer the improve
neus % roads IN the neighboE hood of 1
A. f.--. ISL - S-s-