74 TF. 31. Davis — Geographic Teaching. 



the country with ice compared to the time required for the ex- 

 cavation of the valleys in the uplifted plateau. 



Geographical descriptions and the appreciation of them are 

 greatly advanced by a recognition of these principles; they 

 are essentially simple conceptions, but the variety of their ap- 

 plication is infinite. The work of more than two cycles may 

 not infrequently be recognized. Thus, in Pennsjdvania the crest 

 lines of the Appalachian ridges are remnants of an ui)lifted and 

 almost consumed plateau of Cretaceous denudation, of Avhich 

 only the hardest parts now remain ; the open vallev lowlands 

 l^etween the ridges are the product of Tertiary excavation in 

 the uplifted plateau ; the narrow trendies, in wliich the rivers 

 traverse the lowlands, are of post-Tertiary origin. Many points 

 of view may be selected on the Susquehanna, where these tliree 

 elements of the landscape stand out with much distinctness, 

 and the pleasure. of their contemplation is greatly increased by 

 the recognition of their distinct conditions of origin in succes- 

 sive geographical cycles or during successive uplifts of the land. 



What is the most effective way in which we can. promote the 

 advance of geographic investigation and secure accounts and 

 illustrations of our home country iu accordance with a system- 

 atic and scientific method? It has seemed to me that appeal 

 might be profitably made for the cooperation of the directors of 

 the various state geological surveys. 



I therefore propose to ask the directors of our various state 

 geological surveys to devote annually a part of their funds to 

 the study of the physical features of their domains in tlie light 

 of modern geographical science, provided that the terms of their 

 appropriation bills will allow them to cover this side of the 

 geological field; and if noj:, I sliall hope that special appropria- 

 tions of moderate amount may be made for this particular pur- 

 pose. Experts should be employed for this work, as they 

 are now in paleontology and petrograpl^y. The results thus 

 gained would appear in successive annual reports, brief at first, 

 increasing in scope as opportunity offers, and setting forth the 

 larger and smaller elements of the topography in sucii simple 

 style and with such comparisons and illustrations as should 

 be of immediate value to teachers in grammar schools and high 

 schools. The state boards of education might secure special 

 reprints of these geographical chapters at very moderate cost for 

 distribution as state products to all public libraries and to all 



