PHYSICAL ATLAS OF NORTH AMERldA. 369 



As these skeletons are Avanted for immediate distribution to commence new 

 collections, as well as for the assembling and reduction of information already 

 obtained, they should at once be lithographc d, the engraving of the originals 

 being deferred for the present. As however, lithography does not possess the 

 requisite qualities for finished work, I would not recommend the drawing itself 

 to be made in the first place upon stone. Certain sections of the country where 

 the topography is already sufficiently established, might, indeed, at once and 

 with economy be engraved. The discussion of these questions, however, will be 

 properly referred to the officer to whom the sujiervision of the work is committed. 



The maps designed to illustrate the natural and physical sciences, should 

 not, at least in the first instance, exhibit political boundaries, roads, or a greater 

 amount of nomenclature than is necessary to prevent error in location, and 

 that should be chiefly confined to the names of rivers and natural landmarks ; 

 but the parallels and meridians should be displayed. No two subjects should, 

 on any account, be included in any one map of either class. 



It is needless here to specify all those subjects, and in fact many will doubt- 

 less hereafter suggest themselvt's, which would occur to no one at present. 

 In their final shape, one set should, of course, give the topography of the con- 

 tinent with the utmost practicable accuracy, minutiae being however confined to 

 those of particular sections. The map of the country west of the Mississippi, 

 accompanying the Pacific railroad surveys, is an instance of the disadvantage 

 of multiplying details on a general map, the most important part of it being 

 rendered practically useless through this error. A bold and simple style of 

 topography should be adopted for all. 



On the maps being ready for distribution, each department of the government 

 should be supplied Avith copies to be issued to such officers as it may designate. 

 Contributions should be sought from the Bureau of Engineers and the ^Medical 

 Bureau of the army, from the Coast Survey, the Census Bureau, that of Agricul- 

 tin-e, of Indian Affairs and others, as well as from the National Academy of 

 Science and learned bodies generally through the country, from expeditioiasand 

 surveys, and from individuals pursuing special scientific investigations. 



As the atlas is to include the Avhole continent, with its adjuncts, it will of 

 course be proper to solicit co-operation in its execution not only from our own 

 countrymen, but from Russian and British America and from Mexico. Full 

 credit should be given in each case on the maps themselves to the source whence 

 their contents are derived, while the Institution, as originating the Avork, and 

 bearing the expenses of its preparation, reserves to itself the title of "The 

 Smithsonian Atlas." As soon as any map or series of maps in any branch or 

 department is completed, it may at once be published and sold at a cost sufficient 

 to defray the expense. 



The maturing of the skeleton plan in the study of projections, scales, style 

 of topography, and the districts of country to be embraced in the regional maps, 

 should be submitted to a single person, familiar with the surveys that have been 

 mide of the country, and at least grounded in the different natural and physi- 

 cal sciences. The war, now drawing to a close, will undoubtedly detach from 

 active service a number of officers of the Engineers, including of course those 

 formerly engaged on the surveys west of the Mississippi. A connection with a 

 work of this magnitude and importance would naturally be an object of ambi- 

 tion, and I believe that its supervision by one of them would readily be permit- 

 ted by the Secretary of "War and by the chief of that bureau. If the United 

 States, as we all trust, is now to enter upon a new career of mental as well as 

 physical advancement, it becomes us to anticipate the directions in which sci- 

 entific inquiry can be pushed. 



I have the honor to be, very respectfully, 



GEORGE GIBBS. 



Professor Joseph Henry, 



Secretary Smithsonian Institution. 

 24 s m 



