116 PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS—SECTION E. 
enterprise truly. What extraordinary developments will be the 
result of this astounding temerity remains to be seen. 
Another proposed undertaking of magnitude is the projected 
line of railway across the continent of Asia by the Russians, to 
bring them into direct connection with their possessions upon the 
Pacific coast—also a mighty enterprise, but differing essentially 
from that previously considered in having at least an objective 
base and terminus. This is however, I think, but in its 
inceptive stage, not having proceeded beyond the initiation of 
preliminary survey. The effects of the construction by the 
Russian Government of the Trans-Caspian line into the heart of 
Central Asia has already produced most astounding results in the 
knowledge of and development of those regions. 
Amongst the South American States we find the extension of 
railway construction being pressed with unprecedented activity, 
there being estimated to be now no less than 17,000 miles in 
existence, with a corresponding opening up and settlement of the 
interior of the continent. While upon the subject of what comes 
fittingly under the head of the commercial feature of my subject, 
I may mention a very practical paper upon the immediate rela- 
tion of commerce with geography, entitled “‘The Physical Basis 
of Commercial Geography,” contributed by Dr. Hugh Robert 
Mill to the late British Association meeting. 
EDUCATIONAL. 
The importance of the study of geography in educational estab- 
lishments has been gradually, but surely, forcing its way upon 
our countrymen, who have been hitherto behind other nations in 
recognising its utility, nay, necessity. Lectureships in the Univer- 
sities of Oxford and Cambridge have been for some little time 
now established, and very satisfactory and encouraging results 
have followed. The Royal Geographical Society, to further 
encourage the prosecution of this important branch of learning, 
offer their medals, scholarships, and prizes to the universities and 
various training colleges, and these have been, during the past 
year, extensively and keenly competed for. 
For a thoroughly exhaustive treatment of this subject we have 
but to refer to the able lecture upon ‘The Method Applied to 
the Teaching of Geography in the School,” by Professor Laurie, 
contained in the Scottish Geographical Magazine, 1886 ; and more 
recently a valuable paper under a somewhat similar title 
appeared in the Proceedings of the Queensland Branch of the 
Royal Geographical Society of Australasia, 1888, by Mr. J. P. 
Thomson, hon. secretary of that branch. I may appropriately 
here, perhaps, with reference to an earlier remark as to the 
advance made by other nations over our own in the matter of 
educational geography, show how far we are in the rear generally 
