Report on the projected Survey of the State of Maryland. 35 



name appears in the catalogue as having furnished them with a map 

 of the entire territory of Maryland. 



The basis of the map itself has been founded on observations of 

 the latitude and longitude of Baltimore and Washington ; made in 

 each case under circumstances which are pledges of accuracy. The 

 portion of territory, eastward of the meridian, passing between these 

 places, has been laid down from Mr. Lucas' chart ; a work published not 

 very long since, upon data and calculations, which are near approxi- 

 mations to those used in the present instance. Westward of this 

 meridian, the course of the Potomac was found in map No. 63 of 

 the table ; an actual survey of the board of Internal Improvement. 

 This line, in default of astronomical observations, has been used for 

 defining the western boundary of the state. Still farther west, the 

 map of Virginia has furnished the geography of the country adjacent 

 to the south branch of the Potomac. 



It has been thought important that in a territory — whose situation 

 is like that of Maryland — embracing the great marine qudet of an 

 immense district, as much as possible of this adjoining district should 

 be given in one view ; and that the positions and relations of nat- 

 ural boundaries should be regarded ; however much or widely sep- 

 arated by civil or municipal distinctions. Hence, besides the ex- 

 treme verge of the Delaware Peninsula, is included also a part of the 

 Susquehanna ; and while the facilities for foreign communication and 

 commercial enterprize are exhibited on the one hand, a glance on the 

 other takes in the riches and resources, the growth and prospects of 

 the inland country of the west. The object was to shew how com- 

 pletely it is in the power of Maryland to secure whatever benefits 

 may be connected with so rich a carrying trade, as that which may 

 be made — which must be made to exist between the positions. This 

 has been, as far as possible, gained by a few additional square feet of 

 canvas ; while the hazard of making the map inconveniently large, was 

 more than compensated, it was thought, in the advantage of having 

 obtained this object. 



The extent of the map having been determined upon, it remained 

 to ascertain the most proper projection and the most convenient scale. 

 Admitting the defects attributed io flat maps, in which the meridians 

 as well as the lines of latitude are strictly parallel with one another, 

 in so comparatively small a portion of territory these defects have 

 been hardly operative j while the facility in securing accuracy in re- 

 ducing the original maps, compensated, it was thought, for whatever 



