APPENDIX 



TO 



'ri^ 



NATURAL HISTORY 



Topography. 



When the History of Vermont, to which 

 this is an Appendix, was published, in 

 1842, the boundary line between the United 

 States and the British provinces was un- 

 settled, and in dispute between the two 

 governments ; but in the latter part of the 

 summer of that year, the matter was ami- 

 cably arranged by a treaty, formed by Mr. 

 Webster and Lord Ashburton, and ratified 

 by the two governments. The northern 

 boundary of the state was intended to be 

 along the45th parallel of latitude, and was 

 supposed to be on that parallel till the sur- 

 vey of 1818 proved the 45th parallel to be 

 some distance to the southward of what had 

 been previously regarded as the northern 

 boundary of the state, cutting off a strip 

 through the whole width, varying h'om 

 one-fourth of a mile to a few I'ods. By the 

 treaty, the northern boundary of the state 

 was established upon the old well known 

 line, without reference to the 45th parallel. 

 This line was marked in 1845, by cutting 

 away the timber, where it passed through 

 forests, and by putting up oast iron posts 

 at short distances through its whole length. 

 The geological exploitations and the rail- 

 road surveys, which have been made during 

 the last ten years, have added much to our 

 knowledge of the general topography of the 



I state, and many objects of interest and value 

 have been brought to light. Remeasure- 

 ments have been made of several of our 

 principal mountain summits, and their alti- 

 tudes ascertained with greater accuracy, 

 probably, than before, and a number of 

 important peaks ha\e, within that period, 

 been measured for the first time. 



In addition to these measurements- of 

 isolated mountain summits, there have 

 been reconnoisances and surveys made, in 

 almost every direction, through the state, 

 for the location of the various railroads 

 which have been built, or are now building. 

 The profiles of these roads, together with 

 the profiles of the canal routes, which had 

 been surveyed previously, have furnished 

 the means for giving a very tolerable exhi- 

 bition of the elevation above the sea, of the 

 principal places and most interesting ob- 

 jects in the state. 



In the following list of altitudes, those of 

 mountain summits are all derived from 

 Barometrical measurements. The others 

 are in part Barometrical ; but they are de- 

 rived principally from the various surveys 

 for canals and railroads. Minute accuracy 

 in these altitudes above the sea, cannot be 

 expected. They are, however, believed to 

 be a near approximation to the truth, and 

 to show with sufficient exactness the relative 

 elevation of the difi"erent places and objects. 



