Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1914-02-13
A COMPLETE MAP.
Geological Survey Map is Now
Ready.

A new topographic map of the
area known as the quadrangle SUR
veyed in cooperation with the State
of Mimi. has just been published by
the United States Geological Survey.
This map represents by far the
most complete survey ever made Of
this section of the State. 1t shows so
clearly every physical feature of the
quadrangle that the character of any
part of it, as well as the shapes of the
hills and valleys, can be seen at q
glance and the elevation of any parti-
cular point can be easily determined.
The relief of the country is graphi-
cally shown by means of brown con-
tour lines, ,eachIone of which represents
a certain elevation above the sea. The
traveller walking along the course
shown by one of the contour lines
will go neither up hill no down hill but
on level. That such a map is of
prime value to the engineer who may
be laying out railroad or trolley
route, a highway, a drainage or irri-
CATION system goes without saying,
but it is also of great value to the
average citizen. Farmers and auto
mobilists, for instance, buy thousands
of the maps. In addition to the land
and water features, the map shows, in
black, all the works of man roads.
bridges, towns, houses, etc.
The topographic mapping done by
the Geological Survey represents the
highest type of geographic work, AND
the maps show substantially every
thing as it is on the ground at the
time of the survey. In making the
survey for this particular map, the
topographic engineers tramped over
practically every portion of the qua@
drangle, hundreds of miles being thus
covered. Permanent iron bench
marks, showing exact elevations,
were also set at numerous points in
the quadrangle. The location of thes
marks is indicated accurately on the
map, and they can be used for all time
as the basis for any further surveys
desired. This sort of map making is
a very different undertaking from
that of constructing the average geo.
graphic map at desk which is gene
rally matter of mere approximation
and compilation. Everything on the
Geological Survey topographic sheet
is exact and true to nature.
:. This sheet forms but one small
section of the great topographic atlas
or map of the United States which the
Geological Survey is making and
which will be the the largest and yet
the most detailed map in the world.
When completed this map will be ap.
proximately an acre in extent. Al
ready more than 1900 of these sheets
have been completed, covering nearly
40 per cent of the United States.
In some parts of the country much
of the work is carried through rough
and almost impossible areas, with
Il
pices, or deep morasses. Hundreds
of temporary camps are made during
each field season, at attitudes ranging
from above snow line to below sea
level. All this work is followed by an
enormous amount of Office drafting,
and the task is finally completed in
examples of cepper-plale engraving
and photographic printing second to
: no others in the world.
!. The cost to the Government of
these quadrangle surveys, for both
> field and Office work, ranges from
$3,50O to $4,000 each; but the maps
are sold at only about the cost Of
paper and printing 10 cents a copy
or SO for fifty copies.
d The Director of the Geological Sur
!, vey will furnish without charge index
! sheets showing the published topo'
. graphic maps of any State.