652 EEPORT UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



terman ^teel tape wliich had been compared with the Coast Survey 

 standard at different temperatures, and was not used except as a 

 standard. The comparisons were made before and after eacli measure- 

 ment of the line ; in this way the stretch of the tape was obtained. The 

 ■ line was carefully measured three times, using low stools to raise the 

 tape from the ground, and tine steel pins as markers. 



The variation between the three measurements was one and one-half 

 inches ; a mean of these results was taken as the true length, after 

 correcting for slope, temperature, and stretch of tape, and reduction to 

 sea-level. The mean error of closure of the triangles used in expanding 

 the base was five and three-tenths seconds. The triangles being so 

 nearly equilateral and the distances so short, error was hardly percepti- 

 ble. In this manner the line was expanded to a length of three miles. 

 Taking this as the base, also using the point of expansion, the work 

 was farther expanded to Cherokee, Eawlins, Separation Peaks, and 

 Mount Steele, signals having been previously placed on these points, 

 thus expanding the base to a length of nearly twenty five miles, with an 

 average error of closure in the triangles of 8".8. This I considered a 

 very fair result under the circumstances, as the instrument used was only 

 an 8-inch circle, graduated to ten seconds; besides, we were troubled 

 bj^ heavy cold winds nearly all of the time while engaged on this work. 



Leaving Eawlins on June 11, we marched northward to the Seminole 

 Mountains, where, on the 13th, I made a station on the highest point of 

 the range, to which we gave the name of Seminole Peak. Thence flank- 

 ing the mountains on the south, we marched westward to Whisky Peak, 

 a point just west of Whisky Gap, where I made another station. From 

 this point we continued, crossing a rolling, grassy country swarming 

 with elk, deer, antelope, and now and then a few stray buffalo would 

 be seen slowly strolling over some distant hill. 



Our next point was Yellow Butte, where a day was spent in taking- 

 observations from the peak for the triangulation, and azimuth observa- 

 tions were taken at camp during the evening. 



Eesuming our march the following day, we proceeded to Camp Stam- 

 baugh, where a fresh supply of i)rovisions had been shipjjed with other 

 necessary outfit to enable us to continue our vi^ork. 



Leaving Stambaugh on June 21, we marched along the southern foot 

 of the Wind Eivef Mountains until we reached the western fork of the 

 Sweetwater. Following up this stream as far as we could conveniently 

 with the train, we camped for the night. Leaving the camp here I 

 took a small oritfit, with provisions, blankets, and instruments, con- 

 tinued up the stream, and with some difficulty reached a point near the 

 pass at its head, where we found further progress impossible with ani- 

 mals on account of deep snow, which filled the valley from this point 

 upward. Leaving our animals here, I proceeded on foot, accompanied 

 by Ernest Ligersoll and Harry Yount, to ascend Wind Eiver Peak, the 

 highest point in this j^ortion of the range. After a very fatiguing climb 

 through the snow for about five hours, we reached the summit only to 

 find the wind so strong and so intensely cold that it was impossible to 

 set up the instrument or do any work. Thus all of this hard climb was 

 only for nothing, returning to our camp by nightfall well-nigh exhausted. 

 During the night the storm broke and continued for two days, com- 

 pelling us to lay by until it was over. 



On the morning of June 27, the weather being clear, I started by 4 a. 

 m., accompanied this time by William Shippen and Harry Yount. The 

 snow being hard enough to bear us up, we made good time, arriving on 

 the summit before ten o'clock; and the weather having settled some- 



