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

While we account it among the honors OF
the present century that we have equipped
numerous and costly voyages of discovery 10
Central Africa and to the Polar regions, we
might have found equally prolific fields Tor
exploration much nearer home. 1t was but
few months ago that the actual source of the
Mississippi was discovered by an enterprising
newspaper man wandering about In canoe.
To-day we announce the discovery OF the
highest source of the river upon which this
city stands. A little lake in chasm between
two peaks on the south side of Mount Marcy,
and 4293 feet above sea level, is described IN
the report of Mr.. C0lvin, which we print else
where, as the highest water in the State, and
the true source of the Hudson River.
The report describes an attempt, in great
measure successful, at fixing the topography OF
the Adirondack region, by triangulation. 1t
reveals an ignorance heretofore existing as to
this locality, which, considering its proximity
to us, is certainly astonishing. The assertion
might be made with perfect safety that the
face of the moon, 100000 miles away from us,
il mapped with far greater precision of detail
and measurement, than the Adirondack Wild
erness, 200 miles off, has been hitherto. Near
Lewey Lake, for instance, dryly specified as
can unsettled point, situated further in the
forest than Lake Pleasant, there is noun
tain where the maps show nothing but
level plain. On ascending neighbour
ing mountains, this peak towers above
them. The snow lies Oh it late in the Spring,
and hence the great unknown is called by
hunters Snowy Mountain. Measurement shows
1T as 1850 feet high. We have not space to
enumerate the discoveries of lakes and ponds
hitherto unknown or wrongly described. The
size and number of these objects are, how
ever. very considerable, and it does really
seem remarkable that there could be such
ignorance about their existence.
The enterprise which has resulted in this
survey is of kind that cannot be too highly
commended. Only the bare expenses of the
expeditions seem TO have been covered by the
State appropriation, and they were for the
most part 4 labor of love. Most of the de-
examinations effected were ascertained by
astronomical means, and so large were the
differences from former and partial surveys
that they indicate a probability that In many
cases the land recorded as bought and sold in
one county must have been within the lines of
another. Our readers will recolect that it was
one of last years boasts of the United
States Coast Survey that the actual po-
sition of q Western city was discovered to
be three miles distant from that laid down on
previous maps. We are assured that there are
far greater disparites to be settled in Northern
New-York There is urgent need for attention
of our legislators to the requirements Of this
region. 1t is gradually losing the small settle
ments of hunting population that were scat
tered through it, although in certain localities
there is a considerable accession of visitors in
Summer. Through some parts of it, for reasons
as yet obscure the finest forests slowly dying.
From other parts the trees have been burned,
principally by the carelessness of hunting
parties who leave a fire anywhere even In the
droughts of Summer. This needs, perhaps,
special legislation, as fires have the effect
there Of burning up all the SOIL which is a
mere vegetable humus leaving only black
ened rocks whereon nothing will grow for
ages. Whether, as the report suggests, the
Adirondacks are to be the source of our flu
ture water supply, seems at the present mo-
nent an interesting but rather distant specu-
latiOn.