ween
the Atlantic seaboard and the Pacific Coast States led to the building
of the Northern Pacific and Great Northern Railways. But when these were
thoroughly organized, there unexpectedly resulted a new trade-route that
already is drawing traffic away from the Suez Canal and landing it at
Asian shores by way of the ports of Puget Sound. It is a repetition of
the adjustment that occurred when the opening of the Cape route to India
transferred the trade that had gathered about Venice and Genoa to the
shores of the North and Baltic Seas.

In other words, a new order of things has come about, and the world and
the people therein are readjusting themselves to the requirements made
upon them by commerce. And so at the beginning of a new century,
civilized man is drawing upon all the rest of the world to satisfy his
wants, and giving to all the world in return; he is civilized because of
this interchange and not in spite of it.

The necessity for instruction in a subject that pertains so closely to
the welfare of a people is apparent, and an apology for presenting this
manual is needless. Moreover, it should not interfere in any way with
the regular course in geography; indeed, more comprehensive work in the
latter is becoming imperative, and it should be enriched rather than
curtailed.

In the preparation of the work, I wish to express my appreciation of the
great assistance of Principal Myron T. Pritchard, Edward Everett School,
Boston, Mass. I am also much indebted to the map-engraving department of
Messrs. The Matthews-Northrup Company, Buffalo, N.Y.

J.W.R.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. GENERAL PRINCIPLES 1

II. HOW COMMERCE CIVILIZED MANKIND 7

III. TOPOGRAPHIC CONTROL OF COMMERCE 17

IV. CLIMATIC CONTROL OF COMMERCE 29

V. TRANSPORTATION--OCEAN AND INLAND NAVIGATION 39

VI. TRANSPORTATION--RAILWAYS AND RAILWAY ORGANIZATION;
PUBLIC HIGHWAYS 62

VII. FACTORS IN THE LOCATION OF CITIES AND TOWNS 81

VIII. THE CEREALS AND GRASSES 88

IX. TEXTILE FIBRES 105

X. PLANT PRODUCTS OF