Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-04

student who would know the topography
Of the world
In his .'Microcosm'' at 6l2 18th street
rorthwest-where the typical disorder OF
the atelier, debris of the sculptor's work
room and lumber Of a mechanics shop
greet the eye In a riot Of confusion that
spells order TO the mapmaker-this man
who requires-snd possesses-many versa
tile talents evolves relief maps which not
only indicate countries and rivers and
mountains ard towns. but all the min
erals, rocks, flowers, trees and varying
soils 70 be found in them.
He makes maps which enable the
weather bureau 10 more easily ascertain
climatic changes and atmospheric condi-
tions: maps meant TO aid great corpora
tons In advertising various real estate
and mining schemes they may desire 10
exploit: maps having 10 do with certain
countries whose residents want TO make
fair: maps. aided by historic data and
assisted by that vivid imagination that Is
q necessary asset Of ancient cities of the
old world. for the benefit of eager scien-
tic excavators-
For nearly two-score years he has been
developing and perfecting his profession.
until today II represents all that art OF
the brush skill of the modeler and knowl-
edge OF the geologist can accomplish.
hA
Born In Syracuse. n. Y. Mr.. Howell
expected TO devote his entire career to
the last named profession. But because
OF the continual handicaps he encounter
ed when trying TO obtain correct and
complete geologic maps whose colorings
would be accurate, rather than merely
ornamental. he conceived the plan of con-
s.ructing them for himself.
To the average washingtonian OF adult
t. Id ana r.f
the drawbacks 70 glorious 90 school
days. when one struggled between the
temptation 10 trace" and be either hon
ored or disgraced and that Of remaining
honest and turning in sorry specimens
that looked as though they had been
chewed out rather than drawn. The
chances are that even the most imag-
NATIVE yoUngster failed 10 picture the
earth as round and OF vastly differing
heights when gazing upon that kaleid-
oecopic fairness so much more suggestive
II a block of harlequin ice cream.
And IL was TO do away with such false
representation had only TO be eradi-
Gated in later years-that Mr.. Howell
originally devised the relief map.
He had been through the west with the
Wheeler expedition. riding as he ex-
pressed Il. "one mule nearly six thousand
miles until | nearly came 10 love him-if
you can ina CINE anybody loving a mule
and he to display quite an interest in
geology" SO. naturally. he was most
familiar with the lay OF the land out
here. II was To that section that he
turned when constructing his relief map.
r. was the first one to be made in this
country and was heralded as a great nov
fity by men interested in such things.
His initial governmental effort was a
most extraordinary reproduction OF the
Grand Canyon of the Colorado, finished
iuring Grants administration, although
previously a most excellent reproduction
In miniature OF the Island of Santo Do
ningo had received much favorable COM
nent
Stree then this odd genius has turned
,ut several other maps OF the canyon.
>lrd probably nothing More wildly illus
rates the advance of our civilization than
his same model. For where in the one
made for the Philadelphia centennial IN
lsTG-and which brought him in the first
" his numerous gold medals and grand
,rizes-he had to work from hand
tketches OF practically unknown
-egion. today he has. even OF the most
'emote sections OF Alaska perfect topo-
graphic guides.
His dream-and every artist has one OF
.ourse-is TO reproduce the CANYON on a
'oioring OF rock ard assure and sun ef-
ect.
Such guides. or blue prints. are not al
~ays forthcoming. and then the maker OF
maps would fail miserably did he not pos
ess the threefold ability OF the mathe-
natician. the artist and the agricultural
st-or rather fourfold. for he must also
" naturalist. \ minute knowledge or
he various flora. fauna, minerals and in
iustries Of the earth. with a familiarity