Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1877-02-27
AMERICAN VOLCANOES.
An Account of Some Explorations Among
Volcanic Peaks on the Pacific.

In lecture before the American Ge-
ographical society on Tuesday even
ing last, Mr.. S. F. Emmons said: The
western range of the great Cordiller-
an or Rocky mountain system is
formed by the chain Of the Sierra Ne
vada, and its northern continuation,
the Cascade mountains of Oregon and
Washington Territory, which run par
allel to the present coast line. In
former geological periods the Pacific
coast extended up to the western base
of the Sierra Nevada, whose geologi-
cal continuation to the northward is
found i'll the Blue mountains of East
ern Oregon. North Of the parallel of
forty degrees north there is a break
in the continuity of the Sierra Nevada
chain, whic. finds its Typographical
continuation in a series Of high vol
caEic peaks, capped with perpetual
snow, standing at distances of about
fifty miles apart, and which in north
ern Oregon and Washington Territory
rise out of the very SUBMITS of the
Cascade mountains. These are Las
ser'S Peak and Mount Shasta, in north
ern California-the former, about TO-
900 feet in height, forms the northern
extremity of the crest of the Sierra
Nevada; the latter, peak of surpass-
ing grandeur, rises to all elevation of
IA, 440 feet above sca-level, and stands,
as it were, isolated. being surrounded
on the east by low forest-covered
ridges, and on the west by broad, open
valleys between 200 and 800 feet
above sea-level, through which runs
the projected line of the California and
Oregon railroad 1t has two SUBMITS,
the westermost being perfect crater,
its interior 1000 feet deep, and its
wall a narrow rim of rock about 1000
feet above the main summit On the
main summit were found traces of re-
cent soIfataric action, hot springs,
from which issue sulphurous gasses
and steam-while on the northern
slopes arc several active glaciers.
Mount Shasta, while ranking among
the highest peaks in the United States,
is of comparatively easy access, and
its ascent is, although somewhat la
borious. by no means dangerous, un-
dertaking, and, when the rail
road reaches its base, will no doubt
be favorite resort of tourists.
The volcanic peaks of Oregon are,
commencing at the southwark, Mount
Pitt, the Three Sides, Mount Jeffer-
son, and Mount Hood While the
three former present outlines of great
beauty, rising their snow-whitc crests
above the pine-clad ridges of Oregon,
they reach elevations of less than 10,-
900 feet, and are surpassed in majesty
and grace of outline by Mount Hood.
which rests upon the summit of the
Cascade range. about twenty-five miles
south of the Columbia river. When first
discovered by Vancouver it was esti-
mated to he at least $4,000 feet in
height. Recent measurement by the
barometer has reduced this to II ,225
feet. 1t is an exceedingly sharp peak,
it's summit being formed by single
block of lava Its ascent, though diff
ficult and even dangerous, has been
accomplished several times, owing to
the fact that it's base is of compara-
lively easy access.
Washington Territory. east Of the
Cascade mountains, except in the re-
gion Immediately bordering Puget
sound and the valley which stretches
southwark to the Columbia river, is
covered by dense, almost inpenetra-
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