The times., 1897-03-28
The Nation I'm Miniature.

Senator Cannon, of Utah, has introduced
resolution which pertains to the making
of gigantic geographical object lesson
out of what is now known as Potomac
Park Ii is the upper part of the re-
claimed Potomac flats, and it is proposed
that this be laid out in the form of q
relief map OF the United States, with all
State divisions, cities, villages, and phy-
! sical features distinctly brought out. 1t
is evident that the value of such mnia-
ture reproduction of the United States
can hardly be measured. To say nothing
OF school children who will thus be disabused
of the idea that meridians are marked
on the surface of the earth al they are
on the map, and that the Western States
are about the same size as those of New
England, each filling one page OF the
| geography, this park will be a wonder
| fully interesting thing to visitors and to
| older citizens OF Washington. From the
| top OF the Monument it will be possible
to obtain a bird's-eye view of the map,
| which Will be very much like the view
that one might get of the entire country
! if it were possible to get far enough away
from it in a balloon. Then, if desired,
one may drive or walk about, in the park
itself, for nearer view OF each State
and its natural features.
Several similar schemes are on foot in
Europe. NJ. Borget-Court has designed
for the Paris Exposition of 1900 a colossal
metallic globe; and a similar plan f s Sug-
gested by London scientist But this idea
would necessarily be worked out on a
much smaller scale than Senator Cannon's
Miniature of Our Country" as he likes
to call it, and would not be nearly so salts
factory on account OF the difficulty with
whicht5 could be studied. The only feasible,
way Of doing this would be by a spiral
staircase or something e Of the kind.
Senator CaRnon's scheme has distinct I
political value, though this is Rot at first |
sight quite SO evident as its educational |
merit. 1t is to be doubted if most Eastern /
people have the elearest possible idea of I
the magnitude OF the great West, and it is
certain that many members of the foreign
legations have not. This Park would
give a comprehensive idea 5f the proper
tons or the various States and Of their
geographical characteristics at a single
glance. 1t would make clear to those in
terested in many d bill relating to the
or development of some State
Just what the arguments for and against
that bill might be. 1t would set forth
the physical advantages and disadvantages
of one State and another as regards
emigration. 1t could be used as an object
lesson on climatic conditions, and COM
mercial and economic conditions 1t would,
in short, do quickly and completely what
pages Of statistics sometimes fail to do,
aid stateraen and diplomats to understand |
the conditions under which their fellow
statesmen and fellow-diplomats are forced |
70 act. And 1t would make what is now an
and disrepUta5le-looking tract of
and place full of use and beauty 1t is
70 be hoped that no time Will b be lost In |
)assia 2 whatever legislation is necessary to
effect this result. Then we shall have, in |
llace Of the Potomac flats. one of the most
Inique and interesting parks in the world, |
Ind one which has no duplicate in this
country or any other. Senator Csnnon's c
dea is fine. II