INTRODUCTION. . 



1* 



out into tlie less elevated plains^ east and westj along t 

 wliole extent ; wMle tlie sui-face of the central or park distric 

 is not unfrequently mncli disturbed by lesser ranges piled nj 

 in endless confusion. 



The 



continental divide/' by Trhich I always mean 



water-parting of the Atlantic and the Pacific rivers, sometimeia 

 passes through the western chain and sometimes through th 

 eastern^ crossing and recrossing the ^^ Summit Plateau" b 



means of the 

 been 



o 



Had the '^ Summit 



? 



capped by 



central pile, this would not ha\ 



been the case. 



AgaiUj the points which show signs, by their lofty peaks 

 of the most intense volcanic action, and, by the 



range 



radiating from them, that they were the centres of mountain 

 making forces, are always to be found along the western o 



eastern main chains 



the 



Summit Plate 



V 



3 edges, and not in the centre 

 hich renresents the back-bone 



/ 



the general upheayal of the continent 

 Such. Yolcanic peaks are : — 



Fremont's Peak 

 Laramie Peak 

 Long's Peak 

 Mount Lincoln* 

 Mount Gray- 

 Pike's Peak . 



Spanish Peak 



13,570 feet, 

 not kno-vvn. 

 13,575 feet. 

 17,000 feet. 

 14,400 feet, 

 not kno^wn. 

 11,000 feet. 



I 



None of wMch have a central position on the " Summi'^ 

 Plateau." 



The general direction of the ^'Dual Main Chains" is th^ 

 as that of the ' ' Summit Plateau, ' ' upon which thet 



same 



rest. From the 49th to the 42nd parallels it is north-wes 

 and south-east ; fi-om the 42nd to the 38th, nearly north and 

 south. From about this parallel the main chains part corn- 

 On a transverse ridge, although nearly centraL 



