The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-12-26

/
pense Heavy, but the Results War
rant It-Co-operation by the vari-
Gus States.
| From the Rochester Democrat and Chron-
| icle.
Working in the vicinity of Rochester,
| are F. w. Baldwin and three assist
| ants of the United States Geological
Survey, OF Washington, d. c. They are
| engaged in work on the topographic
| map of the United States: a job that
the government began about twenty
years ago and which, it is thought, will
| require about one hundred years more
to complete.
The undertaking was begun in 1882.
The work is being carried on in CO.
operation with the states: New York
| state, for Instance, appropriating some
100000 to $25,000 yearly for the past few
years toward it's share. The work of
cooperation in this state was begun
ten years after the work was started
in the country. AS yet only about one
fifteenth of the area Of the country has
been completed.
There has never been a Typographical
map of the United States published,
other than rough sketches which are of
little value. Hence, in 1882, the gov
ernment started one Of the biggest sur
veys ever made. An estimate of the
cost of the work complete is not at
hand, but it is conclusive that it will
be millions of dollars, although the CO.
operation of the states cuts the expense
to the government down about half
what it otherwise would be. The map
of this state alone will cost at least
$1,OOO,0OO.
Worth It's Cost.
The states are not compelled to make
any appropriation for their share of the
expense, but so far several Of them
have done so. In one or two instances
they began the work entirely on their
own responsibility, but it is believed
that afterward the federal government
reimbursed them. One-half of the field
work of the survey is all they are asked
to pay. The engraving and publishing
are done entirely at the expense of the
government. The states are very well
satisfied to stand their half. They have
found that the maps are of great value
to the states in many ways, especially
in the matter of highway Improvement
in different parts Of the state, and with
the work of the Forest Preserve board
in the portions covered by the maps
and in the examination of water sup
plies for existing and proposed canals
and for the great cities. The state is
getting q fine class of work at a COM
paratively low cost.
The maps are published on scale OF
about one inch to the mile, on sheets Sof
which about 264 will cover the whole
state; each sheet showing about twelve
miles east to west by eighteen miles
north to south. AS soon as the sheets
are completed they are published and
placed on sale by the United States
Geological Survey They cost but five
cents each. or when bought in hundred
lots, two cents each.
Work Well Done.
The work is we'll done. The contours
on the map are twenty feet apart This
is too close. Where the country Is un-
even the lines are SO close as to be al
most confusing. But it's a revelation to
the lay eye and mind to look at the
work. 1t is possible to tell the exact ma
ture of every part of the country; the
location of the cities and their general
appearance, and the towns, the streams
the railroads and even the common
roads. All the boundaries between
states. counties, ana even townships,
are shown on the map. In case of some
of the larger states and where there is
less to be shown, the scale is Just
double that in this state and most of
the others. 1t is surprising on such q
large map as the Typographical map of
the whole country must of necessity be,
to see the whole four tracks of the New
York Central plainly shown. Nebraska
is one OF the states where the scale Is
doubled. In this state the government
system of rectangular surveys has made
the whole state appear in square blocks
one mile across. These are the sections
and each one of the double lines indi-
Gates a road. With very few exceptions
these roads appear throughout the
state. In some places the mountains
and again the canyons break up the
squares and prevent the passage of
roads. In this state every map is fif-
teen minutes longitude east and west.
The maps are prepared in strict accord
ance to this reckoning and in some in
stances only a bit of land appears in
one corner. The rest is all water, q
part of the great lakes.
The maps are of almost inestimable |
value to engineers and all railroad
builders. For instance, the establish
ment OF line of precise levels from
Rochester to Hornellsville, on which |
MIR. Baldwin and his assistants are
working, will aid greatly the engineers |
of the two trolley roads projected from |
Rochester south to Hornellsville. Bronze |
and aluminium markers are being placed |
at established elevations.
The topography of New York is of |
great variety. From tide water at New |
York one can reach an altitude of 5,4SO |
feet at Mt. Marcy, in the Adirondacks. |
In the Catskills he can reach a height |
OF 1900 feet 1t takes but few hours
TO get to cool climate. even on the
hottest days without leaving the boun-
-