Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1901-11-22
FRIDAY. NOVEMBER 81, 1901.
HEIGHTS OF VERMONT MOUNTAINS.

HEIGHTS OF VERMONT MOUNTAINS.
A few weeks since the REGISTER
quoted a newspaper article that was pub
llshed about year ago to the effect that
Camers Hump by recent measurement
of Professor Pumpelly was found to be
80 feet higher than Mansfield. We also
were informed at the time and so stated
that Prof. Pumpelly was high author
ity in such matters, having been con-
nected with surveys made by the United
States government. The REGISTER
professed no other knowledge in the
matter and has none, excepting that the
high peak IN Warren lately purchased by
Mr.. Battell and named Elen's Mountain,
is by accurate measurements about "A
feet higher than Potato Hill, some
times called Lincoln Mountain, a peak
about four miles south, and which from
its position and rocky summit appears
and has generally been supposed to be
the highest IN this vicinity.
1t also became reasonably certain from
the use of a leyeling instrument on FL
lens Mountain by Prof. Thomas f. Boyce
of Middlebury, a very careful and ac-
curate observer, that that mountain is
higher than Cancels Hump.
Our attention is now called to the
following article relating to the heights
of Vermont mountains, which appeared
in the Burlington Free Press of Nov. 0.
ha int n 10,
obtained by, the Free Press, and which
seems to be reliable, that Mansfield is
the highest mountain in the State, Kill
lington the next and Ellen's Mountain
third These results certainly should be
entirely satisfactory to our friends at the
north of the State, and reasonably so TO
those in Rutland county. 1t will be
entirely so also to Addison county, rs we
never have supposed that any of the
peaks in our vicinity was the highest.
A few days ago the Middlebury REGIS
TER said in substance that it had been
recently discovered through a govern
ment survey made, by "A professor Pump
lily that Camers Hump was higher
than Manstiel The Free Press ques
toned the accuracy of this statement
quoting from GuyOt's "Dictionary OF
Attitudes in the United States,' 81 edi
ton, published by the L. S. Geological
Survey, the figures of the latest deter
mination of 1.-The heights of TIE three
highest peaks in Vermont, viz:
Mount Mansfield 1864 feet.
Kilington Peak 42ll feet
Camel's Hump 40SS feet.
In the face of these authoritative
figures, the Rutland News came GU
with the following rash assertion;
"Mount Mansfield has been standing many
years under false pretenses. 1t has beer
carrying the reputation of being the highes
peak in Vermont's Green Mountains. More
accurate surveys made Mount Kilingtor
higher than Mansfield, although it seem
difficult for Mansfield to give up the reputa
ton it has so long borne. And now come
Ca nel's Hump which, according to Professo
Pompily, who made the latest and mos
accurate governmental surveys, Is IS fee
higher than Mansfield. Thus Mans feel,
becomes the third highest peak In tn
State"
Satisfied that the News did not know
what it was talking about, the editor o
this paper wrote to Prof. Raphael Pun
pelly, former director of the L. S. Gee
logical Survey, to ascertain If he ha
made any recent discoveries in regard t
the heights of the Vermont mountain
and to give the heights of the tire
highest peaks, as determined by tn
latest official surveys. Prof. Pumpel
replied that he had had no connectio
with the u. S. Geological Survey sine
1890 and that the official data asked fC
were not at hand where he was writin
Cat Newport, X. ~ but that they coul
easily be obtained from the office of IL
U. S. Geological Survey, In Washington
We accordingly applied to the directC
of that survey, and have the followin
reply:
United States Geological Survey.
Washington, ID. c.. Nov. 5, 1901.
Dear Sir In answer to your letter of Il
3lst ultimo l have to state that no rece
determinations of the heights of the mou
tains mentioned by you have been mac
by this office. The height of Mount Man
field, as determined by the Coast al
Geodetic Survey, is 4364 feet, that of Camel
Hump, as determined Theoretically
Guyot, is 40ss feet; that of KillIngton Pea
as determined by the T.. 5. Geological Su
vey, is 42il feet.
The first and last mentioned determin
tions were made by vertical apgulation al
are considered TO be accurate, while that
Cancels Hump, being Theoretically dete
mined, cannot be considered as correspon
lngly reliable.
Very respectfully,
ii. Z. RIZER, Acting Director.
Mr.. G. G. Benedict,