6 AREAS OF STATES AKD TERRITORIES. 



By this adjustment the area of the United States proper is increased 

 over the Census Office figures by 1,188 square miles, or about three 

 one-hundred ths of 1 per cent. 



The question, "What constitutes the area of the United States?" 

 is by no means a simple one. Jurisdiction extends to a line 3 

 nautical miles from the shore, but this strip of sea can not properly 

 be regarded as a part of the country. Supposing our country to be 

 restricted to the sea and lake coast, there remains a question regarding 

 the bays and estuaries. To what extent should the coast line be fol- 

 lowed strictly, and where should we begin to jump across the indenta- 

 tions made by the sea? In this matter one can only follow his own 

 judgment, making in each case as natural a decision as possible, as no 

 definite criterion can be established. This applies also to those States 

 bordering the sea and the Great Lakes. 



The method of measurement may be characterized in a few words. 

 The areas of all square degrees included entirely within a State or the 

 United States are taken from tables of such areas. Where a square 

 degree is crossed by a boundary line, so that only part of it is included, 

 both the part included and that excluded are measured from the best 

 maps by planimeter, and the correctness of the measurement is tested 

 by comparing their sum with the tabular area of the square degree. 



The entire boundary of the United States has now been mapped or 

 charted with accuracy, so that, aside from uncertainties due to the 

 interpretation of the coast line, there can be little or no question as 

 to the correctness of the measurement of the country as a whole. 

 The situation as regards the individual States is not so satisfactory, 

 however, although the boundaries of most of them are now well 

 mapped. Certain States are bounded by parallels and meridians, and 

 the ascertainment of their areas is merely a matter of reference to 

 tables of areas of square degrees, assuming that the boundary lines 

 were accurately run and marked in accordance with the statute. The 

 boundaries of a few of the States, however, have not been accu- 

 rately mapped, and it is probable that changes wiU be made in the 

 computed areas of these States. 



The area of Alaska, measured in this office from the large Coast 

 Survey chart, is subject to considerable modification in the future as 

 the position of the coast line becomes better known. 



The area given for the Philippine Islands is that determined by the 

 Coast Survey of that archipelago, prepared at the instance of the 

 Philippine Census and published in that report. It also is subject to 

 modification as accurate charts of the archipelago are made. 



The areas of Hawaii and Porto Rico are probably subject to onlv 

 slight change, as the charts from which they were measured are quite 

 accurate. 



