The Geographical’s Good Road Map of Virginia

A pretty bad ‘Good Road’ map of Virginia.

This ‘Intermediate Series’ map of Virginia was published in Chicago by the Geographical Publishing Company, probably between 1910 and 1920. According to the covers, it was designed to function as a road map, identifying the best routes for motoring using ‘editorial data secured from official sources only.’ The result leaves something to be desired.

There are a few dark lines connecting Virginia’s major urban centers (see Charles City to Richmond for a good example), but there is little to distinguish between roads and railroads apart from small labels on some of the latter. An inset of Norfolk in the upper left adds electric railroad lines and canals, adding further to the transportation mishmash.

The Intermediate Series maps were adopted by the Geographical Publishing Company to suit a wide variety of purposes, including real estate, education, and advertising. This is one of the firm’s less-effective examples, but reflects the widespread contemporary interest in the automobile.