222 



of elevation of the mountain (by a sextant, probably) and taking 

 the distance of the summit from Williamson's map. Dr. Cooper, 

 who is familiar with the mountains of Oregon and Wasliington Ter- 

 ritory, considers that there is no doubt that Mt. Hood is not as high 

 as some other peaks of the same range. Other experienced observ- 

 ers have stated the same thing to me. 



On the Avhole, then, we conclude that Mt. Hood, although un- 

 doubtedly a grand object, is not as high as Mts. Shasta, Rainier, or 

 Adams, and by no means entitled to the supremacy of the chain, 

 although one of the highest points in it. 



Mt. Adams, the next high point north of Hood, was made by 

 Dr. Vansant, Avith the same instrument by which Hood was mea- 

 sured, 13,258 feet high. 



Mt. Rainier was measured by Capt. Wilkes trigonomctricaUy, 

 from Fort NisquaUy. He gives the height resulting from his obser- 

 vations at 12,330 feet. As the mountain is nearly sixty miles from 

 Nisqually, and, if 12,300 feet high, would only subtend an angle 

 of a little over two degrees at that distance, the observation can 

 hardly be considered as more than an approximation, — but there is 

 here a margin of 2,000 feet, before the height of Shasta would be 

 reached. 



Mt. Baker, the most northern of these volcanic cones, is given 

 by Simpson at 12,500 feet; and by Davidson, in the Coast Survey 

 Report for 1858, at 10,500 feet. In neither case are any data 

 fm-nished, by which it may be inferred whether these figures are 

 estimates or the result of actual measurement. 



From the above review of what is known m regard to the heights 

 of the culminating points of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade range, 

 it will 1)0 seen that there is little doubt that Shasta is entitled to the 

 preeminence among them, and that it may perhaps be a thousand 

 feet, or more, higher than either Rainier or Adams. 



Of the prominent points in the Sierra Nevada chain, south of 

 Shasta, none have been measured accurately. There are so many 

 which are nearly of a height, that they are not easily dLstinguished 

 from each other, except in a few cases. The liighest portion of the 

 range is supposed to be that between Lake Bigler and Mono Lake, 

 in which are beheved to be several summits over 12,000 feet in 

 elevation. Castle Peak, near Mono Lake, is put do^vn on Goddard's 

 map at 13,000 feet. I am mformed by Mr, Goddard, however, 

 that its height was measured with an aneroid barometer, the obser- 

 vations being taken at a point supposed to be 1,000 feet below the 

 summit. 



Lassen's Butte is also variously estimated at from 10,000 to 

 12,000 feet. Prof. Brewer tliinks it cannot be less than 12,000 

 feet high. 



