In the ordinary course of human events it is not likely that a tack falling out of a map would be found to give warning that the map record is no longer accurate. The tack system using long projecting tacks may therefore contain unsuspected inaccuracies just because tacks may have come loose. The unpleasant suspicion that a map record may be inaccurate, because of the long tacks falling out, sometimes causes a man to abandon the tack system entirely, believing that it is not reliable enough to give data on which important decisions must be based.

Map and pin systems are of such tremendous assistance that they should not be condemned simply because the map pin itself has not been satisfactory. By using a short pin with a needle point and by having a backing for the map such that the needle point can be pushed in until the spherical head touches the map, we can secure a map system which is absolutely trustworthy. Since the pin is pushed in to its full length, a blow cannot dislodge it. The spherical head in contact with the map gives a very neat appearance, yet the spherical shape permits the fingers to remove the pin by straight pulling without any difficulty whatever. The smooth needle-point of good quality steel does not rust easily and it does not cut the surface of the map. When a pin must be removed, the hole is so small that it is scarcely noticeable.

MAPS AND PINS