Mountains in New York. 85 



" The altitudes here given, were deduced from the angular ele- 

 vations observed from a point near Lake Champlain, whose ele- 

 vation was known, and the distances as determined from the map. 

 I mention this- to account in part, perhaps, for the discrepancy be- 

 tween the results above given and those contained in the geolo- 

 gical report as derived from barometrical measurement." 



Prof. Emmons, State Geologist for the Northern District of 

 New York, in his last annual report, in reference to the above, 

 has the following : 



^' In a report to the Legislature this present session, Mr. E. F. 

 Johnson, the Engineer of the Ogdensburgh and Champlain rail- 

 road, questions the accuracy of the measurements of Mt. Marcy. 

 In reply to his suggestions, I shall merely remark, that it is quite 

 doubtful whether the mountain in question is distinguishable 

 from those of the same group, especially by one who has never 

 visited the interior of this section, and if visible, his measurement 

 is not entitled to consideration except as a very imperfect approx- 

 imation." 



The observations made by myself were taken, as stated, from 

 an elevated point near Lake Champlain. 



The instrument used was of a superior kind, and, graduated, 

 so as to give, with the aid of the nonius, fractions of degrees as 

 small as 7^ seconds. On the day when the observations were 

 made it was carefully adjusted. 



Not only the peaks above mentioned, but the elevations of from 

 30 to 40 other points were observed, several of which had been 

 previously measured. Among the latter number were the two 

 most elevated peaks of the Green Mountains, Camels Hump and 

 Mansfield ; these were found, the former to be 4,220 and the latter 

 4,359 feet above tide. 



These peaks, as measured barometrically by Capt. A. Partridge, 

 (see Gazetteer of Vermont,) were found, the former to be 4,188 

 and the latter 4,279 feet above tide ; less in both cases than the 

 results by trigonometrical measurement. The barometrical ele- 

 vations of Mt. Marcy and Whiteface, as given by Mr. Emmons, 

 were on the contrary greater than the trigonometrical ; the former 

 by 687 and the latter by 189 feet ; the first being 5,594 and the 

 second 4,855 feet above tide. 



It was this great discrepancy, that induced the remark of dis- 

 trust, as to the entire correctness of Mr. Emmon's barometrical 



