Abstract
SCIENTIFIC geography did not form a prominent feature in the Geographical Section at Newcastle. As was right and proper in so important an industrial centre, it was evidently intended to devote special attention to commercial geography. The success was only partial. It will have been seen that the President, Sir Francis De Winton, devoted a considerable part of his address to pointing out some of the important practical applications which may be made of geographical knowledge. Again, one of the ablest and most instructive papers read in the Section was by Dr. Hugh Robert Mill, on the Physical Basis of Commercial Geography. A necessary preliminary, Dr. Mill pointed out, to the study of commercial geography is a full acquaintance with topography, especially with the names and positions of all commercial towns. A necessary accompaniment to the study of commercial geography is a knowledge of the ever-varying relations between regions of supply and demand, the incidence of tariffs, and the political and social conditions of countries. The physical basis of commercial geography, which underlies and gives unity to the whole subject, is a knowledge of the resources of the earth as regards the various existing forms of matter and modes of energy, the best means of separating, combining, and modifying these so as to produce commodities, and the way in which commodities can be best transported. Commerce being the artificial redistribution of the matter and energy of the world, a knowledge of the general properties and the unchangeable laws of matter and energy should take a chief place in the training of commercial men. A general acquaintance with this practical science, which may be termed applied physiography, or practical earth knowledge, ought to be possessed by all merchants, and a special branch should be familiar to each. Amongst the advantages which would thus be gained are:—(1) The merchant would understand the principles of the production and manufacture of his goods. (2) He would know in many cases, without aimless and extravagant experiments, where it is possible to produce any special commodity in great abundance. (3) He could, to a great extent, anticipate the frequent changes in staple commodities by knowing what other commodities it is possible to produce in the regions now yielding the staple only. (4) He would understand the best and shortest routes between trade centres. Illustrations and arguments showing the importance of these statements were given in Dr. Mill's paper, and a large map of the commercial development of the world was shown. Dr. Mill has thus done something to give
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The Geographical Papers at the British Association. Nature 40, 629–630 (1889). https://doi.org/10.1038/040629a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/040629a0