The Russellville Democrat., 1880-06-03
Adirondack Explorations.
New York Time,

NcN loih lllle6.
 Of the vast and wild region in the State of New York comprised within the boundaries of the Adirondack Mountains comparatively little has been known un- til quite recently, and even now our knowledge of it is very limited. There are many parts of It that have been wis ited only by hardy adventurers or sur veyors, while the places are not few or small where no white man has yet pene- trated and of which nothing is known. And yet this is fast becoming one of our most popular pleasure resorts. The tide of pleasure-seekers and sportsmen that began few years ago is becoming larger every year. To say nothing of excellent fishing and minor game, the huntsman may here hope to try his skill on bear, a wolf, panther, or seer, while those of other tastes may enjoy some of the widest, most romantic, and beautiful scenery in the country. These attrac- tions, added to the newness and fresh. ness of the region, have given the Adj rondacks increasing popularity among tourists and frequenters of forest and stream. This is now the summer home of thousands of people, countless popular resorts have sprung up here, and numer- ous large areas have been appropriated by private clubs. This region IS also likely to take its place among the popular health resorts of the country. It has been found to possess properties of air, climate. etc, highly favorable to con sumptiv, g, of whom a very respectable number have recently gone thi1her with favorable results.
 The typographical and trigonometric .. A J, lo |, Il by the State was begun in 1872, under the superintendence of Mir. Verplanck Colvin. The work has been carried on steadily since that time. What is called the seventh annual report has just been published. It is, however, an account of what was done from 1874 to 1879, the last preceding report having been pub lished in the former year. The results of the survey are important and useful. The old maps and published accounts of this region are about as erroneous as they are incomplete. The present sur vey has covered the mountains with an extensive network of triangles, and measured thousands of miles of dis tances. It has determined with cer- tainty and accuracy, for the first time, many attitudes and longitudes, the true
 
 rect location of numerous mountains, lakes. rivers, etc, and the altitude of a great number of peaks. In fact, we have now what we never had before-a tolerably good map of this territory. The striking inaccuracy of earlier maps is well illustrated by the case of the Lower Saranac Lake. Not a single island in this lake appears on the best of the old maps, while the most recent of the tourists maps show but ten or eleven islands. But, in truth, not fewer than thirty-three islands dot the surface of this beautiful sheet of water, which is made still more picturesque by it's singu. lary deep and marrow bays, almost insu- lar points and head-lands, and adjacent lake basins. All of these. ana other features of the lake, are now accurately represented for the first time on the map of the Adirondack survey.
 Among the most interesting and useful results of the survey are the accurate measurements of the peaks. Until very recently the heights of some of the most common peaks had been merely esti- mated, while other high and important peaks had wholly escaped the attention | of surveyors. It IS doubtful if there is l now d sliiSlt Euldt VI itlSANliNt upoA which gives the correct attitudes of the Adirondack peaks. It is certain that in most publications the figures given arc l imperf ct and inaccurate. The highest peak in the State is Mount Marcy whose height, according to MT. Colvin't latest fgures, is 5,34 feet above the sea 1 Then cnrne, in the order of their alti | tndes, Mount Mcintyre, SIP feet Hay stack Mountain, 4,9ls; Mount Dix, i,9l6 Basin Mountain, 4,905; Gray Peak, 4,902