New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-03
COMMERCE..
Studies of 1t in Relation to Geo
graphical Conditions.

THE GEOGRAPHY OF COMMERCE. A Text
co@eTc series edted by cheesman Her
rick Ph: ID l2mo. pp. NNv. 40 The Macmil-
COMMERCIAL GEOGRAPHY BOOK FOR
HIGH SCHOOLS, COMMERCIAL COURSES
AND BUSINESS COLLEGES BY Jacques w.
Roadway. r r. c. S. PIP. viii. 406. Charles Scrib-
The tendency toward a more sensible and sci
entiic correlation between the study OF geog-
raphy and the lessons found IN the efforts of the
human races to make living on the earth. which
has happily been gaining ground of late years.
is well represented by these two school text
books. Mr.. Trotter's volume is concise and con-
sistent in its presentation. The countries of the
world. those OF the Western Hemisphere first
the United States. Canada. Mexico and the Cen
trail Americas. with the West Indies and the
South Amsr1can States-then the countries of
Europe and Asia. from Ireland to Samoa. are
described shccrnctly nom four standpoints.
First, are asked 10 remember the physical
basis which gives the channels for trade OF the
barriers TO it: second the people as a product of
their environment with their racial characters
tics: third. the products which these peoples
have found convenient to obtain from the lands
IN which they are placed; and last, the state Of
trade at the present day, particularly as regards
the commerce Of this country. The chapter on
the regional geography Of this country is one of
lzhe fullest categorical statements in the book
OF the effects Of land formation on human occu-
patton. In discussing the trade OF the United
States with the South American countries tn
long bend round the eastern projection Of the
Brazil coast line is noted as an impeachment to
trade from New-York and the North. particu-
larry for the countries on the western coast
placing il on a par with the use OF the routes to
Europe and resulting. in the expediency Of the
triangular voyage.
What Is needed for South American trade IS
q regular steamer service coupled with an in
telligent understanding on the part Of our mer-
chants and manufacturers = to the life and
such means that may hope 10 gain a fair
share OF the South AmeriJ1n trade, and to in
crease our exports TO this continent; they
amount TO only about one-third of our imports
from the same territory.
In the final chapter on world trade the impor-
tance OF the isthrnan canal. which will give one
half OF this commerce a direct route TO the west
coast, IS noted in its larger aspects.
Turning to Mr.. Redway's volume We find it
showing in its second half the same general
disposition OF the subject taking UP the activ-
titles Of one country after another but with a
1reer depression into the allied topics the devel-
opnent Of the various means and instruments
of human ingenuity and organization in the
work of tapping the riches Of soil. rock and sea
son with the former volume in its grasp on the
significance of physical formations, their mean
ing IN themselves as natural phenomena and
their share in compelling the direction Of the
energies Of the inhabitants. The result is
nearer the old fashioned method OF commercial
geography, dividing the world rather in its po-
1itical aspects and describing the things that are
at the moment On the other hand, the first
half of this book gives IN fuller and more in
teresting form the aspects Of the question COW
cred in the former volume briefly and with a
more conventional forrnality the geographic
conditions of the world at large Mr.. kedway
glances back at the beginnings of commerce
and its expansion into larger seas than the
Mediterranean and through greater reaches
than the limits OF the Roman Empire or the
Asiatic domains He discusses such things as
the location Of cities without respect to any one
country, and takes up topically the distribution
with its effects and causes Of products grown
mined and manufa ctured, cereals, gums coal
sugar, metals and forests, wherever they may
happen TO be. In some ways. this book is the
more suggestive Of the two, and at the same
time, perhaps, the less rigidly adapted to the
needs of the untechnical classroom, a broad
intelligent survey Of the worlds commerce as
an incident Of the earth's surface, with less Of
the insight and enlightenment of the physical
geographer.
The books illustrated with well chosen
photographs and topical maps, together with
statistical diagrams and curves The chapters
are divided into titled paragraphs for classroom
use, with suggested questions and lists Of books
for further study appended.