All but the south and north ends of Manhattan Island is shown. Astoria, the Bronx, and the inner-end of Long Island Sound, are visible in the distance. The coast lines have been made by subsidence of the land, and the drowning of stream valleys. Ships from Boston, and points north, usually enter New York harbor through the "sound".
Looking north, from 20th Street to beyond Randolph Street. The Chicago Drainage Canal, its source in Lake Michigan and its north and south branches are well shown. Water flows from Lake Michigan through the south branch of this canal into the Mississsippi River, and ultimately into the Gulf of Mexico.
The Hudson River and part of Manhattan Island are seen on the right. Railroad terminals and docks in the foreground. Hackensack Meadows (a former bay, now filled with silt, up to the level of high tide). Such swampland in the edge of the ocean is called "salt-marsh".
The business section of Chicago, and the lake front from 20th street, northward. The Illinois Central railroad tracks and terminal. Field Museum, and the Municipal Pier, are seen on the right, Soldier Field, on the right, is in course of construction. Lake Michigan.
The inner bay, docks, railroads, Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, Governors Island, and ferry boars, are prominent. The financial section of Wall Street is plainly visible.
All of Manhattan Island, together with part of Brooklyn, Governors Island, East River, the bridges, Hudson River and part of Jersey City are plainly visible.
Los Angeles, the metropolis of the Pacific states, is several miles back from the coast. A few years ago the people wanted a harbor, so they annexed a small port called San Pedro, improved the harbor, and are now carrying on an immense trade with other countries. (Excellent photographs of Los Angeles may be found in National Geographic--1934, Volume 66, page 538--July-December).
Tank ships at dock, railroads, oil tanks, etc. Formerly there was a large ocean bay here; but mud and sand from the surrouding streams soon filled it up to the level of high tide, except for a few tide-water-channels which the tides have kept open. These channels are used for the harbor.
A general view of the business section and a large part of the residential section, looking north. The mountains to the north of the city are plainly visible.