Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1888-01-21
SOUTHERN STANDARD McllINNYIIIE TENNEssEE-3A
LIFE ON PIXIES PEAK.
A Visit TO the Loftiest Signal Station In
the Unitsd States.

O.
A Visit TO the LOftiest Signal Station In
the Unitsd States.
There is no communication from the
Peak to the towns below at present,
the telegraph line being out of order.
and it has been found to be an impos-
sibility to keep it from grounding,
owing to the forest, as the storms blow
down the trees, which carry with them
the wire. The sun telegraph as
means Of communication is sometimes
used at present with the town below.
On the northwest side of the Peak there
are several large gulches in which the
snow is fifty feet deep, and it is upon
this that the observer depends for his
supply of water in the summer.
Entering the signal station we find a
cosy seat by the big stove and enjoy
ourself by watching the logs of wood
burn. Coal is not used, and the wood
costs twenty dollars cord to cut, pack
on the backs of mules and burros, and
transport from the timber line below.
The signal station was established in
1879. and for several years daily reports
were sent to Washington. but since the
wire has been down only monthly re-
ports have been sent. These would
have been discontinued had not Har-
ward University taken an interest in is
and shared the expense with the Gov
ernment. 1t is intended next summer
to experiment in stellar photography at
that high altitude. Observations are
4, taken in regard to the weather, tenn
perature, height Of barometer, direction
and speed of the wind, and the amount
of snow and rain rs well as the kind OF
clouds that are visible. These are
taken at seven u. m, three p. M, and
ten p. m, by the large clock which is
kept with Washington time, but our
time here is two hours earlier.
The signal station is u solid stone
building. with walls two feet thick and
is anchored down, while it has double
windows and an iron roof. 1t has
kitchen, dining-room. Office, bed
room and spare chamber for WISH
tors, while woodshed is connected
with the establishment, The instru-
, ments are mostly in the Office, and
there is library, the books of which
have been donated by friends, although
many have been purchased. AS we sill
by the fire enjoying ourselves we car
hear the wind outside playing a 'tt
deum," as the Irishman says, and We
take q look at the weather vane and SEE
that it registers seventy-eight miles al
| hour. while the thermometer is ut zero
and this in October. which is one of thu
, pieasantest months Of the year in thu
d. East. But this is not any thing beside
r some of the weather that we have here
, rs it frequently reaches forty degree
below zero in January and one hun
y, bred miles an hour is no unusual We
j locity for the wind Think Of it, ant
then of the pleasures that surround lif
, in this forsaken place. where it is fire
queutly impossible to get down 20 tn
town below and see anybody III TIVE
g months 1t is no unusual thing for tn
t observer to have to travel five miles OF
q snow-shoes in the middle Of summe
in order to reach the town
: In the way OF =atableS th
d observer is provided with large sup
:. ply of canned goods, which are brougll
Il up on mules in the summer months
and he frequently has dinner c
e game. The altitude of the peak is 5
high that it is impossible for an observe
e to stay very long at time, and whel
it is possible change is made once
'' month. i Thomas H. Smith, IN BoSto
Traveller