64: 7//<" AllKI'tCtni ( ri'olfXJtst. .Tilimar.v, 18!« 
Ciirry. IiilH^reiit ohjcetioiis to tlic form of ])ui)lication liere advanced 
art', liow ("viT, r('co<iiiiz«'(l. The i-('|)orl is of inconvenient size and 
shaj)e lor ready readinji and it cannot be easily carried about for 
reference. Still, tliese objections, though inclining one to an adverse 
oi)ini(>n on first thought, will, it is believed, ai)pear of less weight when 
all the other considerations are taken into account; this has been the 
experience with most of those who have been consulted and who have 
considered the matter." 
In reply to your objection that "common library shelves will not 
acconnnodate such a document," it seems to me that all collectors of 
books who make pretensions to liaving a library at all, must provide 
for the care of atlases and maps. Any broad shelf or drawer designed 
for this purpose will accommodate our publication. 
In conclusion I wish to repeat that this subject of systematic map- 
ping and the plan of publication is one which interests me very much 
and is one to which I have given a good deal of thought. No one is 
more anxious than am I to |)roduce truly serviceable maps and to 
publish them in the best form, all interests considered. I am, there- 
fore, glad to take this o))portunity of expressing, in some fullness, my 
reasons and conclusions. 1 liope that they may elicit, similarly, free 
discussion from others ; for it seems to me at the present time, when 
so much maj)ping is being done in various parts of the country and 
so much discussion on the subject is being entered into, it is par- 
ticularly important that all the pros and cons be considered and 
tluit a well established conclusion be reached for guidance in future 
])ractice. Airrnru A\'i.\si,o\v, 
.lr[i:-rs,,,i ail/. Xnr. Lj. ISHJ. State Geologist. 
Tin: Toi'oci; Ai'iiicAT, ^\'(>l;K oi riii: Xaiionai. (iEdi.ocicAi. SriiVKV. 
In the editoi'ial in the l»ecember number entitled the "First Decad 
of the Geologist," you say: "Tlie editoj-s have had untrammelled 
freedom, as individual editors, to write whatever they chose. Some- 
times tliey have found themselves at variance on views expressed, 
and they have had the jtrivilege to write counter editorials in rebut- 
tal of other views." In the November number of the Geologist was 
an editorial entitled 'The Topographical AVork of the United States 
Geological Survey." which was so entirely at variance with my views, 
that I beg you to insert the accompanying article by 'Mr. Henry Gan- 
nett, which expresses what in my opinion, is the exact status and 
value of that work. Whatever may be said concerning individuals 
upon the U. S. Survey, or the weakness alleged to exist in the other 
divisions, I believe the to])ographical niaj) is by far the most import- 
ant and useful work that could l)e accomplished for .\merican geog- 
raphy and geology. There can be no more humiliating confession 
than that our country does not possess a map of its simplest geo- 
graphic featui-es, and aside from all geological considerations, I think 
that the topograi)hical work should receive the loyal sui)port and 
friendlv aid of every American citizen. Furthermori'. I belii've that 
