Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-02-02
Letters to The Star
Discusses Importance of Maps
of Photogrammetric Character
To the Editor of The Star:

| To the Editor OF The Star:
On January 16. II and Is the Ameri-
can Society Of Photogrammetry held its
annual meeting, open to the public, at
the New Willard Hotel Although I
saw an announcement of the event in
your paper, I did not see any account
of the meeting itself, either in your
paper or in any other Washington paper,
although it seems to me the matters dis
cussed are Of national, If not world
wide Importance. All read is of
strikes and other troubles.
Perhaps no proper invitation was ex-
tended to the press, or perhaps the
term photogrammetry fiabbergasted any
potential reporter. Photogrammetry
means measuring from photographs"
Photographs taken from airplanes were
used as never before during the past war
to reconnoiter enemy activities and to
revise existing maps or to make new
maps. Mapping with the aid of aerial
photographs could be carried out even
over enemy occupied territory. Yet, due
to enemy countermeasures (antiaircraft
fire and pursuit plane attacks, it can
not be carried out nearly as effectively
or accurately as in peacetime. AS one
Air Force mapping program for pro-
all the major fyways of the world, I
can say that an enormous amount of
territory was covered. Yet what did one
hear at the meeting?
The United States is only Is per cent
covered by maps adequate for military
purposes, declared Brig. Gen. D. F. Johns
of the Army Engineer Corps Tor for
other purposes such as geological work..
The United States Geological Survey,
chief topographic agent of the Govern
ment, has received for mapping pur-
poses from 1880 to 1910 total of
$4,000, 900 or about 100000 a year-a
totally inadequate amount. In 1925 the
proposed Temple Act was to provide
100000 year for mapping this coun-
try, but the money never was voted.
About 81 100000 year has been appro-
priated for the past 10 years.
The primary triangulation net for the
country, basic net on whose accuracy
depends the accuracy Of all maps. is not
yet completed. according to Admiral
L. o. Colbert of the Coast and Geodetic
Survey.
Our domestic mapping program SUI
fered severely during the war. Most
activity was outside of this country.
The United States Geological Survey.
mapping by standard plane table
methods, has not made full use of the
mosaics of photographs made by the
Department of Agriculture in its crop
control, soil erosion, forestry and other
work. The maps of the future probably
will be on one side topographic maps
Showing not only horizontal relation
ships Of objects on the earths surface.
but also vertical relief by means of
contours and shading) with q mosaic of
photographs on the back. The Germans
already were producing such sheets.
Furthermore, European photogram-
metrists are mostly graduates Of tech
nical high schools corresponding to such
an institution Of ours as Massachusetts,
Tech. We used biologists, architects,
etc, for photogrammetrists. according to
Guillermo Medina, head of the Nays
photographic once. The average Euro
pean knows better than the average
American how to read and use a large
scale map due to greater use Of shanks'
mare in hiking, bicycling and mountain
climbing, said Gen. Johns.
Due to the fact that walk quite a
bit, people often stop their cars to ask
me the way. The other day q naval
officer inquired the way to Hyattsville,
and I later realized that had given him
directions to Gaithersburg The next
man who stopped me, asked If he had
a map. On a negative reply, said I
also did not carry a map in my head.
Better to risk rudeness than give "a
wrong steer"
John @. Citizen needs to be sold" on
a mapping program for the United
States of America so that, in world of
many doubts and uncertainties, we
better may know where we are.
FRANCIS NEWT ,ANDS JOHNSTON