B. Franklin Edmands

“ The face of the country is distinguished by lofty mountains and extensive lakes. Among its rivers are found the largest in the world.
Most of the metals, minerals, trees, plants, and fruits found on the other continent, are produced in abundance here, and many of them in greater perfection. The climate of America is found to be ten degrees cooler than the climate of the other continent in the same latitude.
EUROPE is the smallest of the divisions, but is distinguished above all the others for its advancement in military power, and in civilisation, science, and literature. ”

“ Arabia is almost wholly a desert country, with a hot atmosphere, and is unfit for the residence of man, except along the coasts of the Red Sea and Indian Ocean, where the soil is fertile, and yields wheat, corn, barley, tobacco, dates, and oranges. This country is famous for producing the best horses in the world.
That portion of Turkey which is in Asia, is beautifully diversified with fertile plains, mountains, and valleys. The climate is excellent. Grapes, mulberries, wheat, barley, and tobacco, flourish here. The population is composed of descendants of various nations ”

“ What would be the course of a ship in sailing from the Galapago islands to the mouth of the Amazon river? [Pg 58]
South America is an exceedingly rich and fertile country, producing in abundance gold and silver, and the necessaries and luxuries of life.
The most prominent feature of this country is the range of mountains which extends through the western part from north to south. The region to the west from this range is an immense plateau, elevated twelve thousand feet above the level of the sea; owing to this elevation, this tract enjoys a cool and healthy climate. ”

“ England is one of the most beautifully diversified countries in the world, and possesses a fertile soil, which is cultivated in the most perfect manner. The climate is moist, and subject to frequent and sudden changes; but the extremes of heat and cold are not so great as in New England. Tin, copper, lead, and iron, are found. Her coal mines are so productive that they supply fuel for the whole country, and immense quantities for exportation. ”

“ The European race (which includes the inhabitants of the United States and all descendants of Europeans in every part of the earth) is distinguished from the other by the regularity and symmetry of their features and by their complexion, which is white mingled with red; they have straight hair. In warm climates the European complexion takes a swarthy or brown color; but the original color, viz. white and red, always prevails in the complexion of the infants of this race in every climate. ”

“ Oregon Territory extends from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean. This great region is also chiefly in possession of the Indians, although there is an American settlement on the Columbia river, called Astoria. Exertions are now making to induce people to emigrate from the States to this part of our country, which is said to be a healthy and fertile region, and to offer superior advantages for commerce and manufactures. ”

“ The Latitude of a place is its distance in degrees, &c. north or south from the equator, and is expressed in figures on the sides of the map. Latitude can never exceed 90 degrees.
The Zones are portions of the Earth’s surface divided by the tropics and polar circles. There are five zones, viz. one torrid, two temperate, and two frigid zones. See Map of the World, fig. 1.
The Torrid Zone is included between the tropics, and is distinguished for extreme heat, and luxuriant vegetation; the climate is generally unhealthy. ”

“ New Orleans is the commercial capital of that richest country in the world, through which the Mississippi and its tributaries flow. This city is unhealthy during the warm season, but enjoys a most excellent situation for commerce and trade. The introduction of steam boats has contributed greatly to the growth of New Orleans, by affording an expeditious mode of communicating with its back country. Its inhabitants are a mixed race of French, Americans, Spaniards, and Germans. ”

“ The chief characteristic of the ocean, is the saltness of its waters, which renders them disagreeable to the taste, and unfit for the use of man. Thus mariners are often, although surrounded by water, in danger of perishing from thirst, when their supply of fresh water has been exhausted, while they are yet at a great distance from land. ”

“ This section of the United States is distinguished for the industry of its inhabitants, and for being the most populous part of the Union. Great attention is paid to agriculture and commerce.
The features of New England are mountainous; and the soil is various, producing in abundance, grass, grain, and a variety of fruits. Its climate is salubrious.
There is probably no place in the world where education is so widely spread through all classes of the people; there being schools in each town, supported at public expense. ”

“ The southern parts of Norway and Sweden have a broken and sandy soil; the harvests are precarious, and the rearing of cattle is practised with considerable success. These countries are celebrated for their forests, which produce vast quantities of pine and fir lumber for exportation. Tar, pitch, hemp, tobacco, and flax are produced.
Russia is the largest empire in the world. It is a level country. The climate and soil are necessarily various. The northern parts are cold and barren, and the southern, peculiarly fertile. Hemp, flax, grain, iron, tar, and furs, are exported in large quantities. ”

“ Pennsylvania has engaged more extensively in internal improvements than any other State.
Harrisburg, the capital, is pleasantly situated on the Susquehanna River, and contains an elegant State House.
Philadelphia is the most regularly laid out and well built city in the Union. The streets generally intersect each other at right angles, and the principal ones are 100 feet wide. The inhabitants are extensively engaged in manufactures. The commerce of this place is large, and according to the amount of its exports is the third commercial city in the Republic. ”

“ The bottom of the basin of the ocean has irregularities, similar to those seen on the surface of the land; and, if the waters were dried up, would present to view, mountains, valleys, and plains. Islands are therefore, the flattened tops of mountains, situated in the midst of the sea. Immense masses of rocks are found in many places under the water, and often rise so near the surface, that they are dangerous to navigation. ”

“ Its inhabitants are principally descendants from the Dutch, who first settled the state.
The city New York is situated on Manhattan island, at the mouth of the Hudson river; and from its commodious bay and other natural advantages for commerce, seems destined to rival all the commercial cities in the world. This city contains many elegant buildings, and beautiful parks. Its population embraces some of almost every nation on the earth, who congregate here in pursuit of wealth. ”

