Notes and Correspondence. 



77 



in Washington early in the month, and to have social sessions in 

 New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Chicago, with a final 

 session, in conjunction with the World's Congress of Science 

 and Arts, in St. Louis. It is provisionally planned also to pro- 

 vide an excursion from St. Louis to Mexico, and thence to 

 points of geographic interest in western United States and 

 Canada. 



"A preliminary announcement is in press, and will shortly be 

 issued to officers and members of geographic societies in all 

 countries, and to geographers who may express interest in the 

 Congress and its work. Details have been intrusted to a com- 

 mittee of arrangements made up of representatives from geo- 

 graphic societies in all parts of the United States. The officers 

 of the committee are : Dr. W. J. McGee (Vice-President Nation- 

 al Geographic Society), Chairman; Mr. John Joy Edson (Presi- 

 dent Washington Loan and Trust Company), Treasurer; and 

 Dr. J. H. McCormick, Secretary. The office of the committee 

 is in Hubbard Memorial Hall, Washington, D. C, U. S. A., 

 where communications may be addressed." 



Description of a Light, Compact Arrangement of Bedding and 

 Personal Effects for a Camping-Trip. 



I have been asked to describe the outfit which I use for pack- 

 ing my bedding and personal effects when on a camping-trip 

 where it is necessary to economize space and weight. My per- 

 sonal baggage consists of two pieces, — one a roll of bedding, 

 twenty-eight inches long, ten inches in diameter, weighing less 

 than ten pounds; the other a canvas bag, twenty-eight inches 

 long, fifteen inches wide when empty, and when full weighing 

 even less than the bedding. 



The bedding consists of a large eiderdown quilt, on one 

 side covered by a sheet of the lightest calico, of a color which 

 will not crock ; on the other by a sheet of light but firm tan- 

 color canvas, both sheets merely basted on with strong thread. 

 Along the edges and bottom of the canvas strong tapes are firmly 

 sewed at intervals of a foot or less in opposite pairs, so that they 

 can be tied together when it is desired to turn the quilt into a 

 sleeping-bag. There is a great advantage in this on a warm 

 night ; for the heat becomes intolerable in a close bag ; but in 

 this can be alleviated by untying the tapes and allowing the 

 cooling air to enter. Listead of tapes, large safety-pins might 

 be used, but they are liable to be lost, while the tapes, if well 

 sewed to the canvas, will last as long as the bag. Upon the 

 return from the trip I always rip off the calico and have it 



