Geographic Notes 



247 



Utah: G. K. Gilbert. 



Vermont : T. N. Dale and J. E. 

 Wolff. 



Washington: F. L- Ransome and Geo. 

 Otis Smith. 



West Virginia: Cooperation with State 

 survey under Prof. I. C. White; Wayne 

 county, M. R. Campbell, survej'' of 

 Ceredo quadrangle. 



Wiscofisin: C. R. Van Hise and W. C. 

 Alden. 



Wyoming: W. C. Knight, N. H. 

 Darton, George I. Adams, and Arnold 

 Hague. 



Dr. Gfegfory^who was to have had charge 

 of the scientific work of the British 

 South Polar Expedition, has resigned 

 his connection with the expedition. 

 Friction between the naval and scien- 

 tific staffs is believed to be the cause of 

 his withdrawal. 



Gen. A. W. Gteely, Chief Signal Officer 

 U. S. Army, will make a general inspec- 

 tion of the signal service in the Philip- 

 pine Islands during the present season. 

 The larger islands of the archipelago are 

 now connected by cable, and each has 

 a telegraph system which includes most 

 of the larger towns. 



The U. S. Biologfical Survey will this 

 summer continue the study of the geo- 

 graphic distribution of animals and 

 plants in Texas. The Survey has been 

 engaged in the work for several years, 

 and in due time will issue maps showing 

 the life zones and faunal areas in the 

 State. Mr. Vernon Bailey has charge 

 of the work and has already begun field 

 operations in southwestern Texas. 



Exploration of the 'Sea. — A meeting of 

 representatives of all the countries bor- 

 dering on the Baltic and North Seas, 

 excepting France, was recently held in 

 Christiania to confer on the programme 

 for the exploration of the seas between 

 Greenland, Iceland, and Norway. Each 



of these nations will have a special sec- 

 tion assigned to it for study, so that a 

 complete knowledge of the currents, 

 sea bottoms, etc , may be soon obtained. 

 The Norwegians and Russians have al- 

 ready equipped special steamers to carry 

 out their share of the work, and work on 

 the German vessel which is building for 

 the same purpose is well advanced. 



The Bureau of American Republics has 

 published two handsome maps of Mexico 

 on the scale of 50 miles to the inch. The 

 first map, besides being a general map 

 of the country, by colors shows the ele- 

 vation of every part of the Republic. 

 It also gives the agricultural features, 

 showing what sections are wheat-grow- 

 ing, what are favorable to the great Mex- 

 ican staple henequen, etc. The second 

 map shows the distribution of minerals 

 throughout the country as far as pros- 

 pecting has revealed their location. 

 These maps are the result of much re- 

 search, combining all the results of 

 latest surveys. The Bureau announces 

 that similar maps of all the Central and 

 South American Republics are in course 

 of preparation. The map of Brazil is 

 nearly completed, and work on the maps 

 of Guatemala and Costa Rica well ad- 

 vanced. 



The Royal Geogfraphical Society has 



this year awarded the Founders' medal 

 to the Duke of Abruzzi for his two feats 

 of being the first to ascend Mt. St. Elias 

 and of gaining what is now ' ' farthest 

 north," 86° 33'. The expense of each 

 of these expeditions was borne mainly 

 by the Duke, though his uncle, the 

 late King Humbert, generously aided 

 him. The Society has awarded the 

 Patrons' medal to Dr. A. Donaldson 

 Smith for his explorations in Central 

 East Africa in 1 894-' 95 and 1 898-1 900. 

 Dr. Smith traversed the last densely in- 

 habited area remaining unexplored in 

 Africa — the country between lyake Ru- 

 dolf and the White Nile. Awards have 