“ This State includes a surface larger than that of England. The soil of the Eastern coast is sandy and the climate unhealthy; while the interior parts are fertile and healthy, and inhabited by a race of men, very vigorous and exceedingly tall. The Virginians are hospitable, and are noted for cherishing their talented statesmen.
In amount of commerce Virginia, though first in size, ranks only as the eighth State. Wheat, corn, and tobacco are the most important articles of export. ”

“ The longest and largest river in the world is the Amazon, in South America. It is more than 150 miles wide at its junction with the Atlantic ocean. The body of water is so great that it constantly flows into the ocean, and is not affected by tides. The commotion caused by the meeting of the tide and the current of the river, sometimes renders navigation dangerous.
The longest rivers in North America are the Missouri and Mississippi.
The longest river in Asia is the Kian Ku. In Europe, the Volga. In Africa, the Nile. ”

“ If the power of an emperor, or of a king, be limited by law, the government is called a limited monarchy; if there be no legal restraint to the will of the sovereign, it is called an absolute monarchy. ”

“ In this country, owing to the influence of heat and moisture, the soil is exceedingly fertile. The productions are nearly the same as those of Hindostan.
China is celebrated for its immense population, for the ingenuity of its numerous manufacturers, for its many canals, for the great antiquity of its laws, and for its reserve and jealousy of the people of other nations. The chief productions are cotton, rice, and tea; and all the necessaries of life are cultivated. Tea and China ware are the principal exports. ”

“ In no country do desert and fertile lands come in so close a neighborhood as in Africa. The northern part along the Mediterranean has a fertile soil, but immediately south is the great desert which is entirely devoid of vegetation. In other parts of Africa fertile spots may be found, on the margin of streams, or scattered in the midst of the almost uninhabitable Desert.
The most numerous class of inhabitants are the negroes, who inhabit almost the whole central and western parts of the country, except the Desert of Zahara. ”

“ Iron ore is abundant—copper, lead, coal, and freestone are found in considerable quantities. Manufactures of iron, cotton, and leather, are carried on to a considerable amount.
Trenton is the capital of the state. It is situated on the Delaware river, and is on the great route of travel between New York and Philadelphia. It is celebrated as the scene of one of the most brilliant battles fought by the Americans during the revolution. Princeton is also noted for a battle.
Newark contains more inhabitants than any other town in the state, its population being about 11,000. ”

“ There are many colleges and academies, and schools are general throughout the State. Internal improvements are gaining the attention of the people.
Mounds of earth are found in many places, the origin of which cannot be ascertained. These mounds appear to be forts, and are supposed to have been built by people who lived in this country before the present race of Indians.
INDIANA.
This state is nearly similar to Ohio in its climate, soil, productions, and inhabitants. The northern part of the State is level, the southern part broken and hilly, and there is much timber land. ”

“ The paths of the planets and comets round the Sun, and of the satellites round their planets, are called their ORBITS.
Those stars which always appear in the same situation in relation to each other are called Fixed Stars. About 1000 can be seen at once by the naked eye, and by the help of the telescope many millions may be seen. Their sizes are little known, but probably some of them are many million times larger than the earth. They are not considered a part of our Solar System, but are supposed to be Suns of other systems, round which other planets revolve. ”

“ The distinguishing characteristic of this section of country is the extensive system of internal improvement by means of canals and railroads, by which the prosperity of those States is much promoted. Railroads are laid down on the most level routes between the places to be connected. They are formed by rails of iron laid on a foundation of stone or wood. The wheels of the carriages are made to run upon these rails, which being smooth offer little resistance, and make it easy for a small force to move an immense weight. ”

“ MOUNTAINS, RIVERS, OCEAN, ISLAND, &c.
MINE. GROTTO.
This cut represents, in a striking manner, the mines and caverns as they exist under the land and ocean. The mine here exhibited, is a picture of a salt mine in Poland, Europe. The grotto is under the island Antiparos in the Mediterranean Sea. A mine is a cavern made by man, in digging for the articles found in the earth. A grotto is a cavern formed by nature.
Physical Geography, or Geography of the Earth, is a description of the earth’s structure and surface. The surface consists of two elements, viz, water and land ”

“ Possesses a mild climate and fertile soil which is under a high state of cultivation. Manufactures of cotton, woollen, linen, iron, wood, and tin, are carried on with great activity and ingenuity in this State. General habits of sobriety and industry are the characteristics of the inhabitants, who are generally well educated, much attention being paid to schools. Connecticut and Massachusetts have furnished more emigrants to the western states than any other section of the Republic. ”

“ Spain and Portugal are so favored by nature, that by industry and good government, they would soon be the most productive countries in the world; but through the indolence of the inhabitants, and the government of despotic rulers, they are degraded, weak, and ignorant. ”

“ Among the great variety of school-books which have recently been published, few are in our opinion more valuable than the Boston School Atlas. As an introduction to the study of Geography, it is preferable to any work of the kind with which we are acquainted. ”

“ MINERALS. The earth contains many mineral substances beneath its surface, which are useful to man. These substances are dug out, and thus immense mines are formed. Gold and silver are obtained in great quantities in South America. Iron, the most useful of metals, is obtained in various parts of the world. Annexed is a representation of the iron mine at Dalmora, in Europe. ”