no Henry Gannett — Mother Maps of the United States. 



tucky have been prepared from traverses of the roads. These 

 maps, which make no attempt to show the rehef, are published 

 on a scale of 2 miles to an inch. 



California. — Between 1860 and 1870 the state of California 

 maintained a geologic survey, which, like all other well regulated 

 geologic surveys, found it necessary to devote much of its means 

 to making topographic maps. By this organization a large part ■ 

 of central California was mapped, the greater part being on a 

 scale of 6 miles to an inch, while a small area about the bay of 

 San Francisco was on a scale of 2 miles to an inch, the relief in 

 both series of maps being expressed by hachures. 



Neiv Jersey. — The only state which thus far has devised and 

 put into operation a reasonable and economical plan for map- 

 ping its area is New Jersey. In 1877 this state commenced sur- 

 veys for a map in connection with its geologic survey upon a 

 plan and by methods very similar to those subsequently adopted 

 in the geologic survey of the United States. The work Avas con- 

 trolled by triangulation, in the main executed by the United 

 States Coast and Geodetic survey and su]3plemented by the state 

 survey. Minor control was furnished by means of traverse lines, 

 and elevations were measured by spirit level and vertical angles. 

 The resulting maps were published on a scale of one mile to an 

 inch, in contours of 10 and 20 feet. When the state was about 

 half surveyed the United States Geological survey undertook 

 and carried the work through to completion upon the same 

 plan and by the same methods which the state had originated. 



Private Surveys. 



In consequence of the neglect of the government in the matter 

 of mapping this country, a wide field has been left open for pri- 

 vate enterprise, and this field has been worked actively, but with 

 curious results. Maps have been produced by private parties of 

 practically every county in the northern states and of some 

 counties of the southern states. The material for these maps 

 has been obtained by traverse surveys along the roads. These 

 maps are generically similar, and can be characterized in a very 

 few words. They are essentially diagrams of roads. The houses 

 along the roads are generally represented, together with the 

 names of the owners, as it is found that this aids in the sale of 

 the maps. Streams are but feebly represented, and relief is rarely 

 shown. 



