OF THE 



UNIVERSITY 



OF 



PRINCETON, N. J., Jan. i, 1879. 



SIRS : We present herewith our joint report on Topography, Meteorology, 

 and Hypsometry, embodying the results of our work in those departments 

 during the summei of 1877. Accompanying the report is a map, prepared by 

 us, giving an idea of the topographical features of the upper portion of the 

 Smith's F.ork Valley in the Uintah Mountains. This valley was chosen as a 

 characteristic type of the valleys of this transverse mountain chain and studied 

 as such with some care. 



Leaving Princeton June 2ist in the evening, we reached Denver on the even- 

 ing of the 25th. Here we spent a few days in purchasing such things as we 

 needed to complete the equipment brought from the East. The party also bought 

 horses, mule teams, and wagons here for their proposed trip in Colorado. From 

 this time to July 2ist we spent in Colorado ; measuring Pike's Peak, Mts. Lin- 

 coln, Bross, Quandary, Silverheels, Princeton, Evans and Gray ; also, determin- 

 ing several bases. We then started with General Karge and the Palaeontologists 

 for Fort Bridger. Our trip was made with safety and pleasure, notwithstanding a 

 delay at Cheyenne. We fitted out at the Fort for the mountains, where we 

 worked at the topography of the valley mentioned above until August 24th, and 

 then commenced our return to Fort Bridger, aiming, on our return, to get a 

 general idea of the region lying between the Fort and the mountains. The result 

 of this reconnaissance is embodied in another map, also accompanying this re- 

 port, which may serve as a hint to further and more accurate surveys of the same 

 region. The meteorological as well as the topographical report is confined 

 mostly to this part of Utah. The only work of any scientific value done in Colo- 

 rado was hypsometric, on account of our hurried and long marches through 

 that State. Being constrained to keep track of our party, we depended on 

 gaining some miles in advance for an opportunity of doing our work. The 

 work in Utah was undertaken in a more systematic way. A base line was 

 accurately measured, and its height carefully ascertained ; from either end of 

 this our triangles stretched up the sides of the valley of Smith's Fork, and these 

 were bound together by a network, in the measurements of which we have some 

 confidence, not only on account of the accuracy of our little transit, but from 

 the knowledge that the work was done with great care. We worked up one 

 side of the valley first, and then down the other, our camp being about the 

 centre of the large amphitheatre. The last triangle closed within half a minute 

 of arc, which we considered excellent, from the fact of the roughness of the 

 ground traversed and the many disadvantages under which we labored. The 

 peculiarities of our work will be brought out fully in the body of the report. 

 Our experiences with electricity, and the elements in general, may not have 

 been exceptional, but they were certainly novel to us, and their faithful recital 

 may prove a warning to future explorers in the same region. Upwards of 

 thirty barometric measurements were made of the mountains on either side of 

 the valley. Our series of barometric heights commenced at Carter Station on 

 the Union Pacific Railroad, and extended from there to Fort Bridger ; thence in 



