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Just ran across a newspaper article from 26 April 1855 in which Henry F. Walling indicates that the competition for county maps was fierce between Philadelphia and New York/Boston publishers. The map of Franklin County mentioned here was published by Walling in 1857 as "Map of the Counties of Franklin and Grand Isle, Vermont." His Vermont map appeared in 1860. The Philadelphia parties would have included Robert P. Smith and James D. Scott, both of whom were canvassing Vermont during the mid-1850s. The full article appeared in the St. Albans Messenger on 26 April 1855: "New Map of Franklin County Henry F. Walling, State Engineer of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, is now engaged in the preparation of a large and accurate topographical map of the State of Vermont, and, in connection with that work, proposes to prepare a map of Franklin County, from Instrumental Surveys throughout the entire county, to be completed and published as soon as is compatible with accuracy. Every road to be carefully surveyed by course and distance, and the location noted of all the hills, ponds, marches, streams, mills, churches, school houses, shops, dwellings, and other buildings or localities of importance and interest. Enlarged plans to be added in the margin of all the principal villages in the county, or a large scale so as to show every building distinctly. Names of property owners to be inserted; also a large Geographical Map, showing the different formations of rock and minerals throughout the county, and containing information of great value to agriculturalists and others. – The map will be handsomely colored and mounted, and furnished to subscribers at $ 5 per copy. As parties from Philadelphia are about the county, publishing county maps from mere eye sketches, and entitled to no confidence as accurate topographical maps, all citizens interested in the matter are cautioned not to subscribe in advance for a county map, unless they are assured that it will be what it is represented, and as in many places gross misrepresentations have been made, the statements of irresponsible persons should not be received without sufficient evidence." Jefferson M. Moak Archivist National Archives - Mid-Atlantic Region _______________________________________________ MapHist: E-mail discussion group on the history of cartography hosted by the Faculty of Geosciences, University of Utrecht. The statements and opinions expressed in this message are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the University of Utrecht. The University of Utrecht does not take any responsibility for the views of the author. List Information: http://www.maphist.nl Maphist mailing list Maphist@geo.uu.nl http://mailman.geo.uu.nl/mailman/listinfo/maphist
