House Documents Vol. 89 [Georgia, Texas, Hawaii]

Fascinating bound collection of government reports and maps from the early 20th century.

This awesome collection of maps, charts, diagrams, tables of statistics, and correspondence was published in Washington, D.C. by the Government Printing Office in 1902. It contains a variety of miscellaneous reports prepared for distribution to members of the House of Representatives. Of notable interest are the following:

Final Report on Survey of Brunswick Outer Bar, Georgia by Brigadier General John M. Wilson, Chief of Engineers of the U.S. Army. 55 pages of text are accompanied by approximately 30 folding nautical surveys and profile views.

Estimate of Appropriates, Territory of Hawaii by L.J. Gage, Secretary of the Treasury Department. 10 pages of text and financial figures are followed by eight folding diagrams. These show a variety of improvements across the territory, officially established in 1900 after a U.S.-backed coup d’état. Examples include new wharves in Honolulu Harbor, the clearing of native fish ponds in Hilo Town, and a new post office (with separate rooms for Native, Japanese, and General deliveries).

Survey of the Brazos River, Texas, from Its Mouth to the City of Waco by Brigadier General John M. Wilson, Chief of Engineers of the U.S. Army. 10 pages of text and tables of depth soundings, with cross-sections of proposed locks and dams and a large folding map of the river between Waco and the Gulf.