XVIII. MOUNT RAINIER IS 14,408 FEET HIGH 

 BY THE UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 



THE United States Geological Survey issued a bulletin for news- 

 paper publication on January 22, 1914, giving the height 

 of the mountain as determined by the most accurate and de- 

 finitive methods known. That bulletin is here given as it was 

 then issued. At the same time F. E. Matthes, topographer 

 with the Survey, sent additional comment to the Sierra Club 

 of California, by whom it was published in the Sierra Bulletin 

 for January, 1914. This comment is now reproduced by per- 

 mission of the Sierra Club. 



The height of the summit of Mount Rainier, Wash- 

 ington, has been determined by the United States 

 Geological Survey to be 14,408 feet above mean sea 

 level. This elevation now officially displaces the for- 

 mer supposed height of the mountain of 14,363 feet 

 and accords to Mount Rainier the distinction of being 

 the second highest mountain peak in the United States, 

 Mount Whitney, California, being the highest. The 

 correct height of Rainier was determined by a party 

 of topographic engineers of the Survey in connection 

 with the mapping of the Mount Rainier National Park, 

 which was completed last summer. The topographic 

 survey of the park was begun in 1910 by F. E. Matthes, 

 continued in 1911 by Mr. Matthes and George R. 

 Davis, and finished in 1913 by C. H. Birdseye, W. O. 

 Tufts, O. G. Taylor, and S. E. Taylor. 



In the mapping of the summit of the mountain a 

 terrific blizzard was encountered ; in fact, two ascents 

 of the upper portion of the mountain were necessary. 



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