Proceedings - Staten Island Institute of Arts and Sciences (Volume 4-7) (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1914. Excerpt: ... An Old Text-Book on Geography by a Local Author1 William T. Davis This is a duodecimo volume of 363 pages and numerous maps, which latter are, of course, of general interest to the student of political geography, as are all similar illustrations issued eighty or more years ago. To us, however, the work also possesses a local interest. On page 66, for instance, may be found the following brief description of our island: "Staten Island, lies west of Long Island, from which it is separated by 'the Narrows'; it is about 14 miles long and 8 broad. The surface of the island is hilly. The highest hill is called 'Mount Tompkins, ' from Daniel D. Tompkins, formerly Governor of this state, and Vice President of the United States. The island contains the town of Castleton, in which is the village of Tompkinsville, situated near the shore, and is the site of the Quarantine and Health establishment of the City of New York. Staten Island constitutes the county of Richmond." This particular copy was presented by the author to John C. Thompson, grandfather of the present writer, and it possesses an added local interest by reason of the author's having probably prepared the manuscript of the work while residing on the island. Mr. Clutc was principal of the Tompkins Academy at the time when the geography was published, as may be learned from the following advertisement, which may be found in the New York Free Press of Saturday, May 25, 1833: 1 The School Geography by John J. Clute New York Published by Samuel Wood & Sons No. 261 Pearl-Street 1833. Presented in abstract at the meeting of the Association January 15, 1915. TOMPKINS ACADEMY. At Tompkinsville, Statcn Island. 1'HE next term of this Institution will commence on the 15th inst. The or-der of studies as follows...