The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1879-04-25
THE HIGHEST INHABITED POINT.
THE SIGNAL SERVICE OBSERVERS AT THE
.f..' TOP OF PIXIES PEAR. ... ..'..

THE SIGNAL SERVICE OBSERVERS AT THE
.t..' TOP OF PIXIES PEAR. ..'...
The United States Signal Service Station
at Pixies Peak, is the highest signal in the
world it Is also the highest inhabited por-
ton of the globe. 1t was opened in the
month of September, 1873 That it was a
wise provision of the government in estab-
llshing signal station at this point is no
longer questioned, the facts having ALREADY
demonstrated its practcability, and the
present success promises that Pixies Peak
signal Station is yet to stand at the head of
all astronomical and meteorological stations
in the world. This point is wonderfully IA
vored by nature for the study of astronomy
and meteorology. The rarity of the almost
phere brings out a remarkable brilliancy and
cIearness to the stars and all the heavenly
bodies The nights are almost always cloud
less, and cloudy days are the execution.
Niue-tenths of the storms are below the
Peak. The best and most complete renort
of the last total eclipse of the sun, received
at Washington, was the report of Prof.
Loud, of Colorado College, from observa.
tions taken at Pixies Peak. ....s l
The signal station is now under the charge
of Sergts Choate, Blske and Sweeny.
These officers are detailed from the army be-
cause of their peculiar adaptability and
special qualifications for the accurate
execution of the nice duties of taking astro.
nomical and meteorological observations.
10 Sergt. Rufus Choste am greatly indebt.
ed for the particulars embodied in this ar.
ticle. ...... ......... t.s.... .I.
The summit of Pixies Peak contains sixty
acres. 1t is 1886 feet above the level of
the sea. On the highest point of the sum-
init stands the signal station, rough stone
building, twenty four by thirty, one story in
height. 1t is divided into four rooms and
wood room. And here in this bleak spot
nearly twenty miles from the habitations of
man, these men live the larger part of the
year. The station is three miles from the
timber line, where the greater part of vege-
tation ceases. Short grass, tufted with del
icate A pine flowers, struggles for an exis.
tence against the frigidity of the atmosphere,
and creeps toward the mountain top but
there are hundreds of acres of cold gray and
reddish rocks where not vestige of verdure
exists .....,...t. ...f ,.,
Like the dwellers of the Arctic regions.
the inhabitants of Pixies Peak have but two
seasons-summer and winter. Two months
OF summer-August and September-an
ten long, cold months of winter. The sum
mer season passes quickly. The almost
phere is congenial ; the many visitors at the
Peak enhance its social life with Joy, won.
derment and mirth. During the summer of
1875, upward of 900 people, in PARTIES of
from five to thirty. visited the Peak, amouz
them many ladies. They registered from
four quarters of the globe, and they all ex-
pressed admiration and astonishment at the
grandeur and sublimity of the wonderful
views as seen from the Peak To behold a
sunrise from the peak is an event of life
time, and for this purpose visitors often re-
main over night at the station, to be ready
to catch the first glimpse of the sun as it ap.
pears above the horizon, gliding with its
bright rays the mountains, hills, valleys and
plains, to the wonder ard delight of the
amazed heholder. .- -.',. ...
The duties of the officers are various.
Seven observations are taken daily; all
storms are closely watched and each special
and distinctive characteristic duly recorded.
Sn pril nd Il a.
Every popularity Of the heavenly regions
is viewed and record made Of the same.
and monthly reports of these are sent to
headquarters at Washington. The present
year has been unusually proIicfic in sun-dogs,
which are said to prognosticate earthquakes,
subterranean explosions, immense freshets,
and troublesome times. A government of
flee at Pixies Peak is no snecure, for the
officer must buffet all storms and brave all
weathers. Sergeant Choate was at the
Springs in December, and on December q
he left for the Peak, wearing Norwegian snow
shoes twelve feet in length.
The summer months are also occupied in
preparing for the long seige of winter. Dur
ing the months of August and September
upwards of 5000 pounds of the usual varie-
ty of family stores, and about twenty cord, of
fire wood, are snugly slowed away. These
are all carried to the Peak in small auanti.
ties, on the back of the poor, despised Burro,
whose head has the appearance of being in
cased in cloth, and whose ears are nearly the
length of his legs, and who walks at the
pace of snail and very slow snail at that
- Boston Journal