Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1902-06-12
GEOGRAPHIC SCULPTURE.
A PIOs Under Contemplation to Make
an Exact Model of the United
States.

An exact model of the United
States on the scale of 21a inches 10
the mile is one of the possibilities Of
the future as an added attraction to
the national capital. While this pos
sibility is, strictly speaking, as yet
only in the air, it nevertheless has
some Jealous advocates who see in it
not only a great educational func-
ton, but feature of attractiveness
to the people of the country not
equaled by any piece of natural
scenery says the Washington Star.
1t will be recalled that several
years ago there was a project for
an outdoor map Of the United States
on the Potomac flats, through which
visitors could walk as through park.
Bills were introduced in Congress for
this project by Senator Cannon, Of
Utah. The idea was also zealousIy
advocated by Mr.. Gardiner Hubbard,
president Of the National Geograph-
ic society.
The present plan, however, con-
templates a much more perfect re-
production than would be possible in
an outdoor map. The country would
be produced in exactly the same man
ner as the city Of Washington has
been il the models prepared by the
park commissioners and now on ex-
hibition in the congressional library.
This scheme carried out delicately
and accurately would make it pos
sible to reproduce every building
road, bridge and railroad in the
United States, as well as the physical
features of the country.
A model of this character, and on
the same scale is now being made of
Switzerland. This model will be the
first production on a large scale Of
what is known as the new school of
model making. The new idea diff
fers from the old in that it elimin-
ates the exaggeration of certain
lines which was supposed to be nee
essary in order to convey to the
eye the impression a person sup
posedly gets by seeing the original
subject. To accomplish this the
scale in elevations had to be made diff
ferent than that of the surface mod
eled, which fact has tended to de-
stroy popular confidence in the ac-
curacy of the old models.
The new modelling is really "ge-
ographic sculpture" as some of its
devotees call it. 1t aims at absolute
accuracy and is made possible
through the perfection in map-mak-
ing and Of dry-plate photography.
There is no attempt at exaggeration
Of elevations or any other illusion.
The new Park commission models are
examples of the new school, only on
a considerably larger scale than that
proposed for the model of the coun-
try.
It would be necessary to house this
model in a well-lighted building, which
would have to be about 500 feet long
and half as wide. Visitors could see
it by walking over glass paths. These
paths would be made on sliding sup.
ports, capable of being pushed side
ways. so as to allow Of an inspec-
ton of the whole surface.
One of the possibilities Of such a
model which would make it appeal to
statesmen as a practical proposition
would be that of having any section
desired removed and replica produc-
tions made, as well as changes made
In the model to suit changed cOndi-
tions which might occur at any time.
These replica sections could be made
of paper pulp or other light SUBJ
stances and used in school work, just
as the maps of the geologic survey
are now done, and sold at cost.