3 54 The National Geographic Magazine 



It is in fact appropriate that the enor- 

 mous part contributed by Americans to 

 geographic progress during the past 

 century and the present activity in geo- 

 graphic lines of work maintained by 

 the United States Government, by geo- 



by Americans in exploration. At the 

 time of the lyouisiana Purchase, in 1803, 

 the immense tract to the west of the 

 Mississippi was a blank on the maps, 

 even the existence of the Rocky Moun- 

 tains was not hinted at in the geosrra- 



W J McGee, LL. D. 

 Vice-President National Geographic Society 



graphic societies, and by private enter- 

 prise should be recognized by a meeting 

 of the geographers of the world in the 

 center of geographic enterprise in the 

 Western Hemisphere. 



In this limited space it is possible to 

 mention only one of the achievements 



phies and atlases of the time ; but toda}^ 

 almost every mile in this vast territorj^ 

 is as well known as England or France. 

 And on the other continents Americans 

 have done their share — in Africa, in 

 Asia, and in the polar regions. ; 

 Btit the ptirposes of a Geographical 



