PREFACE. 



PERHAPS for American readers the most interesting article in this volume is 

 that on the u Navy of the United States," written by a naval officer. It is sup- 

 plementary to the similar article in the "Annual Cyclopaedia" for 1888, and 

 comes down to date with a complete description of our naval force, actual and 

 building. In the articles on Chili and the United States the reader may see how 

 near we came to having use for a powerful navy in the year 1891. The cen- 

 sus article of 1890 is supplemented by another in this volume, showing the 

 results of the latest compilations at the Census Office ; and the articles on such 

 States of the Union as have any considerable colored population contain tables 

 showing census by races. 



The Canadian articles are illustrated with a double-page colored map of the 

 Northwest Provinces, which with the map of the Maritime Provinces in the vol- 

 ume for 1889, and that of Ontario in the volume for 1890, covers all of British 

 North America except the province of Quebec. 



The article " Cities, American, Recent Growth of," describes sixty-four 

 cities, some of which have sprung up in the wilderness within two or three 

 years. An article on the " Earth, Area and Population of," gives the latest 

 computations of the geographers. 



The approaching anniversary of the discovery of the continent is noted by 

 an interesting illustrated article on " Columbus's First Landfall," as well as by 

 the description, under " United States," of the preparations at Chicago for the 

 great World's Fair. How the question of participating in that enterprise was 

 debated in some of the States, and what has been done by each, may be read in 

 the State articles. 



The recent advances in photography are set forth by Alexander Black, an 

 enthusiastic photographer and student of the art. Ballooning as it is to-day 

 is described by Prof. Samuel A. King, the most experienced of American 

 aeronauts, \vlio has made three hundred ascensions. The efforts to produce rain 

 by artificial means are detailed under that title by Col. Charles L. Norton ; and 

 many things in the way of material improvements will be found under the title 

 of " Patents." 



In the way of moral reform much, it is hoped, has been done by the legisla- 

 tion in many States requiring temperance education in the public schools ; and 

 a history of the movement is contributed to this volume by the Rev. Joseph 

 Cook, the well-known lecturer. The student of literature will find much to 



