GEOGRAPHIC MISCELLANEA 373 



"The Geographic Board of Canada," which was created December, 

 1897, to bring ahout uniform usage and spelling of geographic names in 

 Canada along the lines followed by the " U. S. Board on Geographic 

 Names," has recently published its first annual report, covering the cal- 

 endar year of 1898. The report, which is mainly a history of the organ- 

 ization of the Board and a statement of the rules of nomenclature that 

 will be followed, contains a list of some 600 names approved by the 

 Board. 



While recognizing that forecasts based upon legitimate data cannot be 

 regularly made for a period greater than forty-eight hours in advance, the 

 Chief of the Weather Bureau is encouraging the forecast officials to give 

 to the public all information regarding unusual and severe types of weather 

 permitted by their reports and experience. During periods of intense 

 heat or cold or in the presence of drought or continued rains, information 

 bearing upon the indicated duration of existing conditions is at times of 

 incalculable value to the agricultural and commercial interests and also to 

 the public at large. 



The Alaskan parties that have been in active operation since July 1 

 have made material progress on the hydrography of the Yukon River 

 bar and on the topography of the Copper River country. Detachments 

 are also operating in the vicinity of Stuart island and Scammon bay, the 

 former developing the 3-fathoin curve around the island and through the 

 passage between it and the mainland, and the latter making an examina- 

 tion with special reference to a harbor in the vicinity of Cape Dyer. 

 Some of the Alaskan work is reconnaissance and of a preliminary nature. 

 Most of it bears on the important question of shortening the sea route to 

 the Klondike. 



The War Department has in contemplation a general improvement of 

 the roads and highways in Cuba, and orders will be issued shortly to 

 General Brooke at Habana, directing him to secure reports from the dif- 

 ferent department commanders on the condition of the roads in their de- 

 partments and the probable cost of improving the same. In several of 

 the departments roads are already in existence, but they have become 

 almost impassable because of neglect and lack of use. Within the past 

 six months several improvement companies have started the cultivation 

 of farms in Cuba, but as they have been handicapped by the condition 

 of the roads, the work has been carried on at a great disadvantage. 



The Grand Duke Vladimir of Russia recently opened on the Lapland 

 must a new port, Catherine harbor, which will probably prove of great 

 commercial importance as a depot for the hide trade with Siberia. It is 

 situated at the extreme north of the Russian possessions, where by a 

 strange freak of nature the Gulf stream keeps the water open during the 

 winter, while the more southern ports remain closed by ice. The plan 

 contemplates the development of the immense timber area adjacent to 

 this region. The famous ice-breaker Yermak and other vessels of the same 

 type arc expected to ply between Catherine harbor and the mouths of the 

 Obi and Yenisei rivers, 1,500 miles to the east, and keep the sea route 

 open during the summer. 



