Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1914-01-21
GREAT COLLECTION ,oF MAPS
Al Told. Thers Arc About 100000 Of
Thsn In Uneis Sans
Care.

What In not only the largest but
also the most remarkable collection
OF maps In the world is owned by the
United States government and cared
for In the congressional library. To
the wing set apart for their preserve
ton como the most eminent OF geo
graphers. and here Commander Peary,
discoverer Of the north pole, has done
some Of his scientific research.
All told. there are about 100000
maps I'm the collection. One room has
huge aliases piled tier upon tier from
the hoor to the roof; old-fashioned
ones dating from the beginning Of
atlas making to the upto-date crea-
tions OF the binders art An expert
10 kept continually at work mounting
maps. for many that are purchased
are In q dilapidated condition and
must be mounted or backed" ON linen
OF the newest and strongest texture.
The market from which they are
procured covers the world. From
Greenland to India, from China to
Patagonia. maps are gathered, and
the older they are the more they are
valued. One map Of China In printed
with tho odd designs Of rivers, noun
tains, trees and men in a tumble of
which tho American mind can make
nothing. but possibly to q Celestial
1t is perfectly clear.
Among the most interesting and
most precious are early maps, some
OF them dated prior to the discovery
OF America. One of these is hand-col-
ored affair made in 1882, just ten
years before Columbus discovered the
new world. A map made by Cosa, q
companion Of Columbus, and dated
100, shows an odd-looking continent
meant to represent America There
are rude drawings scattered about on
this queer picture, most Of them at
tempts to show dwellings and people
of strange aspect. In 1903 map of
the new world was engraved for the
hrst time and its grotesque outlines
seem pitifully childish under the glass
Of the handsome case In which it re-
poses. BY its side IL perhaps the
queerest Of all maps, a powderhorn,
on which map Is etched in brown,
while not far of is map made by
one Of the famous pirates of that day,
Capt. Bart, who probably used it in
his buccaneer1ng expeditions after
Spanish gold.
A map dated 1897 shows America as
consisting Of Florida mostly, while
Virginia occupies the rest Of the con-
tinent almost exclusively. One Of Eng
land in the time Of Queen Elizabeth
and made by Saxton is shown In q
fine stats OF preservation.
OF revolutionary maps there are
several dozen, representing different
states or the location or troops at a
particular time. To this period be.
longs most Interesting relic Of Wash.
tngton, which Il q survey Of one of his
own farms. every field being accurate
~ drawn to scale and the number Of
acres It contained written clearly at
the top.
The freak maps attract the most at.
tention from the visitor. They ara
ranged In q case containing about ten
queer specimens Of the map.makins
art, and all are modern. Perhaps the
most ludicrous of theas is q drawing
representing "All the World Watch
Ing" showing the outlines of all the
nations fashioned into faces, but the
characteristic Of each country shows
In It's countenance, and the correct
geographical lines are given. Brazil,
the United States, England, Spain.
Portugal, Norway and Sweden arc 30
drawn that their ocean line forms q
human face, with the eyss Watching
sharply.