Evening star., 1936-08-02

ington Atlas, bi-centennial observance
of the great Virginian's birth.
With Miss Egli as my guide, I had
brought home to me again and again
what q storehouse Of priceless treas
ures the Division Of Maps shelters. In
showcases are maps and mounted
aliases that 60 back far beyond our
age and time and yet. around the
corner from them are displays OF such
current interest that had to elbow
in and out among those absorbed by
them to view the maps that had been
recently set up, showing soil erosion
in all the States Of our country as
well as our duststorm areas.
One Of the current and most ex-
traordinary map collections in the
world Is that Of the Sanborn Co.,
which for so years has shown the
houses and other insurable buildings
in every town and city in the United
States. even to indicating the build
ing material and the water facilities.
Primarily for fire insurance purposes,
these maps now total over 400 900
sheets and are readily available and
extensively used.
Old Globe Fascinating.
Extremely fascinating and so valu-
able that 1t Is beyond having a price
fixed upon 1t. is an unmounted globe
of 1888 in perfect state of preserva-
ton. 1t Is the work of the italian
geographer, F.. Vincenzo Coronelli. who
published several aliases and globes.
Another priced possession is a
Portuguese manuscript made by Joao
Teixeira in 1880, showing the line
of demarcation established in 1892 by
Pope Alexander, vi. just one year
after the discovery Of America, to the
east of which the Portuguese might
explore and to the west of which the
Spanish might establish claims.
Then there are 80 editions Of
Ptolemy, 81 editions of the atlas Of
Ortelius, II Portolan charts and 2
Mercator's aliases, the valuable Low
cry and Kohl collections and the gen.
erous Andrew Mellon gift of SO
Oriental maps and aliases Of great
distinction, 81 editions Of Mercator's
atlas and so many more that can
not even enumerate them.
Those interested in American his
tory will hover over the collection Of
American maps.
There is Champlain's original manu-
script map depicting parts of New
England and Canada in 1903 and
Vingboons' manuscript maps showing
the New Netherlands, Florida and
California in 1889.
You become absorbed in the At
lantic Neptunes covering the years
1774-178l. Then there Is the Henry
Harriese collection of early American
discoveries. The Faden collection of
Colonial and Revolutionary War maps
shows many gems that were the ham
diwork of this English printing firm
Through the map collections Of
Rochambeau, we visualize again the
gallant French friend whose memory
we commemorate in Lafayette Square,
and in those Of Admiral Lord Howe,
there arose before us that doughty
English foe who did his best but
found it not enough for himself or
his sovereign.
Franklin Recognized Gulf Stream.
We know much about our good
friend Benjamin Franklin, but I
doubt If many Of us are aware that
''he was the first person to recognize
and make clear to European as well
as American navigators the uses Of
the Gulf stream" He also was lone
Of the first to deduce its existence
and to verify this by observation and
report" to quote from Col. Martins
report Of the Division of Maps Of the
librarian Of Congress for 1885. Like
wise was he the first to publish the
Gulf stream upon q map based upon
the report Of Capt. Folger. a Nam
tucket shipmaster. Copies Of this
map Franklin generously sent to
Falmouth for the captains of the
packets there who "slighted it," to
quote from his own accounts Of the
circumstances.
To Mr.. Franklin Bache Of West
Chester. Pa. who is direct descend
ant of Franklin, the Library Of Con-
gress and the Nation are greatly
indebted for the gift Of one Of these
Benjamin Franklin maps printed in
Paris about 1785. but probably never
published.
Having to do with our immediate
midst Is George Washingtons map
Of Alexandria, now called Belhaven,"
the original source Of which was made
by John West. It Is In the Fairfax
Court House.
Also on display are George WASH
ington's own drawing of his river
farm" Samuel vaughn's drawing Of
Mount Vernon, lent by Mr.. Walter
Peter, and an original survey Of the
Mount Vernon property between Hunt
ing Creek and Douge Run, lent by
Mrs. Lawrence Washington. We can
still see the restored grist mill on
Douge Run as we drive down the
Mount Vernon Boulevard.
The recent sale by the Riggs estate
of the Digges farm, where Charles
Pierre rEnfant, original designer Of
the plan for the City Of Washington,
spent his declining years, dependent
upon the bounty Of friends. gives cur
rent interest to his original manu-
script map of the District Of Colum-
bia, and his map Of dotted lines"
dated August 10, 179l.
Upon the floor Of the Senate Sena-
tor Fess Of Ohio said Of the Division
Of Maps:
"Ihe collection Of maps. originals
and facsimilies IS now so embracing
that It Is the incessant recourse of
eeographers, historians and litigants."
Photostats Supplied.
The Division of Maps supplies pho
tostats of maps to congressional COM
mittees for a variety of purposes as
well as to individual members of Con-
gress, historical societies and genealo-
gists. These photostats, supplied at an
average cost Of from so to go cents,
are in themselves a tremendous ad-
vantage over a previous arrangement,
which either necessitated the slow and