302 TENTH ANNUAL REPORT OP 



I was, yet it appeared as high as the nearer points; making it clear, 

 therefore, tliat the descending line from my eye to it, did not fall below 

 any part of the chain north of me. 1 was in this way fully satisfied 

 that the ground on which I stood was higher than any of these points. 

 I may remark, in confirmation of the barometrical measurement, 

 that, when one is standing on the top of Mount Mitchell, while the 

 peak I visited appears the highest of all above the horizon, the remote 

 ones are still visible, and may be seen still in connection with the 

 Eoan, but appear to rise considerably above it. Taking the indica- 

 tions of the barometer to be correct, as observed by me, and assuming 

 the height of Mitchell Peak to be six thousand six hundred and seventy- 

 two (6,672) feet, the other would be six thousand eight hundred and 

 eighty-one (6,881) feet above the ocean. But, according to the sur- 

 veys for the line of the extension of the Western railroad, as detailed 

 in the report of Major Gwynn to the legislature of our fState, in De- 

 cember last,, and which were brought within one mile and a quarter 

 of Asheville, the height of this place — I mean the square where the 

 court-house stands — is two thousand two hundred and sixty (2,260) 

 feet above tide- water. This survey corresponds in its results with one 

 made many years ago by the Charleston and Cincinnati Railroad 

 Company. Sixty (60) feet should, therefore, be added to Dr. Mitchell's 

 estimate of the height of this place, which would give his peak an 

 elevation of six thousand seven hundred and thirty-two (6,732) feet, 

 and the higher one, that of six thousand nine hundred and forty-one 

 (6,941) feet. For the reasons already stated, the height of the latter 

 may be subject to some deduction, but not to an extent to affect mate- 

 rially this estimate. My object, however, is not so much to prove its 

 absolute height as to show that it excelled any point as yet measured, 

 and leave to the more competent the task of determining the precise 

 altitude. There is no doubt whatever but that it is the highest por- 

 tion of the Black Mountain, and that point of land east of the Rocky 

 Mountains having the greatest altitude above the sea. As it has 

 never, to my knowledge, been designated by any particular name, a 

 description of its position is necessary to identify it. If one should 

 travel along the top of the ridge from Mount Mitchell, in a northerly 

 direction, less than a half mile will bring him to Mount Gibbes_, so 

 called from the fact that it was measured by Professor Gribbes, of 

 Charleston, South Carolina, a few years since. I have been informed 

 that he estimated it as being four (4) feet higher than Mitchell's Peak. 

 If there be a difference in the elevation of the two points, it probably 

 does not exceed that stated by liim. From tliis place there is an irre- 

 gular descent for about one (1) mile, where my companions and I 

 found ourselves nearly five hundred (500) feet below the top of Mount 

 Mitchell. We then had to climb a handsome, regular! j''- shaped pin- 

 nacle, which reminds one of a sugar-loaf, and which rises to within 

 one hundred and fifty (150) feet of the height of Mitchell's Peak. On 

 its north side the descent is less. Our vfay then continued over irre- 

 gular elevations and depressions for about two (2) miles, till we found 

 ourselves in a sort of prairie ground, or natural meadow, magnificent 

 and beautiful in the extreme. From the further edge of it, a steep 

 but regular ascent of about two hundred and twenty (220) feet brought 



