"Look at the Map" - Pennsylvania System of Railroads
- Title:
- "Look at the Map" - Pennsylvania System of Railroads
- Alternate Title:
- "Look at the Map" - Pennsylvania System of Railroads
- Collection:
- Persuasive Maps: PJ Mode Collection
- Creator:
- Pennsylvania System of Railroads
- Other Creators:
- Poole Bros., Chicago, publishers
- Date:
- 1905
- Posted Date:
- 2024-04-25
- ID Number:
- 2410.01
- File Name:
- PJM_2410_01.jpg
- Style/Period:
- 1900 - 1919
- Subject:
- Advertising & Promotion
Deception/Distortion
Railroads - Measurement:
- 37 x 70 (centimeters, height x width)
- Notes:
- This map uses distorted geographic scale to suggest the apparent ease of shipping from the eastern United States to the west coast by the Pennsylvania Railroad and on to Asia.
The eastern U.S. is shown at a large scale to emphasize the Pennsylvania’s network of connections to Chicago, while the western U.S. and the Pacific Ocean are shown at a much smaller scale. For example, Chicago appears on the map to be much closer to New York than to San Francisco, although in reality the distance to San Francisco is more than 2-1/2 times that to New York. Similarly, San Francisco appears on the map to be roughly midway between Chicago and Japan, when in fact the trans-Pacific distance is almost three times that of San Francisco to Chicago.
The map itself is undated, but the verso contains detailed schedules and timetable information “corrected to June 18, 1905.” The verso also provides information on the “luxurious” features of “Special” and “Limited” trains from Chicago west (including “waiting maids,” barbers, and stenographers). Tourist guidance is provided about New York, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh and extensive information about Washington (e.g., “The New Congressional Library”).
The map was produced by Poole Brothers of Chicago, a firm organized by George A. Poole, who had earlier been one of the cofounders of Rand, McNally & Co. Poole’s firm was “the largest one in the United States exclusively engaged in transportation printing,” and its clients “included practically every railroad in the country.” The Inland Printer, vol. 62, no. 1, October 1918, p. 85 (“George A. Poole Passes Away”).
For other promotional railroad maps, including some using deceptive techniques, see Subject > Railroads.
Cornell University Library is pleased to present this digital collection of Persuasive Maps, the originals of which have been collected and described by the private collector PJ Mode. The descriptive information in the “Collector’s Notes” has been supplied by Mr. Mode and does not necessarily reflect the views of Cornell University. - Format:
- Image
- Rights:
- For important information about copyright and use, see http://persuasivemaps.library.cornell.edu/copyright.