224 
BAKER. 
life devoted to the dative case regretted that he had chosen 
so large a field. “ I ought,” said he, “ to have confined 
myself to the iota subscript.” I will not deny—nay, I am 
persuaded that the specialization of which I speak is wise, 
that by it the welfare of the race is promoted. But while 
this is so, it should ever be borne in mind that specialized 
knowledge is not a substitute for general knowledge. It is 
something called for by the increased and increasing sum of 
human knowledge; but if by it the number of students of 
larger and unspecialized fields is greatly reduced harm may, 
indeed must, result. 
My purpose, however, is not to call attention to possible 
perils from undue specialization, for before this audience that 
is unnecessary. The subject has been discussed and is well 
understood. 
For many years my work has been along geographic lines, 
and this has led me to select as the theme for this annual 
address the Geography of the United States; notits mathematical 
geography, nor its physical geography, nor its political geog¬ 
raphy, nor its commercial geography, any one of which might 
be treated with more ease than the general subject. And yet 
a consideration of the whole field and a picture of the general 
progress made in the geography of the United States since 
its creation will, it is hoped, prove profitable—more profitable, 
indeed, if well done, than a more minute examination of a 
more limited subject. It is not uncommon when a subject of 
large scope has been chosen to hear the comment, “ He has 
chosen a large subject; ” and sometimes we think we see in this 
an implied opinion that the speaker shows either unwisdom 
or audacity in such choice. I will not deny that either or 
both may be true in this case, but will at once invite you to 
follow me in a most general review of a century’s progress in 
the diffusion of geographic knowledge in and as to the United 
States. 
It is not to the details or agencies by which our knowledge 
has been acquired that I would draw attention. This has al¬ 
ready been done many times. In the stout and repulsive black 
