The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-04
GERMAN MAPS.


atlas sheet In the compilation OF any Of Ii
maps. In other words, II goes always b
1 original sources for its material. It neve
trusts to the compilations and generaliya
lions Of geographic facts made by others
1t takes only information at first hand, from
the first rough route reconnaissance to tn
finished and scientific detailed survey
determines with trained critical sense Ii
value for mapping and uses It accordingly
Many OF It's maps, OF course. require new
editions In year OF two. but this is because
now or moro accurate facts have become
accessible and not for the reason that thu
photographers failed TO use all the bes
material within reach wien the map wa,
made
This firm has a geographical and mar
library that Ia supposed to bs the most com
plete collection Of the kind yet made. /,
includes all original map material ano
literary matter that will help the cartog.
rapher. II is collected In all languages and
from all sources. The modest sketch mar
Of the missionary traveller who first sets
foot In an unknown region is treasured AZ
well as the completed survey. The sketch
is for the time, the best thing obtainable; II
Is doubtless an approximation Of the truth
relating to some OF the broader facts, and
II is used until supplanted by something
better. This great mass OF material 10 not
notated. 30 that anything Of the slightest
helpfulness to the map m u er Is readily
found
Two other principles In the conduct OF
this business have helped to make the oele
brity OF It's products One il that the car
tographer Is also the geographer in making
the map. He must combine the highest
photographic skill with geographic attain
ments that give him high rank in that line.
The whole work ia his--not only the me-
chanical execution, but also the geographic
content. Like the sculptor who employs
an assistant In fashioning his marble, so
this map maker may have the services OF a
subordinate draughtsman In some details,
but he is responsible for the whole work
and does most Of 1t himself The other
principle 10 that time counts for nothing In
the production OF a map. There Is no such
thing as hurry. II a man wants months
In which to turn out a map plate, he may
have them II he says the best results require
the time.
Is an atlas sheet giving general view Of the
Russian, Chinese and Japanese empires.
Covering so vast territory on one sheet.
the scale Is necessarily very small. 1t Is
l-20 900 900 or about 3l5 statute miles to an
inch 1t Is Of course imp possible to give much
detail on so small a scale, but the broader
features Of all phases of the geography Of
the whole northern and central region Of
Asia and Of Russia In Europe are given 80
clearly that they really force themselves
upon the attention; and we know that this
representation Of the facts is up to date,
for the figures 1904 are printed in corner
Of the plate. We may give an illustration
OF the way in which facts are handled, con-
fining ourselves to a few features OF the
photographic.
Suppose 1t were possible that man with
ordinary experience In map reading knew
nothing of the photography Of this large
part OF the world. This small map alone
would enable him to get clear idea Of it,
He would find the very valleys In which
The large and smaller streams rise. II the |
surveys have given us this information. |
He would see that on the long course Of the
Yangtse Kiang from the Tibetan highlands
md short, OF the upper river that have not
been traced; and these stretches arc repre-
'ented by broken lines, for the wndings Of
he river, OF course, cannot be shown; but |
ne will SEQ that the northern branch OF the
leadwaters has been studied. and he will
observe the little lake through which it
'uns and the mountains that feed II. He
will also observe that the southern branch
II the head streams Is less known, though
/ has been proved to be divided into three
treams
He may take each river in the same way
nd he will be able to write correctly OF the
General features OF the country through
which 1t passes. OF the causes that deter
nine Its oourse, OF the differences Of eleva-
ion above the SEQ of It's upper middle and
over basin, and OF the parts Of IL that have
'een explored and the parts that are still
onjectural. Most maps show the great
as though 1t were entirely
nown, but this map shows three sections
8 still unexplored. One OF them Is where
bursts southwark through the mountains
D the plain Of India. We know now that
his mountain section is part Of the Brah-
,aputra, though the fact was long dis
uted. Marked logs set afoat on the sangpo
Tibet have been picked up In the Brah.
,aputra Of India, but owing to the hostility
the natives the mountain section has not
ct been traced.
The brief illusions made here to the
lethods Of one German house are by no
leans confined to 1t, for other map pro-
ucers Of that country equal or have nearly
ttained TO the same Affective results.
Our own commercial map houses are
aking encouraging progress in the quality
their work, but the maps they give VA
Ill show better results II they set before
lem the highest standards as something
be finally attained. We have much to
arm and many processes to revise before
ir ordinary map products become really
nod. Ono trouble Is that those who order
ap plates usually want them in a great
irry; good or bad. they must DO delivered
a few weeks. Then. many of our man ,
akers have not learned how to generalise
their small atlas sheets the information
ntained on large scale surveys; and the
suit IL that they benefit little, for example
, the splendid topographic sheets Issued
our Government. There are not few
her weaknesses In our methods that he,n :
Uiva conmonDlacA r>.u,t. L.. a