The Cordova daily times., 1923-04-04
Far Behind European Nations in This lrn-
 portant Work
COUNTRY NOT SURVEYED
Divisions Outlined, but
 Characteristics Are : Not Designated

WASHINGTON, April 4. = Ever since Captain John Smith charted Chesapeake Bay, 300 years ago, sur veys and maps have been made in the United States.
 But it is only in comparatively recent years, according to Congress- man Henry w. Temple, of Penn slyvania that the need of accurate maps has been felt keenly by those engaged in the industry and con- mercial development of the country.
 Temple introduced bill in the House in the last Congress to auth orize the President to complete a typographical survey of the United States within the next 20 years. Steps will be taken early in the new Congress to put this bill through.
 It was about 50 years ago that the Government first realized the necessity of more systematic plan of map-making, after expeditions were sent to explore the country west of the Mississippi. In 1879 Congress established the United States Geological Survey.
 Physical Maps Needed
 Soon afterward Congress recog- nized that a geological survey must be based on typographical maps, so each year since 1889 it has made specific appropriations for such sur veys.
 Despite these operations, however, only about 43 per cent of continent al United States, exclusive of Alaska, has been mapped. Some of these maps, made more than a quarter of a century ago, are now classed as reconnaissance maps, and officials of the Geological Survey estimate that only about 35 per cent of the country is adequately mapped.
 Most of the foremost countries of the world have long considered the surveying and mapping of their areas one of their major government t. al functions," said Congressman Temple in discussing his bill. "The nations of Europe have been far more progressive in this matter than the nations of America. The British Isles have been entirely surveyed. Maps of all of France and Belgium are available on several scales All of Germany has been mapped. Swift zerland is the bestmapped country in the world.
 "In Asia, Japan has completed a reconnaissance survey of it's entire area and is now carrying out sys- tematic program of detailed topo- graphic mapping. China, however, has Jagged behind
 Canada Progressive
 "In America, Canada has adopted a progressive mapping program, al though she has large areas still un- surveyed Mexico is not well sur veyed. Several of the larger coun- tries of South America, notably Chile, Brazil and Argentina, have surveyed most of their industrially important areas.
 In knowledge of it's physical geog- raphy, the United States, Temple de- clared is behind all the countries, he mentioned, except Mexico and China.
 Although a large part of the area of the public-land States has been subdivided into sections the sur purpose of marking on the ground the boundaries of the public-land divisions, so that settlers could be placed on the lands. The township plats do not show elevations.
 A topographic map is relief map which not only shows the shapes and elevations of land and water features by contour lines but also pictures the artificial features, such as railroads, highways and buildings.
 Representative Temple said that the cost of one battleship-about $50,000, ,000-would complete the map ping of the country in twenty years if it were invested now and interest were allowed on unexpended bal ances.