The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-01-16

scarcely perceptible as the train FORCES
on at forty miles an hour. The trav-
eller who reads his guide book before
he leaves home, marking tho para
graphs that most interest him. will get
most out of il. The book continually
calls attention to important things
within the field of vision; unfortu-
nately, the lookout of a freight train
caboose would he n better point Of
observation than the window OF a
continental fiier, but the books help
an enjoyment of the view.
Some travellers will not be able to
derive much profit from these guide
books because they are not interested
In the earth studies. The books are not
for the person who abhors geography
n has scarcely heard of geology.
They tell the story of the rocks, the
mountains and valleys. the rising and
sinking of land surfaces. the genesis of
land forms. You may be riding across
what was once the bed of the ocean
or the bottom OF a lake. The book
gives the facts and tells how we know
they r rue 1t is a valid criticism
N'Ns ~ ooohFf h'ib iiIS tlIc itsbh-
ers they are meant for. give rather too
much attention to geology and physi-
ography. They contain good geo.
graphical descriptions and tell of man
and HIS environment, but do not sufii-
GENTLY emphasize these fascinating
topics. We may give a few examples
to show some tendency to slight the
human elcment and to leave but half
told the absorbing story how nature
has been helping the settler and the
business man to establish prosperous
homes and fi%ourishing Industries
across our wide domain.
North Dakota. west OF the Missouri
River. harvested last summer the
greatest wheat crop in its history.
Late in August the hattalions of yell
low wheat shocks stretched away to
the horizon on every side; and here
n there were busting towns and
big grain elevators. all in that west
crn part of North Dakota which we
were told twenty years ago would
never he adapted for anything but
stock grazing. What had wrought
the miracle? The guide book tells
us on one page that improved meth
''AN w l'NlANl' anu WI dll'Nll'l
that "dry farming" had made the
Transformation. What Is dry farm.
ing? Its processes have so recently
been applied in. our country that
many Of our people know little or
nothing about II. and we are EN-
ploying several methods of dry farm
ing 10 suit different conditions. What
method is used in western North Da-
kota? The guide book gives no en-
lightenmcnt. though 1t tells all about
buttes and bluffs and fossils.
Many of the narrow valleys through
which the Northern Pacific winds in
Montana are beautiful In summer
with the waving green OF fertile fields,
in striking contrast with the dry and
yellow mountains that hem them in.
The curiosity Of the traveller is
aroused because No signs of water
are seen. II n Montana native is m
the train no may tell Of sources mp
among the mountains whose waters
arc pip,d down To vitalize the crops.
The traveller may wish the guide book
had told him these things first.
Near tho edge Of the wide plateau IN
western Washington stands Spokane
amid what Fasteners would call a
wilderness. The guide book gives
twelve lines of type 10 this city Of
l05,0 900 people: and the fact that its
rapid growth and prosperity are
chiefly due 10 it's fine water power
and the eleven railroads that make II
one % the great shipping and r%cceiN-
iug points of the Northwcs, is lot
clearly brought out.
In later editions some Of the geo
logical and photographic data should
he abbreviated "a give space for en-
largemcnt ~ the text IN the side Of
anthropoGeoGraphy. With this i'm
provement the guide books will I've
very enjoyable and helpful to a much
larger class Of travellers. The books
contain many fine descriptions. rs
those Of the great lava plain of south
eastern Washington, parts Of II now
blooming as a garden. sketches of the
exploration Of the West. historical bits
ON the indian tribes and their war
fare upon the white pioneers, and
stories Of the mining development a.
Ruttc and '.'.r famous centres,
Tho many maps show land forms 10y
contours. which. ~ course, is the most
accurate process, hut H. not very well
adapted for the general pubic. The
Geological Survey at washington sells
these guide books At 81 each.