;2S 



NA TURE 



[September 9, 1909 



In some cai!^;, the colour-plates are prepared by engraving 

 on copper, stone, or zinc. The maps of the United States 

 and Switzerland are engraved on copper. In other cases, 

 for instance, the i-inch Ordnance Survey, colour-plates are 

 prepared on stone by transfers and offsets from the 

 engra\.:il copper plate. In other cases — e.g. the jnlss-scale 

 map of France — the colour-plates are prepared by photo- 

 graphic methods. 



For clearness, delicacy of outline, and artistic effect 

 nothing equals engraving on copper. It forms also the best 

 basis for colour-printing. Unfortunately it is very slow 

 and costly. 



Engraving on stone is quicker and less expensive than 

 copper engraving. It is inferior in delicacy to the latter, 

 but some of the best stone engraving is very good. 



Photographic methods are the most rapid and the 

 cheapest, and with care give very fair results. As good 

 examples I may quote the yj^irir-scale maps of .Austria, 

 prepared by heliogravure, and the 6-inch maps of the 

 Ordnance Survey, prepared by heliozincography, both black 

 and white maps. 



Of colour-printed maps I may instance the new ^jriinr- 

 scale map of France prepared by heliogravure, and the 

 J-inch Ordnance Survey map hitherto prepared by photo- 

 etching, although I understand that in future the outline 

 will be engraved on copper. 



When rapid reproduction and moderate cost are desired 

 I do not hesitate to recommend photographic methods 

 which, although not so good as engraving, give, when care- 

 fully executed, reasonably good results. 



Opinions differ as to the extent to which colour should 

 be used, the modern tendency being to use it very freely. 

 I can hardly be accused of prejudice against colour, as 

 during my tenure of office at the Ordnance Survey colour- 

 printing was largely developed, but I think it is often 

 overdone. I consider that a moderate amount of colour 

 is a great improvement to a map. Ground forms, how- 

 ever indicated, can, in my opinion, be better shown by 

 colour than in black ; it is advantageous also to distinguish 

 water by colour, to give prominence to main roads by 

 colouring them, and to colour woods and forests, but I 

 do not advocate going much beyond this. It is difficult 

 to choose colours which are suitable, distinctive, and 

 harmonious, and the more numerous the colours used the 

 greater the difficulty of doing so. 



Colour-printing introduces possible sources of error. 

 Colour maps are based on a drawing on which all detail 

 \o appear on the map is shown. A plate is prepared for 

 each colour on which there should be only such detail as 

 shall be printed in its particular colour. In preparing 

 this plate there is a risk that detail which should appear 

 may be omitted, or that detail be inserted which should 

 be on another plate, or that the detail may be slightly out 

 of position. Again, owing to change of temperature and 

 to the varying amount of moisture in the air, paper con- 

 tracts or expands. Registration can rarely be mathe- 

 matically correct, and with every care may sometimes be 

 appreciably out. While with care errors such as I have 

 indicated can be minimised so as not appreciably to affect 

 the map, it is difficult to ensure that they should be 

 altogether absent. 



To recapitulate my views, I advocate for a topographical 

 map a scale between ji^i^if and r^^.V'!* (i inch to a milel, 

 according to circumstances. The scale of survev to be 

 double that of the finished map; ground forms to be shown 

 by contours reasonably close together, the exact interval 

 depending on the scale of the map and the nature of the 

 country, also, if funds are available, by vertical hachures ; 

 both contours and hachures, if shown, to be in colour, the 

 same colour being used for both. If consideration's of 

 time and cost do not admit of reproduction by engraving 

 on copper, the map to be reproduced by some photographic 

 method and printed in not more than five colours. I put 

 forward these opinions rather as a basis for consideration 

 than as having special weight in themselves. With the 

 increasing recognition of the importance of geography an 

 increasing demand for maps is sure to come, and good 

 maps can only be satisfactorily designed after considering 

 the points here discussed. 



It is not yet, I think, generally recognised that a reallv 

 NO. 2080, VOL. 8x1 



good topographical map, based on triangulation, may be 

 produced on a scale of about I inch to the mile at very 

 moderate expense if unimportant detail is left out and 

 survey and reproduction carried out as economically as 

 possible. Such a survey has recently been carried out in 

 the Orange River Colony, a country mainly agricultural 

 with generally poor land. There must be few parts, other 

 than barren and mountainous regions, under settled 

 goverjuiient where such a survey would not be of value. 

 I believe that in future still further economy in surveying 

 and mapping will be attained, and this will stimulate the 

 undertaking of fresh surveys. 



Meeting, as we are privileged to do this year, in Canada, 

 I should like to say a "few words on the surveying and 

 mapping of the Dominion. Until recently the only maps 

 published have been on very small scales and have shown 

 no ground forms. During the last few years, however, 

 a regular topographical survey has been undertaken by 

 the Militia Department. I am glad that for this topo- 

 graphical survey the scales of i inch and h inch to the 

 mile, both standard scales in Great Britain and Ireland, 

 have been adopted. They are, in my opinion, suitable 

 scales for Canada, and it is to be hoped that for any new 

 mapping within the British Empire these or similar scales 

 may be adopted as they have been in many parts. 

 Uniformity in scales is very desirable. 



Without committing myself to praise in every respect 

 of the maps prepared by the Militia Department, I may 

 say that they appear to me excellent, well-executed maps. 

 Not many sheets have yet been issued, and they are prob- 

 ably not yet well known even in Canada ; but I have little 

 doubt that when known their value will be appreciated, 

 and that the area mapped will be rapidly extended. There 

 are no doubt large areas in Canada for which a smaller 

 scale than i inch will suffice, but there can be few, except 

 waste and barren regions, for which maps on some scale 

 will not be needed. To a country like Canada, which 

 has made wonderful progress already, and which has a 

 great future before it, adequate mapping must be of 

 importance, specially so in view of the vast area of the 

 country. I have misread the character of the Canadian 

 people if they will be content with any except first-rate 

 maps for the whole settled area of the Dominion. 



I should like to have said a few words on the aid which 

 good maps give to geogranhical education, but my address 

 is already too long. I will only sav that while good maps 

 and geographical education are of use to all countries, 

 they are of special value to the British Empire, the different 

 parts of which are geographically so scattered, but which 

 are so closelv bound together bv common ties of kinship, 

 interest, sentiment, and lovaltv. 



UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL 

 INTELLIGENCE. 



The issues of the Lancet for August 2.S and British 

 Medical Journal for September 4 are " educational " 

 numbers, and give full information for those desirous of 

 entering the medical profession and of the various services 

 with medical officers attached. 



A NEW mathematical professorship has been created, we 

 learn from the Revue scientifique, in the University of 

 Paris with the title of the Chair of the Theory of Func- 

 tions. Prof. E. Borel has been appointed to the new post, 

 which brings the number of mathematical professors in 

 the University up to twelve. 



.\ CIRCULAR from Principal Miers announces that an 

 Appointments Board has been constituted by the University 

 of London. The terjns of reference to the Board are " to 

 assist graduates and students of the University in obtain- 

 ing appointments, and to coordinate and supplement the 

 work done by the schools and institutions of the University 

 with this object." The aim is to encourage the selection 

 of university men for all posts in the work of which the 

 possession of a university training on scientific methods is 

 an advantage. The Board wishes to assist graduates to 

 find employment, and to assist employers to "find, in the 

 university ranks, suitable men for vacancies. 



