New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-03-05
THE ADIRONDACK SURVEY.
COLvINs ANNUAL RE-
PORT


THE SURVEY.
IRON THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRrBuSE1
ALBANY, March Am explorer OF the gigantic
New Capitol occasionally discovers near the roof at
the northwest corner of the building room which
almost seems to be hiding itself from sight Above
the door OF this foom there is a transom glass on
which are inscribed in gIlt letters the THE
Adirondack Survey" Entering the room one finds
all the tokens of q surveyors work. Scattered
about are surveyors brass instruments, on
wide tables are maps showing the gradual
progress OF the survey, in glass are sections
OF trees marked by surveyors century ago, and
clerks are busy making computations and drawing
maps. Not the least Interesting object in the room
lisa canvas tent badly by bears The animals not
only nearly destroyed the tent of the surveyors,
but devoured all their honey and maple sugar. bit
in'o the pepper package-but were apparently dis
satisfied with its contents-and scattered -four
hall an acre of forest land. In an interior room
there is to be found the superintendent Of the
vey, Verplanck COlvln-an athletic-looking
young man Of dark complexion, whose features
tell of resolution, pluck and ability. These are
qualities he has frequently had to summon to his
support in the rough work of surveying the Adron-
dack Wilderness, and IN desperate conflicts with
legislative committees determined not to grant
any appropriation for the survey For twelve
years now Mr.. Colvin has carried on the work of
the survey; usually at the States expense. but
when the State would refuse to make an appropri-
alton. at his own expense. The work of course has
been done for the benefit of the State. When
completed che situation of the States property
and that of private individuals in the Adirondack
region will be- for the frs6 time in the history of
the State clearly defined. For the purposes of tax
alton and of the sale Of property the survey will be
OF great value 1t is to be completed in two years.
Mr.. Colviu during the past week submitted TO the
Legislature his annual report on the results Of the
survey. The report describes his work during the
year 1882. He states that it was conducted to a
great extent In the more remote and inaccessible
portions of the wilderness, and that it carried
forward in the face of great natural obstacles The
field work of the survey was prosecuted principally
in the counties of Warren, Essex, Hamilton, Herkl-
mer. Franklin and ST. Lawrence. fourteen survey
and signal parties were placed IN the field during
the season; regular meteorological stations were
also maintained, and a reconnaissance Tor river sur
veYs and signal work made. The preparations
for the field work were commenced while snow vet
covered the mountains AID the surfaces o., OF
the AdirO dack lakes yet remained closed by
ice. Parties of guides were sent out on
snow-shors to examine and report on
tIe aysia lity OF certain mountains IN Moose RIVER
region signal stations for the extension OF the TIL
anguatlon To the western borders OF the great wal
derne in such manner as TO cover the sources or
the Beaver River, the Independence RIVER, the
Moose RIVER the head OF the West Canada Creek
aud the Sacondasa River Alr. ColVin states:
My own explorations, both in climbs across the noun
tain in autumn ana curing sno~;noe natsheS IA pre-
which eOui ntgn forest-coyered peaks which
apparently commanded both the lakes o. the Beaver
River region the north the waters OF Great Moose
Lake midway, and further south those OF tae Fulton
cnain this Il seemed, although these noun
aims were Of incror height as are al mountains IN tne
dtric OF tue Adrondacks 70 De possible that
SUBMITS might. nevertheless be found by when 70
afford route for lrg metrcdl measurement over this
broad belt OF low, tones. covered mountain AFTER
careful comparison OF observations tnat bad made dur
ing preceding years. study OF my sAeiohes of these
mountain IN connection with the measurements
and monument tue ancient land lines crossing these
became convinced that tue rres OF nSmeless
heavily ed range near the head OF the FOURTH
Lake Of the Fulton chain presumably In the county 81
whole system OF mountains IN ihs western district
My previous explorations anu mea-urrments also led me
~ believe thar this crest the grea southwest corner
OF the Brown tract NOV al nyOveJ in obscurity and
doubt could be and reached by exact measurement
and thus its true stiOn detern ned ana forever
with this mountain as commanding central point rom
which select other stations noped To be aDie TO To-
Moose River tract Birmingham tract, etc. SO rs TO nnd
the actual distances between those lines aud thus the
locations and areas.
Mr. Colviu was successful in this search. He
found the mountain and thoroughly surveyed the
entire region. Much OF the region had apparently
never been explored before by man. Trout were
abundant and deer frequently encountered.
Far TO the northward of this region there was all
other successful survey. This was of the region
about Mount Morris, near the headquarters of the
Raquette River. Concerning this survey Mr. Col
vim says in his report
Important reasons required that should give atten
ton to the aud intricate OF land lines IN the
COMMITTEES OF 1t Lawrence aad Franklin rhe pos
sss no records OF tine surveys locating the boundary
lines couutles-And the Latitude aud Ion
e1de OF he great Joint county corncr,where the division
ne between Franklin aud St Lawrence meets upon the
north line Hamilton county, MISUNDERSTANDING
possible until dilcut aud complicated work had
been aocomplsh'd rms also could DC uo,e pes anu
precs b. triangulatoS andas IN the Moose RIVER
cal for the selection OF new mountain peaks as
,Isnal which should command the boundary
lines IN question. and al tue same uTe oe 50 situated
"a sprlad the front OF the trangnlatGn westward
and norhwArd toward the Sc. Lawrence River along |
which tne land lines ana topograpny are
IN equal confusion Tar any county maps or records
are cOnce ned Inc mOunaiH which select d as the
salient and initial point t,is dir the summit
immedIatey above Great Tupper's Lake, which mad |
crest OF hoh now had clearing anu signal station
errotod-the signal firmly iron down to the rock This
ell Ilnt corner OF Great Tracts two aud three OF Nc
COMBS puronase IS so situa Ell as To- command tue prn
te important Signals overlooking tue vaheysnortnwest-
wand toward the settlements Of Cotton.
One OF the important results of the years survey
was the determination OF the precise elevation of
Lake ChampaIn above tie sea level. lack OF |
knowledge of the tuctua of the surface OF the
water of the lake from day to day aud from year |
TO wear. Mr. Colvin states, had rendered the |
values given for Its height by railroad or
canal levels only true for the sur
face at tho time of observation. BY |
extending the line CT geodetlc levels so as to con-
meet with the United States Army wafer gauge at
Fort Montgomery and by determining the height OF
the zero mark Of thar gauge, hllhert0 OF unknown
height above the tide, and oy reducing all the daly
of the lake surface Tor period OF more
Than seven years to a value above the tide it
was ascertalned that the true mean helgh OF the
snI face of Lake Lhamplan above the Atlantic
Ocean is 0B 56O-1O00 feet. Mir. ColvIn states
that the deer during the past season seemed
met with in open woods or on tho shores
of remote axes but difficult to procure near
hotels or settlements. Wolves and partners were
discovered to be tar extinct as the killing OF
three panthers and TWO large wolves by one OF NJ
Colyin's Rniues IndicatoI. Mr. GOWN closes his
ii a. ILL rda i