The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1855-12-12


The top Of i..,. Mitchell. the barsmeter stood
25...s inches. At the highest point, which I
reached precisely at l2"'clprk, or twohours
and Sc minutes later, it was $3.50 inches.
remained on the top until o'clock. without
perceis ing any change. Taking each 81 these
10 hundredths at this altitude, TO represent
IL feet. there would be difference OF 209
feet, in favor Of the latter peak. At Ashc-
willie. from o'clock tple, (the time when
he closed the bank,l Mr.. Mcdowell saw no
change whatever in his barometer. Dr. fos.
der observed hisat 10 o'clock, at IL o'clock,
and at Q o'clock, without any change, what
ever. being pcrceptibie. Neither observed
his barometer at a later hour than have in
Dictated above. found, however, at o'cioEk
in the evening on my return to the house
had left at s O'clock in the morning, there
had. in the interval Of 10 hours, been fall
of 10 hundredlhs. independently OF the
fact that neither gentleman saw any change,
during the morning, in his barometer, have
reason to believe that the fall took place IN
The afternoon. because it became somewhat
cIoudy. and from the circumstances that the
barometer continued to fall slowly tor two or
three hours later in the evening. II, howev-
err. part of this fall should be taken to have
occurred during the morning, between the
hours Of 9 and IL o'clock, i would some
what reduce the altitude Of the highest peak
aboye MI. Mitchell, but would still show u
10 be higher. from l40 TO 200 feet. Of the
fact of its greater elevation, no one Will
doubt who visits them both on the same day,
provided il be clear enough to allow them to
be seen in connection with the other noun
tains around.
Until. however, had attained the highest
mimi. | did not feel altogether sure but that
ono Of the other peaks, Immediately north
Of n might not be equally, or nearly as high.
II bannens. however. that the course OF the
RIDGE northward was directly towards the
aRoan." mountain that for nine miles OF
IL Ienuth has nearly a uniform height, as
certained by DR.. Mitchell TO be 6,lo7 feet
above the sea, or more than 500 feet lower
than the Black. As il direction Is nearly at
right angles with the line from my position
10 II. portions Of il were beyond the highest
noints az the northern range Of the Black
Thus though il was distant nearly so miles
IN direct fine, and though It was more than
500 feet lower than the spot on ~nlch slooui
vet portions Of i were visible directly Over
these points. Having been there more tnan
.once, / saw clearly that the line oil VISION
passing the top of any one q the peaks o.
The Black would have struck u below tn'
crest of its ridge. What was still more sat
isfacfory TO me was the fact, that these thfe'
points Of the Black appeared TO the eye y
have about the same elevation, being alinos
hut not quite in line with each other. Th'
northern, or most remote one, at the termi
nation of the mountain, near Burnsvile, wa
aseertained. by Prof. Mitchell, to be go Zee
lower than the "Roan." II was distant iron
me about miles, and though much lowe
than was, vet appeared as high as the near
er points; making it clear, therefore, tina
IAN below aiiy Ttirr ln"me,S.aYs tnit..did no
l was in this way fully satisfied that tn
ground on whirh stooi was higher thai
any Of these points.
| NAV remark, in confirmation OF the bar
ometricaI measurement, that, when one
standing on the top OF Mt. Mitchell, Will
the peak visited appears the highest OF al
above the horizon, the remote ones are stIl
visible, and nav be seen still IN connection
with the "Roan,n bat appear to rise consl'l
erably above IL. Taking the indications Q
the barometer to BE- correct, as observed b
me. and assuming the height OF Mitchell
Peak to be 6,6.2 feet, the other would b
6.sgl feet above the ocean. But accor,lin
10 The surveys for The line Of the extension
of the Western Railroad, as detailed in th,
report Of Major Gwinn 70 the Legislator,
az our State, IN December last, and whcl
were brought within one mile and quartz
If Asheyille, the height u this place, meal
the square where the Court House stands
is $3.50 feet above tide water. This surve,
corresponds 10 it, results with one made ma
nv years ago by the Charleston and Cinein
natl Railroad company. Therefore, 90 fee
should be added to DR.. MitchePs estimate o
The height Of this place. which would Civ
his peak an elevation Of 6,.j2 feet, and u,
higher one. hat of 6.94i feet. For the rea
sons already stated. the height Of the latte
NAV be subject 10 some deduction, but no
20 an extent 10 effect materially this esii
mate. Nv object, however, is not 20 muel
10 prove i absolute height, a. 10 show tia
IT e1celled any point as yet measured. am
l.a,e to the more competent the task d DC
iermining tie precise altitude. There
nu duubt whatever, but that Il IS the highes
portion of The Black Mountain, and that poin
II Lard. east of The Rocky Mountains, has
ing tie greatest altitude shove the sea. 4
Il has never. 10 my knowledge. been desig
mated by any particular name, description
al it. position Is necessary to identify IT,
n one should travel along the top Of u
ridge FROM Mt Mitchell. 10 northetly di
re,tisn, less than half mile will brin
HIN 10 at. Gibbs" 50 called from The FAC
that il was measured bt Prof Gibbs, Of Char
lesion, :. G., few wears since. lhase bee
Informed ihsi - estimated II a. being fee
higher than Mitehel's Peak. Il there Be
difference in the elevation of the two point
il probably does not exceed that stated B