Kronika. Geograficzno-statystyczny atlas Polski

Summary

Edward Maliszewski's review critically assesses Eugenjusz Romer's recent geographic publications, including the second edition of the Geograficzno-statystyczny atlas Polski and the census study of the former eastern borderlands. The author notes that while Poland's independence stimulated state-building, geography and regional research remained underdeveloped. Romer's atlas, though comprehensive, is criticized for relying on deliberately falsified statistics from the partitioning powers. The map of Polish population distribution (plate X) undercounts Poles in central Lithuania and contradicts the newly added plate XI, while the latter underestimates the Polish share in Eastern Galicia. Plate XV misinterprets Russian landownership data, leading to absurd percentages. The transport map omits all railways built after 1914, and forest maps are unclear. Moreover, numerous place names are distorted, both in the atlas and in the companion work, with the Central Statistical Office uncritically repeating the errors. Despite these shortcomings, the author acknowledges that the Polish Congress Atlas, also edited by Romer, provides useful and interesting material for public education. The review concludes that meticulous verification of statistics and toponyms is essential for such works.