New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-04-01
ADIRONDACK WILDERNESS.

ERED-THE HIGHEST SOURCES OF THE HUDSON
FoUND-FUTURE WATER SUPPLY OF OUR GREAT
CITIES.
The Legislature on the Esd Of May, 1872, passed an
act appointing Commissioners Of Parks for the State
of New-York and directing them to inquire into the
expedency of providing for yesting in the State the
title to the tmbered regions lying within the Coun-
tics of Lewis Essex, Clinton, Franklin, St. Law
renoe Herkimer and Hamilton. and converting them
into public park The Secretary of the Commits
sion, Mr. Verplanck Colvin. who had previously be-
come familiar with the Adirondack country began
survey of that region, $1,000 being appropriated
by the Legislature for the expenses of the expedi-
ton. The results of the survey embodied in the
report which Mr. Colvn has prepared for the inspec.
ton Of the Legislature and of which the following
is the substance:
Since the completion OF the primary geological survey
of NewYork there has not been attempt at an
exploration OF the whole Of the vast forest known
as the Adirondack Wilderness For almost all the exact
knowledge that possess Of the typography and phys
zeal character Of the region, indebted 20 Prof
Emmons and those who so ably assisted him. Through
them we rstiearned that whitefaoe Mountain before
time placed at about 800 feet above the and conse
Quenty supposed to be far inferior in altitude TO the
Catskis. really overtopped, by more than 1000 feet
those more famous and familiar mountains,
while, southwark towering amid the clouds, arose
sea OF submits grander and still moro magnificent
There guarded by the mountain peaks and ridges arose
Mt Marcy which, by barometer they found TO be 6,467
feet above the and there hidden lay Lakes Golden
and Avalanche long thought TO be the highest bodies Of
water eastward of the Rocky Mountains. This was
almost the first scientific exploration of the mountains
for though the Indian and white hunters had long
aversed the region, and mad, for the unvisited
submits, which many of them still retain-despte
subsequent renamingthe only recorded measurements
OF the mountains which is placed reliance, those
OF PrOfs Redfeld, Emmons. and Benedict, during the
progress Of the geological survey These attitudes
all taken with mountain barometer the last reported
measurements being made in 1892 and recorded in the
report Assembly Document No 90 for the year 1910.
The nights measured at that time few; two
mountain SUBMITS only-Mt. Marcy and the Owls Head
being recorded in the valuable report of Prof Bene
dict A few other SUBMITS were measured 10y other
Observers with the inferior of the day. and
TO many unysted mountains lying in the depths of the
wilderness estimated altitude given by guess,
a means Of comparison than exact state
ment Of their altitude Beyond this hypsometrical work
and the taking Of few magnetic bearings Of important
points. addition made to our knowledge Of the
topography; such a result to be expected the
Iabors OF geology requiring undivided attention.
PREVIOUS SURVEYS INCOMPLETE.
Since that period maps Of the wilderness region have
appeared generally compiled from the notes OF tourists
and the statements of hunters guides in which the
Publisher has often so mistaken his informant to
place mountains in the wrong towns counties
las in one nstance to make for three large and
magnificent lakes, where, in reality, but two exist
while thousand Of the most prominent features of the
wilderness, Handicapped mountains, Understanding
ponds and rushing streams, totally omitted Preyi
ousy to the granting of the appropriation for which this
report rendered, by continued exploration Of my
in this wilderness mass of typographical material had
been gathered. The general positions, names and
shapes of most OF the unmapped wrongly mapped
mountains lakes and rivers had been ascertaDed and
the general az @ o. even the
70 found upon these observations map OF the |
wilderness in its topography than any pre-
vOusly published, and consequently more useful;
contribution to the geography OF portion Of the State
known In the endeayor properly toLlocste on paper
this OF material the eravest were detected
points which had selected as Typographical centers
were found TO be themselves undetermined For in |
center OF the Adirondack range and the highest noun
tain 10 the State was found to have been estab
shed the place ofsthat great mountain landmark upon
the maps being miles distant from its real location |
Compass bearings had been found generally worthless |
and TO the local attraction probably attributable to the
great masses OF magnetic iron ore, so abundant among
MODE OF THE SURVEY.
In this condition of affairs the only resource was
triaDguatOn Of these semialpine mountain submits,
connected with known base The vastness OF such
al undertaking necessitatng the reraverslng of so
great an extent of wilderness the ascending Of numerous
several Of which have perpendicular hight
OF 5000 feet the abors and fatgues, the dangers OF
exploration in great Of woods Of accident and
OF hunger. can only be appreciated by the surveyor
passed through such ordeal There remained
therefore, but resource survey with theOdonte or
transit entirely independent Of the magnetic compass; the
object being heretofore stated the discovery
rigOnOmetrlcal measurement OF the reiaEe aueuaT
position OF the mountain SUBMITS ana other lmpoTtaht
for use in the S adg q sfe e
organize department Of hypsometry, In order that,
~ raasnrements could be ascertained and the
attitude numerous unmeasured mountains uscONereu
the nresent survey lbeng necessarily RAPID, would not
az Of altitude determinations by uigOnometry.
Ar some stations where signals were required 10 lhui-
h,s and black flags we're employed At others more
distant cones OF bright tin were used so paee1 as "
Dg me sun shines brightly may be DISTINGUISHED at
distance OF several miles sparkling IKE minute staIs
sne III the mountain SUBMITS however whose relative
If WAX desirable to locate were distant from the
DESIGNED point OF observation from % 70 % es, anu
Tore determined 10 attempt their location by the nght
observatiOn OF lights simultaneously Khd1e upon s t
suUmits The Oxy-hydrOgen or calcium Agnt al nIst
sneoesed was rejected entailing more expense tnan
was warranted, and as impractcaDie. ~ Wa Inos
AND i'm addition, ribbon wire OF the metal sum
procured with the hope I6S s snerTe the
pIrpOse as the calcium hight. copper Dos Mee p iU
vded for use upon nye o. hg fn SeT recepon in
the Being OF pure soft copper Iney wiz 40 NOW the
by Tes aaSte S" in this survey to such
other and further surveys as may oe npe1 etters
% srs cpt in the nattened heads of the bolts,
;oSether with the number Of the station.
FIELD WORK
The field work was commenced in the neighboThood OF
lake Pleasant Hamilton County in the latter part OF
Juy IT was intended that starting here IN the south
western portion Of those mountain ridges which form
the Adirondack chain the trisnguation shoulu DC au
apoed portheasterly station by station. 10 Lake Cham
IT'D and nerfect connection thus preserved through
ont The survey Typographical RECONNAISSANCE was
asnIIv made OF the neghborhOod Of Lake Pleasant,
erai man sketches secured and three EMANCIPATION
,tions made on the 3lst July assembled and barO-
metriUay measured Spectator Mountain. prV ti