ANNOUNCEMENT. 



The National Geographic Society, with a view of encour- 

 aging the study of geography in the public schools of the United 

 States, has instituted gold medals and certificates which are to 

 be awarded annually, in each state, to such pupil of a public 

 high school as shall write the best original geographic essay on 

 a subject to be selected by a committee of the Society. It is 

 intended that each essay shall pertain to the continent of North 

 America, and that it shall be comprehensive in its scope and 

 limited in its length, so as to afford opportunity for originality 

 of treatment. The cooperation of State Superintendents of Edu- 

 cation is sought by the Society. The best essayist of each state 

 will receive a certificate of proficiency from the National Geo- 

 graphic Society. The Geographic Gold Medal of the National 

 Geographic Society will be awarded to the best essayist of the 

 entire country, while the second essayist will receive a certifi- 

 cate of honorable mention. 



The subject of the essay for 1893 will be: The River Systems 

 of the United States. 



EULES. 



1. Essays will be received only from such public high schools as form- 

 ally amiounce their intention to comjpete by May 31, 1893. 



2. All essays must be entirely composed by the student, who must cer- 

 tify on honor that he has not received aid from any person. 



3. No essay shall exceed 2,000 words in length. 



4. In each state the Superintendent of Public Schools, if his cooperation 

 can be secured, will select, by such jirocess as he deems advisable, the 

 three best essays, which shall be passed on by a committee of the 

 National Geographic Society in order to select the best essay for each 

 state and for the United States. 



5. The certificate issued to the best essayist of each state shall set forth 



in proper terms that , being one of essayists from public high 



schools in the state' of , is awarded this certificate by the National 



Geographic Society for his proficiency in geographic science. 



6. No certificate shall be awarded to any competitor unless, in the 

 opinion of the judges, the essay oflered possesses suflicient merit to justify 

 such award. 



It is desired that the superintendent of public schools in each 

 state shall select, by such method as he deems advisable, the 

 three best essays, and from the collection of such essa3''s the com- 



