Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-10-12
AMERICAN VOLCANOES.
Northern California Oregon ana wash
ingtOn Territory.
[From the journal Of Science.l

During the autumn OF 1871 the ReOlO'
gists attached to the Geological Explora-
ton of the Fortieth Parallel made pre-
liminary reconnaissance OF several of the
extinct volcanic cones of northern Cali
fornia, Oregon and Washington Territory,
for the purpose of planning detailed in.
vestigations of the principal volcanoes Of
tho Sierra and Cascade ranges. fur
ther study of these volcanoes, however,
was never undertaken, and although the
explorers brought back most interesting
geological and Theological material, the
results and observations of the work have
never been published, with the excep-
ton of an announcement in this journal
for March, 1871, of "the discovery of ac-
tual glaciers on the mountains of the
Pacific SLOPE" and popular paper on
"The volcanoes of the United States Paci-
fic Coast" read by Mr.. S. F. Emmons
before the American Geographical Society,
March 13, 1877.
Among the more prominent peaks along
this belt of volcanic cones may be men
toned Lassen's Peak and Mt. Shasta in
California, Mt. Pitt, Three Sisters, Mt
Jefferson and Mt. Hood in Oregon and
Mt. st. Helens, Adams, Rainier and Ba-
ker in Washington Territory. From this
long line of volcanoes the geologists of
the Fortieth Parallel Survey selected for
the purpose of exploration of the four
peaks which, from their size, position and
geological relations, might be taken as
typical of the chain. Mr.. Clarence King
explored the two great cones OF Callfor-
MIA !; ut the same time Mr.. s. +. Emmons
uncertook the examination of Mt. Raiier,
while Mt. Hood was visited by one of the
writer's of the present article. The col
lections which they made at that time
were deposited in the cabinet of the SUR
vey.
Lassens Peak is situated in California
Just north of the fortieth parallel OF lati-
tude where the continuity of the bold
crest of the Sierra Nevada range breaks
down and is replaced by lower and less
regular ridges. From Lassen's Peak this
magnificent chain of volcanoes extends
northward at irregular intervals for nearly
five hundred miles. The principal voca-
noes follow in general the axial lines OF
the Sierra and Cascade ranges. breaking
out either along the main line of up
heaval or at short distances to the west
ward Volcanic extrusions along fissure
lines and flows of lava of greater or less
extent unite the main peaks, forming n
nearly continuous belt of igneous rocks.
Mt. Rainier is the grandest OF all the
volcanoes of the northwest, and forms the
most prominent Typographical object in
Washington Territory, rising proudly
above all other peaks, and towering far
above the crest of the Cascade Range,
which lies about twenty miles to the east
ward. The surface features of the west
ern portion of the Territory have been
greatly modified by the great lava flows
of the volcano, and no less than four I'M
portant rivers of the Territory rise among
the gluciers of the nountains-the Ms
qnally, Puyallup and White rivers, which
flow into Puget Sound, and the Cowlitz
which, running in southwesterly direc
ton, pours into the Columbia. Snow ant
ice cover the top of the volcano, reaching
downward for five or six thousand feet
while with the most marked contrast the
broad base of the mountain supports {
dark, dense forest vegetation OF grea
grandeur. The summit of Mt. Raniel
is formed by three peaks, the highes
situated to the eastward OF the other two
and separated from them by deep ant
nearly inaccessible gorges, although the,
attain within n few hundred feet OF thu
same altitude Tho main peak presents
perfect, circular cone with crater abou
quarter of n mile in diameter. The al
titude of the peak as determined by TIL
United States Coast Survey is 14,44
feet.
Mt. Hood is situated directly on til
crest of the Cascade Range, about twenty
five miles south of the Columbia River
1t has an altitude of II, ,225 feet above tn
sea level, rising about 6,0OO feet abov
the main range, but the long lava flow
extending in every direstion from tn
base of the volcano have buried beneat
their masses nearly all remnants OF prt
existing rocks. Mt. Adams and Mt. s
Helens, on the north side of the Colun
bia river, form with Mt. Hood triangle
the area of which has been the centre {
great volcanic activity. The summit {
/ Mt. Hood is single peak, portion OF
r rim of an ancient crater, opening to IL
} south. The crater is about one-half
} mile wide from eas. to west, the enci
cling wall for three-fifths of the circun
ference rising 450 feet aboye the snow al
ice which fills the basin.
None of the volcanoes along this be
/ occupy so comparatively isolated pos
, ton as Mt Shasta, which stands upon
a open plain with the neighboring hills al
ridges many thousand feet lower. III
S great range of the Sierra has fallen ava
e and is followed by low, obscure ridge
II confused and broken up by volcanic on
bursts. The altitude of Mt. Shasta
given at ii, 440 feet above sea level, n
" as the neighboring ridges rarely attain |
~ altitude of over three thousand feet, u
# volcano presents an imposing spectacl
If surpassed by n few mountains in t
o world. As seen from the west the volc
% no presents double cone, with the sma
IS er built upon the tianks of the larger o
, and about two thousand feet lower. L
d main cone possesses very regular ol
5. line, with remarkably steep slopes OF III
Ii form angle. Around the broad base
n Mount Shasta numerous lesser con
N have broken out, offering great varie
i. of volcanic phenomena. One of the
d which has been named Little Shasta, rls
v. to more than 5000 feet above the neie
l. boring valley. Seventy miles southe'
ID of Mount Shasta, not far from the bouI
III ary between Nevada and Colorado,
m ours Lassen's Peak, lying, as alrea
IS mentioned, aiong the direct line OF
l olerras, WHERE lue eruuile VI 'ho 'i'
III range has been abruptly broken dov
/ The region has been the seat of gr
IN volcanic activity lasting through perit
n. of time, the present mountain form
hit but a remnant of former txtrusions, q
n so far as geological interest is conceri
Nv is probably unsurpassed by any otl
ID mountain. Lassen's Peak, however
ID by no means as conspicuous an object
1 many of the volcanoes, being surroun,
at by other cones of considerable elevati
a all of them rising out OF a great volca
ng table. The altitude of Lassen's Peal
Of given at about 10, 800 feet. 1t is n bro
til irregularly-shaped mountain, with f
an prominent submits, and abundant I
no dences on the slopes of comparatively
all cent extrusions of lava.
ed As the rocks brought back may be @
re silcrel as reDresentinp thp princi