The Washington herald., 1922-12-26
GU|DEPOsTs PLACED
IN DESERT WASTES
Geological Survey Hopes to
Reduce Death Toll In
Southwest.
LARGE MAPS PUBLISHED
Detailed Information About
Difficulties Encountered BY
Travellers Given.
LARGE MAPS PUBLISHED
By JOHN GOLDSTROM

To reduce the heavy annual toll
OF death to aviators. motorists,
prospectors and others who be.
come lost In the great deserts of
the southwest. the United States
Geological Survey is mapping and
marking them with guidsposts.
These signs will guide the traveller
to springs and waterholes and give
distances and directions to cities,
towns. army posts and other hu-
man habitations. Considerable areas
already have been marked. and by
means of the signs scores of lost
wayfarers have been saved.
The Geological Survey also is
publishing a series of guidebooks
describing deserts and waste places
Of the southwest. They are being
sent to post offices. hotels, chambers
OF commerce and garages In that
part Of the country.
GUIDEBOOKS PUBLISHED.
"One of these guidebooks," says
q statement by the Geological Sur
vey. the third of the series, by
c. p. Ross, has just been published.
1t describes desert watering places
in the lower Gila region. Arizona,
including approximately the tri-
angular area between Phoenix
Yuma and Parker.
1T contains three large maps OF
the region, shaded to indicate re-
liefs and showing the location Of
roads. wells, springs and other
watering places. as well as the
signposts erected by the Geological
Survey.
THE maps are the most com.
plete and accurate yet published for
this region. The relief shading
brings out strongly the larger fea-
lures of the topography and makes
the maps readily understandable
even by those who have no techni.
cal training.
The Introductory part of the
guidebook contains detailed informa.
tion regarding difficulties encoun.
tered in travelling through the
desert ana suggestions for sur.
mounting them. Anyone who in.
tends travelling in this region should
consult one Of these guide books.
Increasing ali traffic over West.
ern deserts and plains will make il
necessary eventually tu provide
marks visible from aircraft. il is
predicted. The ordinary suideposts
already placed have been If great
aid to fliers who have made forced
landings and have been obliged to
proceed on foot TO the nearest habi.
tation.
BILL NOW PENDING.
There is pending in Congress a
bill introduced by Representative
Henry W. Temple. OF Pennsylvania
to provide for a complete topo
graphical survey of the United
States. 1t is in the foreign Ind
interstate commerce committee, and
scientific bodies are pressing for an
early hearing. Airplane photography
pared with l ,657,750 barrels for the
making of such maps.
According to a. statement pre-
pared Jointly by DIR. Nevin NJ. Fen
neman. chairman of the division oi
geology and geography Of the Ma.
tional Research Council, and L. NJ
Wallace, secretary of the Federated
American Engineering Societies, the
following activities will be greatly
benefited:
"Aeronautics. automobile travel
geological mapping. forestry. mill
tary work, mining operations
water power development, irriga
tion projects. flood control and pre-
vention. drainage engineering. rec
lamation service, canal location
city water supplies, highway con
struction, railroad building. post
route mapping. oil prospecting, sol
mapping, land valuation and classi
fication, city planning and for edu
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