PREFACE.

WITHIN the last decade and a half there have been offered to American purchasers numerous works of reference possessing high merit, and which were therefore widely and generally acceptable. These works, however, suffered in common under one disadvantage: they had been prepared, primarily, to command the attention of European readers, and they were consequently marked by the limitations which this fact imposed. Among these works may be mentioned Chambers's Encyclopædia, unsurpassed in certain departments, especially that of Oriental information; the Ninth Edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica, begun in 1875, and furnished to the American public in three forms, and which probably has had a greater circulation in this country than any other work of reference; and, thirdly, the new and illustrated editions of the Conversations-Lexikons of Meyer and of Brockhaus-the former completed in 1878, and the latter begun in 1882-which have had an extensive sale amongst those who speak German as their vernacular or have acquired it as part of their scholarship.

The ENCYCLOPEDIA AMERICANA is designed to answer the popular demand for a work of moder ate dimensions, which should supplement and accompany the great Encyclopædias of this class, completing them in particulars where they appear deficient, and bringing down to the latest date their statements and descriptions.

It is not to displace these and similar works of high value that the ENCYCLOPÆDIA AMERICANA has been undertaken. Its aim is to complete them for the use of the reader of the present time. It essays to present to him, in a form worthy of comparison with the best of the extended and elaborate works, such additional matter, and especially such American articles, as will make any of them more satisfactory and more serviceable, supplying for him what they, designedly or otherwise, have omitted, and adding what has come into view by the lapse of time since they left the press.

In the development of this plan large space has been given to articles on American geography, natural history, scientific research, and whatever relates to the vast resources, the rapid development, and recent increase in our knowledge of the continent. It has been designed to meet the new awakening of interest in American history, sociology, and archæology, to furnish information on biographical and legal topics, and to present-for the first time in a general encyclopædia—a clear and concise but exhaustive treatment of the history of American political parties. Many other topics distinctively American-the religious denominations and benevolent institutions of the country; its great natural resources; its agriculture, so different in many respects from that of other countries; its industries, evolved from and adapted to the circumstances of a new and rapidly-developing country; its enormous deposits of coal; its remarkable growth of railroads; its progress in invention and adaptation of electricity and other natural forces to various novel purposes; its construction of bridges and aqueducts; its banking, and other features of its finances, etc., etc.-receive particular attention, and are treated with the utmost elaboration consistent with the plan of the work.

It seeks, moreover, to meet the American demand for the latest information about peoples, countries, inventions, and discoveries. It includes in its biographies accounts of living men of eminence, as well as of those who have died since recent works of reference, which exclude biographies of those living, were begun. It gives the latest events in the histories of continents and nations, the latest results in exploration, travel, and archæological research. Some special fields have been opened. Scandinavian biography, generally neglected, has had the oversight of one of the most eminent authorities in the literature of that region. In America, especially, the interest in this department is advancing rapidly, not only through the circulation of the works of writers such as Björnson, Ibsen, and Jonas Lie in translations, but through the great immigration from Scandinavia having brought us some excellent scholars and authors who are not content to have their native country and its notable men and books remain unknown to the country of their adoption.

It is confidently believed that this extensive range of subjects has been so managed as to give the work a high value, both as to its general plan of a companion work and as to its independent use. In some departments, notably those of American States and great cities, most of the articles are not only full and brought down to a near date, but they are prepared with such care, and with access to so many new sources of information, as to render them the best attainable authority on the subjects to which they relate. It is anticipated, therefore, that the reader will find the ENCYCLOPÆDIA AMERICANA Supplying his wants as a supplementary and additional work, and commanding his appreciation at the same time as one distinct and independent.

In justification of these views the Editors refer to the list of contributors elsewhere given. Desiring to produce a work that would sustain comparison with those which it is designed to accompany, the effort has been made to secure the treatment of each important topic by a writer whose familiarity with it certified the value of his statements; and the degree of success achieved in this will doubtless justify the claim that the completed work fairly represents the scholarship and literary ability of the country. The several articles, so contributed, cover a broad field of knowledge, and as treated by their several authors they are naturally indicative of the individual minds that produced them; but all have been held to, and no doubt have scrupulously observed, the rule of a sincere and unqualified fidelity to the truth. There are some instances the most prominent of which are probably the articles referring to the Scriptures-in which it has been thought that adherence to the rule stated made it needful to present different conclusions from those given in certain articles in the Encyclopædia Britannica, but this step, taken under the compulsion of the special circumstances, it has very seldom been found necessary to repeat.

The Publisher feels that he is under obligation which should be acknowledged to many contributors who have kindly given him assistance in various particulars, and especially to several who have had an oversight of special departments.

It is expected that the whole work will be included in four volumes of about the same size as the present, and that a second volume will appear before the end of the present year.

PHILADELPHIA, September, 1883.

*** The marginal references attached to a portion of the articles in this volume relate to the volume and page of the ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA (Ninth Edition), where a further article on the given subject will be found.

LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS TO THE ENCYCLOPÆDIA AMERICANA.

VOLUME I.

This list embraces the names of those contributors only whose names are signed (by their initials) to articles in the present volume. The unsigned articles may be ascribed, in most instances, to the more immediate and personal work of the Editor and his Assistants.

Where two or more contributors have the same initials, a distinction has been made in printing them, which will enable the reader to assign to each his own work.

Those gentlemen whose names are designated by an asterisk (*) have exercised more or less editorial supervision in their respective departments.

Rev. LYMAN ABBOTT, D. D., New York, Editor of The | NOAH BROOKS, The New York Times.

Adams, Charles Francis.

Prof. G. C. CALDWELL, Cornell University.
Agricultural Experiment Stations.

CHARLES A. ASHBURNER, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania H. K. CARROLL, The Independent, New York.
Geological Survey.

Agricultural Geology.

Adventists,

Annihilationists.

Rev. E. H. FAIRCHILD, President of Berea College, Ky. J. E. KEELER, Allegheny Observatory, Pa.