NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 
A GOLD MEDAL 
WILL BL AWARDED BY 
The National Geographic Society 
to such pupil in a public high school in the United States as shall compose 
and submit by October 15, 1896, the best original essay, not exceeding 
2,000 words in length, on the Mountain Systems of the United States. 
A Certificate of Proficiency will also be awarded for the best essay 
received from each State, provided such essay is of sufficient merit to 
justify the aw'ard. 
Essays will be received only from such public high schools as formally 
announce their intention to compete by May 31. 
All competitors will be required to make a formal certification on honor 
that they have not received aid from any person in the composition of 
their essays. 
The Adjudication Committee consists of General A. W. Greely, Chief 
Signal Officer, U. S. Army ; Dr. T. C. Mendenhall, President of the Poly- 
technic Institute, Worcester, Mass., and Prof. W. B. Powell, Superintendent 
of Public Schools of the District of Columbia. 
EVERETT HAYDEN, 
Washington, 1515 H Street N. W. Secretary. 
THE BEST ROUTE 
To CALIFORNIA, 
PACIFIC COAST, 
PUGET SOUND, 
— 
POINTS IN THE GREAT NORTHWEST 
IS VIA THE 
UNION PACIFIC 
“Tme: overland rouxe,” 
From either KANSAS CITY, LEAVENWORTH, ST. JOSEPH, COUNCIL BLUFFS, 
OMAHA, or SIOUX CITY. 
Tile Great Merits of tills l.liie are Hiillmaii Palace Sleeping Cars, Buffet 
Hbrarj' ami Smoking Cars, Piillinan Dining Cars, Pullman Tourist 
Sleepers, Klegant Day Coaclies, Union Depots, Fast Time 
PUL 1 L.MAIV DINING CARS are run daily between Council Bluffs and Denver, Council Bluffs and 
Portland, and San Francisco, Kansas City and Denver. 
PUUL.MAN TOURIST SUKEPKRS run on the Union Pacific are almost equal for comfort 
and convenience to the First-Class Pullman Sleeper. 
For more complete information relative to this line, time of trains, pamphlets descriptive of the 
country traversed, etc., call on your nearest ticket agent, any agent of this system, or address 
R. TKNBROFCK, General Eastern Agent, 387 Broadway, New York City. 
E. DICKINSON, Gen 1 Manager. E. U. LOMAX, Gen’l Pass, and Ticket Agent. 
Onialia, Nebraska. 
