RAILROAD HISTORY
   
No. 188 Spring-Summer 2003

Forgetting St. Louis and Other Map Mischief
By Gregory P. Ames
Is this map the missing link between the distorted land grant map and the distorted railroad map? Andrew Modelski, formerly of the Geography and Map Division of the Library of Congress, thinks so. Printed in 1856, this map uses different scales to exaggerate the amount of property up for sale as part of the Illinois Central land grant.
The special power of maps to create reality was used in this 1944 Erie ad to persuade viewers that the road's direct route led to important places. The Erie was especially adept at missing major population centers.


 
 
Railroad History is issued by The Railway & Locomotive Historical Society.
Published since 1921.

© 2004 Railway & Locomotive Historical Society