62 HISTORICAL SKETCH

The Topographical Engineer during the year 1836 was repeatedly
engaged in the conduct of special surveys which had been author-
ized by distinct resolutions of the Legislature, so that he was still
further retarded in the prosecution of his work upon the state map.
Among the maps prepared and published by the Engineer in his
annual report, however, is a detailed map of the Frostburg region and
another of northern Frederick county as the basis for a proposed rail-
road from Frederick to the Pennsylvania line. A topographical map
of Calvert county with part of Anne Arundel, upon which the State
Geologist entered much geological information, was also published in
the same report.

Impressed with the impossibility of prosecuting the topographical
survey under existing conditions, Mr. Alexander, in a letter to the
Governor, recommended a postponement of the work upon the new
map of Maryland until it could be undertaken in connection with the
U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey in accordance with the plan of co-
operation which had been earlier effected with Professor Hassler.
Mr. Alexander still continued, however, to prepare special maps for
the reports of the State Geologist between 1837 and 1840, and also
compiled an admirable topographical map of the state upon the scale
of 1: 200000, with 50-foot contour lines to the east, and 100-foot
contour lines to the west of the Monocacy river. This map was never
published in full size, but two manuscript copies, beautifully executed
by Alexander himself, were prepared. One of these was deposited
in Annapolis, where the author of this chapter has up to the present
time sought in vain for it; the other is in the possession of Mr. J. J.
Alexander of Baltimore, the son of the Topographical Engineer. The
boundaries of the geological formations were indicated upon these
maps as well as the localities for the following useful mineral pro-
ducts, viz.: " iron, chrome, copper ores; alum clay and pyrite; potter's
clay; soapstone and stone paint; granite, syenite and gneiss; marble,
hydraulic limestone; slate, sandstone, coal. " The date of this map is
not stated, but it was probably completed shortly prior to 1840. This
map of Alexander's was so much the best extant during the Civil
War that soon after the 19th of April, 1861, General Scott ordered