138 ANNUAL RECORD OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 



in the southern part of the state, where some hundreds of 

 square miles have a general elevation of 8000 feet, with nu- 

 merous peaks rising to a height of from 10,000 to 15,000 feet. 

 The loftiest summit in the Sierras is that named Mount Whit- 

 ney, by Mr. King, in honor of Professor J. D. Whitney, the 

 state geologist of California, and almost the only one the 

 summit of which was not reached in the survey of the state. 

 Determined, however, not to be baffled by this single peak, 

 Mr. King took the opportunity of his renewed research in the 

 West during the present summer to make a final essay, and 

 with triumphant success, as we learn from a late number of 

 the San Francisco Bulletin. 



On the present occasion he started for Mount Whitney from 

 the eastern or Nevada side, by Owen's Lake, and reached the 

 summit on the 22d of June. The details of his adventures 

 and observations have not yet been announced, although they 

 may soon be looked for. It is not likely, however, that the 

 altitude will be found to be much less than 15,000 feet, and 

 may even slightly exceed this. 



RAYMOND'S REPORT ON THE YUKON. 



During the summer of 1869, Captain Charles W. Raymond, 

 United States engineers, was ordered by Major General Hal- 

 leck to visit the Yukon River, with the special object of map- 

 ping out its course, and of determining the latitude and lon- 

 gitude of Fort Yukon, a post for many years in the occupa- 

 tion of the Hudson Bay Company, but which was believed to 

 be within the new territory of Alaska. In pursuance of this 

 order he visited that region, accompanied by Mr. John J. Ma- 

 jor, well known as a topographer and astronomer, and spent 

 a number of months in the work. Owing to having been de- 

 tailed to other duty shortly after his return, Captain Ray- 

 mond was unable to complete the report of his exploration 

 until quite lately. This has, however, been recently sent in 

 to Congress, and has just appeared from the press of the pub- 

 lic printer. It consists of a general introduction, summing 

 up the progress of discovery in Northern Alaska, which is 

 followed by an account of the expedition, the resources of the 

 country traversed, and a detail of the physical observations. 

 The longitude of the fort was determined to be 145 17' 47", 

 and its latitude 06 33' 47", or just over the line of the arctic 



