Page:The National Geographic Magazine Vol 16 1905.djvu/224

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192
The National Geographic Magazine

rows; Mr Barrows, as a result of his special study of the people, has greatly reduced the number of tribes into which the Filipinos are usually divided; the admirable discussion of the Climate of the Philippines, by Jose Algue, Director of the Philippine Weather Bureau, and of the Volcanoes and Seismic Centers, by M. Saderro Maso, Assistant Director of the Philippine Weather Bureau; and a series of articles on the agricultural products and possibilities of the Philippines.

Another valuable feature of the report is the large number of colored maps and diagrams which picture in graphic form the facts obtained by the census. Among these may be mentioned a colored map of the Philippines, 21 by 32 inches; a contour map; maps showing the distribution of forests; the mean annual temperature; the mean annual rainfall, which shows that the rainfall on the eastern coast is more than double what it is on the western coast; the density of population; the distribution of civilized and wild tribes. This map is particularly valuable, as it is the first attempt to show the geographic distribution of the eight civilized tribes and the sixteen wild tribes; the areas invaded by cholera in 1902 and 1903; the distribution of tobacco, cotton, copra, etc.

Mr W. S. Rossiter, who designed the typography and arranged the illustrations, merits public congratulations for the exceeding good taste and artistic appearance of the volumes. He has introduced an innovation into government publications. The Philippine reports are bound in brown buckram, stamped in silver, and bear the seal of the Insular government. They are printed in handsome type, on laid antique paper, and the illustrations are well grouped and beautifully printed. Consequently the volumes do not wear that ugly, forbidding aspect which makes the usual government publication, however worthy, sink into speedy oblivion. It does not cost any more to publish reports in an attractive and presentable form, and it is far more satisfactory to the public and but justice to the author. It is unfortunate the edition of the work is so small, for every public and school library in the United States ought to have at least one set.

Gilbert H. Grosvenor.


COMMANDER PEARY'S NEW VESSEL

The steamship which has been especially built for Commander Peary's Arctic expedition was launched on March 23. Mr Peary appropriately named her Roosevelt, in acknowledgment of the great interest taken by the President in polar work.

The vessel is described as a "three-masted fore-and-aft schooner-rigged steamship, with auxiliary sail power." Her principal dimensions are: Length over all, 182 feet; beam, 35.5 feet; depth, 16.3 feet; mean draft with stores, 17 feet; gross tonnage, 614 tons, and estimated displacement about 1,500. Her model is similar to modern-built steam whalers, but rather more sharp, the particular features being her long, high, raking bow, overhanging stern, and general wedge shape at the sides, in order that she may be lifted free if nipped in the ice.

The steamship was built of white oak, the frames being treble and close together, with double planking, making the walls from 24 to 30 inches thick. The keel is 16 inches thick, but false keels and keelsons form a backbone projecting 6 feet under the entire length of the vessel. The bow is backed by 12 feet of solid dead wood. Her engine and boilers will develop 1,000 to 1,500 horse-power. Her cost when ready for sea will be $100,000. The funds for the vessel's construction were supplied by the Peary Arctic Club of New York.