84 Walker's Statistical Atlas of the United States, 
presenting the facts to the mind. In various branches of sci- 
ence, great gain has resulted by representing quantities in 
other ways than by series of numerals, especially by the use of 
oe areas, geometrical figures, curves, shades an 
color 
Uniil our last census, the results have been published in the 
numerical form only. In these reports, the Superintendent 
introduced a few plates by which certain generalizations were 
shown by comparative shadings or geographical maps. _ Their 
great favor. In fact, they made the desirability of more maps 
devoted to further illustration so obvious that Congress directed 
Professor Walker, the late Baperatehdent of the census, who 
had prepared them, to prepare a “Statistical Atlas.” Several 
portions of this work have alrea y been announced in this 
the Geographical and the Geometrical ormer ein bree 
maps, verona y shaded, colored or lined, fillmg 38 sheets 
Six of these maps are double-page size (22x80 inches), 25 of 
full single- pee and 84 of smaller size. 
Sixteen full- page woes are occupied by the geometrical illus- 
trations, on which a variety of devices are used and with most 
excellent effect. Ses by comparative areas and colors 
in squares and rectangles, sometimes by polygons of ingenious 
but simple construction, sometimes by circles and circular 
areas, and in a few cases by lineal curves, the whole disposed 
in 1208 figure 
The letter fei is of the same folio size, and besides the title, 
index and explanatory preface, consists of eleven “memoirs an 
discussions’ of two to nine pages each, prepared by nine 
authors and mostly upon subjects ane in the plates. They 
contain also a few cuts. 
t is not too much to say that this is one of the most instruc- 
tive publications ever issued by our government, and yet it is 
impossible to satisfactorily treat it in any written article. Pre- 
cisely as a painting cannot be described in words, so these sixty 
plates cannot be. Any such description will bear about the 
same relation to the original that a written description of & 
person (on_his passport, for spate does to-his photogra e 
rtrait. Sometimes these plates show an case of 
in such a way that their significance may be € easily s 
_ many, whereas if the same facts were merely stated in ie japan 
tabular form they would be understood by but few. Some- 
