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Sierra Club Bulletin 



Sanchez, at page 278, an account of the origin of the name is given. 

 The river was named in 1805 by a Spanish exploring party, in honor of 

 three wise men — "El Rio de los Santos Reyes" (The River of the Holy 

 Kings). The account also includes a quotation from Gen. Fremont to 

 the effect that he found the river called by the few Americans in Cali- 

 fornia "Lake Fork," but that all of the Mexicans called the river "El 

 Rio de los Reyes." 



It appears that Mount King was named for Clarence King of the Cali- 

 fornia Geological Survey. 



Topographic Maps 

 The topographic map of the United States which is being prepared and 

 issued by the United States Geological Survey, and with which most per- 

 sons are familiar in the form of "atlas sheets" or "quadrangles," is now 

 only about 40 per cent completed. At the present rate of progress, only 

 about 0.8 per cent of the total area of the country is being mapped each 

 year, and, with the revision which is necessary on maps already issued, 

 nearly a century will be required for the completion of the work. At the 

 suggestion of Professor W. M. Davis, Professor Emeritus of Geology, 

 Harvard University, there has recently been formed a "Committee to Ex- 

 pedite the Completion of the Topographic Map of the United States." 

 This committee proposes to do whatever it can to hasten the completion 

 of the map and asks the aid of all interested parties. 



The number of topographic engineers in this country who are qualified 

 to do such mapping is limited; hence there cannot be indefinite expan- 

 sion of the Survey's activities in this direction. But the present staff 

 could be considerably increased if more funds were available for the 

 work. Aid can be lent to the project by securing larger appropriations 

 from Congress and from the legislatures of the states which are co-oper- 

 ating with the Survey. 



The members of the Sierra Club make much use of the maps of the 

 Survey, and should therefore be greatly interested in "expediting the 

 map." Will not the members take it upon themselves individually to 

 lend aid in this campaign by writing to their representatives in Congress 

 asking for favorable consideration for the Survey's requests for appro- 

 priations ? Further information can be secured by writing to Professor 

 A. E. Burton, secretary of the committee, Massachusetts Institute of 

 Technology, Boston, Massachusetts. Tracy I. Storer 



Walking Trip Between Lake Tahoe and Yosemite 

 Any persons desirous of taking a two-weeks walking trip between Lake 

 Tahoe and Yosemite, During July, August, or September, may find it of 

 interest to communicate with Mr. and Mrs. Richard Michaelis, Corte 

 Madera, Cal. 



