The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1875-02-02
THE ADIRONDACKS.

UtSCTipttOU " tUt tCttucfU UtNS, Us MUItH-
iains and lakeS-t The true source ofMe
HudSon- crtent ofM explorations.
The operations OF the Adirondack sur
vey under Mr.. Vcrplsnck Colvin, as re-
ported by him in accordance with the law
of the legislature of the state Of New
York, is narrative reple:ed with inter-
estng information. 1t contains detailed
account of all the operations, extending
from July IL until December 3. 1878,
descriptive of the instruments used, the
signals, assistants, guides, plan Of field
work, general summary of results, hypso-
metrica, etc. mountain passes available
for railroads, photography, new'y.mapped
lakes, sources of the Hudson, tabular
statement of the approximate value Of the
principal watersheds, boundaries, county
lines and cores made, triangulation, and
astronomical work reconnaissance maps,
geology. and Adirondack park. Thus it
may be inferred that the report is very
exhaustive and elaborate
The survey covers TO a greater or less
extent from 1000 to S 600 square miles
of the wilderness region of Northern New
York, While the method of map sketch.
ing in the field gives in the character of o
military Typographical reconnaissance, it
is essentially geodetical survey, the
greater measurements being trigonometri-
cal, vast and intricate system Of tri-
angles having been extended over the in.
terror Of the wilderness In this respect
the work is independent Of any Of the
previous partial and inaccurate compass
surveys; and having been connected with
the great geodetical work of the United
States coast survey. at numerous points
during the season, the region has now for
the first time been placed on maps in the
true proportional geodetical connection
with the rest Of the world forming the
first trigouomclica survey Of any portion
Of New York under legislative assistance
and authority.
The survey was originally an explora-
ton and Typographical reconnaissance OF
our great wilderness for the purpose OF
obtaining correct map thereof, and was
undertaken AMI carried on at my own ex-
pense. 1t became, through an at appro.
priation Of the state in 1872. so far con
pected with the state government, that in
return Tor the appropriation, "a full and
complete report" was required to be made
to the Legislature on the progress of the
survey. Mr.. Colvin claims to show that
the practical continuance Of the canals, or
their enlargment for shipping purposes,
whether it be the Erie, the Champlain, or
the Black River, depends in the future,
as it doe, almost entirely ut present, on
the numerous rivers of the wilderness
and there is not builder or farmer
throughou, the state but Is interested in
preserving from FIRE and destruction the
vast i,rest which covers from three tc
FIVE thou.add square miles Of New York
and which 10 the future will be the only
source within ou. boundaries, whence he
may hopa to obtain cheap supply OF
lumber Tae report says "that the re
gion il pecoliar, for though the geograph
ical centre If tho wilderness may be readi
ly and easily reached in the light canoe
like boats If our guides, by lakes and
rivers, which form labyrinth Of passages
for boats, the core, OF rather cores, of thi'
wilderness. extend on either hand from
these broai avenues Of water and in theii
interior ttnains o.day spots as untrodder
by man. aad as unknown and wild, Il:
when the Indian alone padded his
birchcn boat upon those streams ant
, lakas." Since the first settlement o
New York there have been constant en-
deavor- 10 clear aud cultivate it, anC
crumbiug buildings upon its margin, hcr'
. aud there arc records OF wasted effort
sauandered capital, and ruin, "Thes
unfortunate attempts at settlements,
, says the report, originated in wild AM
. false statements made by land speculator
as to the richness and fertility Of the re
t gon supported by the specioua argumen
, that ii must be fertile because lands o.
the 81 Lpwrence river. further north
I even il Canada, were fruitful and pro
= ducti.". All this trouble, all this waste
I labor and confusion can be directly trace
. to Ihe low state of knowledge of the ply
I
lutte ignorance which th.n existed, an
has existed up to recent period. OF tn
! cimat' ,i lhe atmosphere aud OF clima;
T.. ology. The people Of those days did no
know that practically. in agricutur
every 900 tr-I of elevation was equivu
q lent in climate 10 one or two degree d
1 n1rth latitude or, more plainly, that
:. tho lands of market gardener near Me-
y Yorh city was suddenly raised 1000 fec
:. b. would find himself in climate Ill.
thu OF Montreal. Canada, the spring pei
maps month or more later IN coming
AMI winter like that Of Labrador Whe
# We uow come to consider that this gres
r. wilderness exteni- from 200 to 800 mile
q north Of New York. aud that its are
n 1000 to 5000 ,qutre miles are so eleya
, ed that the lake aud river levels have a
h altitude Of 800 or SEQ or 1000 fe,
above the sea. and that soIur Of the sma
h Ter lakelets, rising to 1000 teet, are heH
n med in by mountains exceeding 300
IL feet in altitude, we readily precelve tha
4 this whole region must have peculia
- climate and more severe than that OF ih
4, lowlands Of the ssme latitude which al
q nearer to the level of the sea. In such
e region, therefore, the height of lanc
?. above tide level becomes a measure
4 their climate, and consequently the
,s value for agricultural purposes, and thu
|. the hypsometrical work OF this survey
e. every height, indeed, above sea level th'
y is determined becomes Of practical valr
r. to the farmer OF cu,lya'or, the pncchas'
h Of land for agricultural purposa-, or It
, politica crunuuist who desires iu,,tina
re- the capacl', ol the state or a potion
10 IT, lor the production Of food, Thus &!
: barometer. which in it, errIy day, "
!. only sn instrum' Mt Of an abstract scienc
1 has come to be practically valuable
: another branch o human Industry, show
=. ing where money aud labor would