The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1906-04-28
OUR HIGHEST MOUNTAINS.
What the Geological Survey Does to
Them.

what the Geological Survey Does to
Them.
The Geological Survey has been at
work again whiting off the tops of
some Of our proudest eminences. Esti-
mates Of mountain heights are usually
exaggerated. 1t is not till careful sur
veys are made that we discover that
their attitudes are less than those with
which popular belief has credited
them. So 1t happens that the fourth
edition Of Mr.. Gannetts Dictionary Of
Attitudes in the United States reduces
the height of Mounts Whitney, Rainier
and other SUBMITS
Up to last year Mount Whitney en-
joyed the reputation of rising to
height of 1883 feet, but in an evil mo-
ment it was attacked by survey par
ty which Topped off three hundred and
ilinety-six feet, reducing the elevation
to l4,502. These surveyors have threat
ened the distinction of that summit as
the topmost point Of the United States
south of Canada, for they credit Mount
Williamson In California with 1850
feet; and with only two feet between
them these mountains seem to be run
ming a neck and neck race for the final
supremacy. AT any rate Mount Whit
ney has had a narrow escape from such
humiliation as that which covered
Noun st, Elias with chagrin several
years ago.
Mount Rainier also suffered diminu
tion to the extent of one hundred and
sixty-three feet, the new figures show
ing only 1883 feet This is positive
casualty, for now Shasta, its rival in
beauty and grandeur with 1880 feet to
its credit, takes it's place for the first
time a little higher in the list than Sc
attles favorite snow mountain. Seattle
astonished the country by the fight it
made for Rainier instead of Tacoma as
the appelation of its beloved summit.
1t will not be surprising if Seattle
should regard the exploit Of the Geolog-
ieaI Survey as a personal snub and de-
mand a recount of the returns.
The latest figures III our mountain
heights show plainly that it is not ele-
walton alone that makes them famous.
The name of Mount Whitney to be
sure, is fixed in every ones mind sim
ply because it has the reputation of be-
Ing higher than others of our home
mountains. If its elevation were a lit
| tie less it's name would scarcely be
known, for though in height it ranks
| fairly with such mountains as Monte
Rosa and the Matterhorn, it is some six
he AuIIatnr than
! it's Swiss rivals, has far less extensive
I display of snow and ice, is destitute of
| the charming contrast of forest and
| grass below the snow line and the bare
rocks of this giant of the Sierra Neva-
/ das offer little attraction for tourists
1t Is famous simply because it is over
topping.
] There are twenty-seven mountains in
| Colorado rising above fourteen thou
sand feet, and with the exception Of
Pixies Peak, Holy Cross mountain and
a few others, even their names are not
known to most people who have never
been in Colorado. They lack aceessi-
bility, outlook, history or some other
quality that might give them distlnc-
ton How many of our general public
have ever heard of Gilbert Peak, the
eliminating point of Colorado? Cali
fornia has eleven mountains more than
fourteen thousand feet in height but
only Whitney and Shasta are particu-
Iarly famous Some of the Montana
mountains, none of which rises above
ten or eleven thousand feet, are better
known.
OF course the Alaskan moutains
with eight SUBMITS rising above fifteen
thousand feet, have no physical difficult
ty in looking down on their brethren
further south. Mount Mckinley, with
its 20,4O4 feet, seems likely to hold Its
head higher than any other mountain
on the continent, even though 1t should
undergo a severe process of trimming
at the hands of the Geological Survey
New York Sun.
Mike-Did YOU make Callahan apolo.