366 Penjield — Use of the Siereographic Projection for 



ously shown by the test of the polyconic map, pages 350 and 

 351, where only two measurements are too low, and by a like 

 test on another large map of the United States (unknown pro- 

 jection), where, on measuring the same distance, only three 

 results were found to be low. It was a labor well worth what 

 it cost to show that, on a stereographic map embracing an area 

 as large as the United States, measurements may be made with 

 a scale of miles (taking no account of corrections) with errors 

 seldom exceeding ten miles, and averaging only about five. 



It seems to have been taken too much for granted that 

 accuracy in map projection is a matter of minor importance. 

 As stated in a recent publication,* "accuracy is the one virtue 

 that cannot possibly belong to a flat map." This statement 

 impresses the present writer as being far too sweeping, since 

 there may be accuracy in the projection of the meridians and 

 parallels ; accuracy in delineating the continents and locating 

 places ; and, provided the stereographic projection and protrac- 

 tors are used, accuracy in determining great circle courses and 

 measuring distances. To be sure, the shapes of continents can 

 not be just the same on a flat surface as on a sphere, yet by 

 means of the stereographic projection they may be shown with 

 so little distortion, or with distortion of such a character, that 

 the eye scarcely detects any change of shape. In the teaching of 

 geography accuracy may be made a feature of map making and 

 map reading, and that this is not more generally done is largely 

 because geographers and teachers have been accustomed to use 

 methods which, to say the least, are not the best, and in some 

 cases are known to be poor. Why should it be recommended 

 to draw maps upon a system of lines, equally spaced and at 

 right angles to one another, erroneously designated, perhaps, 

 as a projection of meridians' and parallels? Scholars taught 

 such methods may gain some facility in outlining continents, 

 but the completed map will not look just as it should, when 

 the country mapped is compared with the same country on a 

 globe ; moreover, such maps are quite useless for many of the 

 purposes for which they are intended. It may be said that 

 where such methods are followed scholars are taught to ignore 

 accuracy. On the other hand, supply pupils with sheets upon 

 which parallels and meridians based upon the stereographic 

 projection are printed, teach them to outline countries and 

 locate places with exactness, to construct scales of miles for 

 maps of limited area, and test their work as to its accuracy, and 

 something of importance has been learned. In the upper 

 grades of high schools and academies, where mechanical draw- 

 ing is taught, stereographic projections of the meridians and 



t The New Basis of Geography, loo. cit., page 157. 



