The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-07-10
qIGH LIFE.
Iaae on the sumnr..t Of Pixies Peak-Th~
Highest Signal staA Ton in the World.
lCor. % dc BostoN JournaI.J

Highest signal sta. Ton in the World.
[cor. of the Boston Journal
The United States siA-nal station al
Pixies peak is the highess signal sta
ton in the world; it is also be highest
inhabited portion of the globe. 1t was
opened in the month of September,
1873. That it was a wise provision OF
the Government in establishing sigma
station at this point is no longer ques-
toned, the facts having already demon
strated its pracicabihty, and the pres
ent success promises that Pixies peak
signal station is yet to stand at the head
of all astronomical meteorological sta
tons in the world This point is won
derfully favored by nature for the study
of astronomy and meteorology. The
rarity of the atmosphere brings out re-
markable brilliancy and clearness to the
stars and all the heavenly bodies. The
nights are almost always cloudless and
cloudy days are the exception. Nine
tenths of the storms are below the peak.
The summit of Pixies peak contains
sixty acres. 1t is 1896 feet above tn,
level of the sea. On the highest point
of the summit stands the signal station
a rough stone building twenty-four by
thirty one story in height. 1t is divid
ed into four roomS-otfcers' room
kitchen, store-room and wood-room-
And here in this bleak spot, nearly
twenty miles from the habitation OF
man, though three miles nearer the
heavenly regions than most parts OF
E---IoI Ifxya tho 10
part of the year. The station is three
miles from the timber line, where the
greater part of vegetation ceases. Short
grass tufted with delicate Alpine flowers
struggle for an existence against the
frigidity of the atmosphere and creep
toward the mountain top; but there are
hundreds of acres of cold, gray and red
dish rocks where not vestige of verd-
ure exists.
Like the dwellers of the Arctic re-
gions, the inhabitants of Pixies peak
have but two seasons-summer and
winter. Two months of summer-Au'
gust and Septembcr-and ten long,
cold months of winter. The summer
season passes quickly. The atmosphere
is genial; the many visitors at the
peak enhance its social life with Joy,
wonderment and mirth. During the
summer of 1873 upward of 900 people,
in parties of from five to thirty, visited
the peak, among them many ladies.
They registered from the four quarters
CT the globe, and they all expressed ad-
miration and establishment at the
grandeur of the peak. To behold a
sunrise from the peak is an event of a
lifetime, and for this purpose visitors
often remain over night at the station
to be ready to catch the first glimpse of
the sun as it appears above the horizon.
gliding with its bright rays the noun
tains, hills, valleys and plains, to
the wonder and delight of the be-
holder.
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. Sunrise and sunset de-
mand close attention. Every PECULIAR
ty of the heavenly regions is viewed and
record made of the same, and monthly
reports of these records are sent to the
headquarters at Washington. The pres
emf year has been unusually prolific in
sun-dogs, which are said to prognosti-
cate earthquakes, subterranean explo-
sions, immense freshets, and troublous
times. A Government Office at Pixies
peak is no sinecure, for the officer must
buffet all storms and brave all weathers.
Occasionally an electric storm visits the
peak. There is but little thunder ac-
companying these storms, but the
mountain seems all on fire. Sergt.
Choate informs me that when he was
out observing one of these storms it APP
peared as though the whole mountain
top was a sheet of electric flames. 1t
came out of every rock and darted
around with wonderful audacity. 1t
played around him, as he expressed it,
shot down his back, and darted out of
each boot toe, and so completely filed
him with electricity that he could not
retain his foothold, but bounded and
rebounded from the rock like rubber
ball; he felt as though a powerful cleo
trio battery was pouring fiery darts all
through him, and, deeming discretion
the better part of valor," he bounded
into the signal station for preservation.