An unusual 19th-century map has recently caught my eye. This map of Asiatic Russia, compiled by Lieutenant Colonel Ilyin, contains the latest changes for 1866. It was printed in 1871, in St. Petersburg.
Scale in English inches to versts.
You can immediately see the inscription that the scale is in one English inch - 250 versts.
Why are different metric systems used?
If now we have maps in kilometers, then the ratio is taken to centimeters.
Yes, in tsarist Russia, by order of the tsar, the inch was also used. But we still use it when we choose a TV. At the same time, for a better understanding, the size of the diagonal is translated to us in centimeters.
Why don't we use inch-to-kilometer maps?
A verst consists of fathoms (in this case, 500 fathoms). Fathom is also divided into smaller quantities, such as an elbow, an inch, and so on.
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Why shove these English inches into versts?
There is only one conclusion - this map was drawn up using ready-made maps, therefore, the metric system was adjusted to suit the convenience of those who seized this territory. Pay attention to the inscription on the map: "Property of the Russian-American company."
Tab on the map with the marked possessions of the Russian-American campaign.
The accuracy and quality of the image of the outlines of the banks and river beds, speaks of the high-altitude observation of this territory. While on the ground, this accuracy cannot be achieved.
The postal road that runs through the whole country is by chance !!! passes through the same stations through which the railway will then pass. Moreover, even the names have not changed to this day.
Compare the names of the stations on the map and today.
But we must understand that the criteria for laying a postal road and a railway are very different. It will not always be possible to lay a railway where a postal or automobile road passes. Different slopes and cornering angles. There are also criteria, but today is not about that.
And if we assume that this road was already built by another state, which had its own maps. Then everything falls into place.
And Lieutenant Colonel Ilyin simply copied them and changed the ratio in scale.