478 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. V. No. 116. 



criticism, when the special aim of the publica- 

 tion and the space available are considered. It 

 is not so much the subject-matter contained in 

 the new magazine, or the dress in which it ap- 

 pears, however, as the future of the enterprise 

 and the demands of geography in America that 

 suggest remarks. 



If the teachers in our schools will support a 

 magazine devoted to the pedagogical phases of 

 geography there is certainly a broad field open 

 to Professor Dodge and his able associates, hut 

 unless the new magazine has such financial sup- 

 port as to be practically independent of the re- 

 turns received from subscribers, one can scarcely 

 expect it to be long-lived. Other geographical 

 magazines have germinated in this country, 

 blossomed for a short period and, for want of 

 financial support, died or passed to a condition 

 of 'innocuous desuetude.' There is nothing in 

 the appearance or character of the new effort 

 to indicate that it possesses greater vitality than 

 its predecessors. 



In addition to the geographic magazines re- 

 ferred to, at least six of the geographical so- 

 cieties of the United States are engaged in 

 publishing magazines and journals. None of 

 these publications are widely known or are 

 exerting an important influence on the develop- 

 ment of geography. None of them can be said 

 to have a high standard or to make a near ap- 

 proach to what may reasonably be considered 

 as an ideal geographical magazine. 



Instead of welcoming an addition to the 

 number of but little known and far from suc- 

 cessful publications already existing, with which 

 the Journal of School Geography claims a place, 

 it is for many reasons rather to be wished that 

 the number might be materially decreased and 

 the survivors strengthened. 



If our several geographical societies could be 

 induced to put aside what are considered local 

 interests and unite in issuing a single, strong, 

 well-edited and attractively-illustrated monthly 

 magazine, in which the proceedings of the 

 several societies could be reported and the best 

 papers read at the local meetings be published, 

 a great gain would certainly result. Such a plan 

 would do away with duplication in the printing 

 of reviews, current notes, etc. , and furnish the 

 members of the afftliating societies with a wider 



range of reading matter, probably with a de- 

 crease in expense, than is afforded by the 

 present system of multiple publication. An 

 American Journal of Geography, in fact as well 

 as in name, published under the auspices of the 

 geographical societies of America, would be 

 welcome in many libraries where scarcely one 

 of the present publications referred to finds a 

 place. The proposed magazine, being sup- 

 ported directly by several societies, would be 

 furnished to each of their members, thus secur- 

 ing a circulation at the start of at least 4,000. 

 The subscriptions of teachers and those inter- 

 ested in geography, but residing at a distance 

 from the cities where geographical societies 

 exist, would largely increase this number. A 

 section devoted to studies for teachers would fill 

 the place claimed for the journal that has just 

 appeared. 



The good that such a magazine as here sug- 

 gested might accomplish by reaching a larger 

 audience, furnishing them with more varied 

 and more carefully selected reading matter, and 

 by maintaining a higher standard than the ex- 

 isting geographical publications in this country, 

 would certainly be far greater than under the 

 present system. 



The proposed magazine might be placed 

 under the general management of the presi- 

 dents or secretaries of the affiliating societies, 

 but the responsibility for its appearance and 

 standing should rest with a paid editor. Pos- 

 sibly, also, compensation should be offered for 

 special articles in order to keep abreast of the 

 times and furnish opportunities to those who 

 could not afford to give their services. 



The deleterious results of diffused and fre- 

 quently antagonistic efibrts in publication, are 

 painfully apparent in the low grade of many of 

 our newspapers and popular magazines. This 

 almost inevitable result of multiple publication 

 may be avoided in geography by a union of in- 

 terests. Israel C. Eussell. 



COMPLIMENT OR PLAGIARISM. 



Now that Professor Halsted has made use of 

 three issues of Science to prefer and establish 

 charges of plagiarism against us, it may be well 

 to make a comparison of the charges with the 

 evidence as brought out in the discussion. 



