GEOGRAPHICAL RESEARCH IN THE UNITED STATES 293 



eral wealth, have conducted geological surveys, or perhaps it 

 should be said geological reconnaissances. Two have conducted 

 topographic surve3^s and four have cooperated with the general 

 government in making topographic surveys. These four, Mas- 

 sachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New Jersey, as also 

 the District of Columbia, are now completely mapped on a scale 

 of one mile to the inch and in contours with a vertical interval 

 of 20 feet. 



The Post Office Dej^artment, for its own purposes in adminis- 

 tering the 70,000 post-offices under its control, com|)iles state 

 maps showing post-routes and political divisions. The bound- 

 ary lines shown on these maps are compiled from the laws and 

 b}'' correspondence, and constitute an authentic source of infor- 

 mation as to minor boundaries. 



Allusion has been made to the work of the Fish Commission 

 in studying the character, habits, and migrations of marine life, 

 and by its side should be mentioned the similar work on land 

 carried on by the Biological Survey in the Department of Agri- 

 culture. 



Of the great advances in geographic knowledge resulting from 

 the explorations of Lewis and Clarke near the beginning of the 

 century ; from the work of Fremont, the Pathfinder ; from the 

 Pacific Railroad surveys of 50 years ago, and from numerous 

 military expeditions, time fails for more than a bare mention. 



These, then, are the greater geographic agencies of the United 

 States. Some of them will be presented to you morp at large by 

 the gentlemen actually conducting the works outlined. 



As to the future, it will easily appear that the amount already 

 achieved is but a small part of what remains to be done. Geo- 

 graphic research and progress in the United States has never 

 been swifter or more active than it is today, and knowledge of 

 environment and resources is gathered in large installments each 

 year. To discover and develop its resources the United States 

 is now employing about 5,000 persons and expending nearly 

 $8,000,000 annually. Just as the Royal Geographical Society of 

 London begau sixt3'-seven years ago its work of fostering and 

 promoting geographic research, so the National Geographic So- 

 ciety of Washington nine years ago entered upon similar work. 

 Great and lasting good has resulted from each undertaking. 

 May their efforts continue till dark continents and unexplored 

 regions shall have vanished from our mans. 



