New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-01-09
TIE ADIRONDAOKS.


THE WATERSHED OF THE STATE-PLACE FOR A
PARK.
In TIE TRIBUNE of April q some of the leading
points of this report were presented. Since then it
has passed through the hands of the State Printer,
and is now ready for issue. The following extracts
will be found of general interest:
The operations Of the Adirondack survey, as at pres
Ont in progress, greater less extent from
to five thousand square miles Of the wilderness re-
giOn OF northern New York. Few fully understand what
the Adirondack wilderness really is IL is a mystery
even to those who have crossed and rclrosed 1t by
boats along avenues tho lakes and foot through
It's vast aud silent recesses following the long CHASTITY
lines OF bazed marked trees, which the daring
soarcher for the fur Of the sable or the mink has
chopped IN order that no may hnl bis way
again that deep AMI often desoate forest Though
the geographical center OF the wilderness may DO
readily aud easily reached tho Light canOeke boats
OF the guides by lakes and rivers which form lazy
rDth Of passages for boats; the core. or rather
cores, Of this wilderness extend either hand
from these broad Of water, and in their interior
remain to-day spots untrOddeD by and ~ unknown
and Wild when the Indian alone padded his birchen
boat upon those and lakes. Amid these noun
tain sOlituies places at this moment where in all
probability the foot Of man never trOd; and here the
panther has his den among the rocks and his
age kittens undstur ed by the growl OF bear or
screech OF lynx the hOnre croak OF raven taking It's
share OF the carcass OF slain deer OF tins region for
hundred years more civilized man has held the most d
verse opinions. Since the first settlement OF NewTork
there nave constant endeavO to clear and cultivate
it, and crumbng buildings upon its margin, here and
there are Of wasted effort, squaudered capital,
and ruin These unfortunate attempts az settlement ort
mated in wild and fso statements made by land specu-
laOrs as TO tho richness and fertility OF the region
All this wasted labor be directly traced
TO the low state OF knowledge or the
science OF the atmosphere and of climatoloGy The
people of those days did not know that practically IN
agriculture, every thousand feet OF elevation
was equivalent in climate to ono or two de
grees Of north latitude; or, more plainly, that
IL the lands Of q market gardener near New-York
ind himself in climate like that of Montreal Canada.
the Spring perhaps month or more later IN coming.
and Winter like that Of labrador. The hight Of lands
above tidelevel becomes measure or their climate,
aud consequently OF their value for agricultural pur-
poses aud thus the hypsometrical work OF hs survey
every hight Indeed above sea-eye that is determined
becomes practical value to the farmer or cultyatOr
notcal econ mit who desires u estimate the capacity
If fhe state or cortiOn OF it. for the production OF
food Thus barometer, which IN Ls early days was
02v instrument OF abstract scon0y mas come 70 Ue
practically valuable in another branch or n.nsn III
dustry, showing where money and labor would Dc
wasted In vain efforts nv the agrlcuturst.
INSTRUMENTS AND INVENTIONS.
Durngthe first half or the season we were some days
entirely driven from our work by Toient nur
rIcanessweepnG the submits Of the MOUNTAINS; and
the last expedition we carried with us portable
anemOneter being determined, II no other wOr should
at sucn times be possible TO measure the velocity OF
siUgularly violent mountain hurricanes. L also
had constructed boat OF my own invention for
in the int rior OF the wilderness, on such Of the
mountain lakes were inaccessible To boats and which
IL would be necessary to map This boat peculiar
no more frame beng needed than could he readily cut
thirty minutes in the first thicket. IL twelve
feet long with thin sheet brass prOws rYeted so
fitted to receive the keesOn, prov pieces and ribs
(ot boughs), when required; the canvas being made
waterproof, with pure rubber gum dissolved in
naphtha rubbed ;nto II. (rhe report also describes
vented by Mr.. COlyin and used In tho survey1
BY holes punched IN the edge of the tin the are
and passing from the upper corners OF the signal
suspend It from loose wire or metal collar which en-
circles the uph0ldng central post &C point where has
a circular notch. Being thus loosely swung. and sup
ported by light wooden framework it antly in
motion with every gust OF wind that sweeps mountain
summit, throwing steadily, in every conceivable dlrec-
ton, the most brilliant CLEANS OF light Ii has proved
alta distance Of II miles. Without its aid we should
have been unable 10 have accomplished our WORK To
this automatic reflector have given name OF stan
hello signal, and take pleasure IN Introducing ii into
Typographical engineering. In an early part Of the
died it with rifle balls az to render il useless guart
had To be left Tor the projection or new ono during
several days.
MOUNTAIN EXPERIENCES.
IL was quarter To y. m. wnen shed the summit
OF the Gant-othe-Valey. Before us spread vast
and grand but gloomy depth OF scenery. AT our feet
cliffs 1000 feet IN hight fell away gray maplike pic
ture, as chill and silent rs world deserted and left
vacant by the time that ave had completed the baro
metrlcal observations indicate for the Giant
hight Of 1880 feet-tle than 800 feet below the
hight OF Nj Marcy-the sun mad set Adyison OF opiu-
asserted that was too late TO descend. We had
not particle OF water, the work had been exhaustive
and our thirst was becoming uncomfortable This decided
the question, and we resolved TO descend TIL found
water. on the trall-in darkness-descending
cfs-acrOss holes and ehasms-on dead fallen iimOer-
feeling not seeing, We made our way down to water, %
narrow SWIFT ril shooting down over the rocks and
preclplces. We, crept down amid danger which
we often suddenly felt when 1t was almost
too late to recoi Our pocket lanterns-when
was at hoerty-were OF great assistance. It was !
O'Clock in the morning when the moon came to aid
and We emerged from the forest, having successfully
effected descent.
on Aug 10 the porers witnessed from the summit
SURPRISING the famed specter the Brocken Tue gor-
geOus sunshine streaming the distant crro-cumuus
with surprise our mingled shouts arose. for on the
breast Of the cloud each his own form the head
matte colors, the renowned " Uloas rings" which that
philosopher Dehed from the summit OF the Pambamarca
Not one OF the mountain guides had ever seen or heard
Oi such sight before IL WAS gone all too quickly yet II
seemed as though nature reveling ia spendOrs |
tam crags was uncurtaned torn. rugged. aud Wild
above an which rose Ta-ha'wus, Ceaver OF tho |
Clouds"
Reaching Oven Lake-another large new lake not on |
maps-we took few harometrical observations from |
which the altitude Is computed at 2025 feet above tide
Ihs lake was nearly frozen TO the center but after ferry
ing us acr0ss-we having first cut way through the
cetwo OF the guides concluded that they would rather
Dreak their way with boat through the ice the length OF
the lake than carry the baggage and boat throu1h
the dense tangled forest full fallen timber and thick
cts feeling confident OF their ability 10 do this they
were permitted to proceed For time they dislanceI
Tor while we had orept slowly along shore they
had advanced nearly to the center OF the lake Hare Il
was ther misfortune 10 strike thick ioe. and crush
large opening In the boat below waterine Attracted
Dy heir shouts We descended to the shore to men,
stores, everything IN danger or loss Unable assist
them We coud only shout enoOuragoments. BY quickly
shlng tho baggage TO tue stern they brought cash
Ia getting out and orng draw boat upon
H. No saw with agitation arst eno aud then tae 0Iaer