1885. | An Adirondack National Park. 581 
est water in the State. The poetic State surveyor, Mr. Verplanck. 
Colvin, best describes it in these words: 
“ A few summers since I stood for the first time on the cool 
mossy shore of the mountain springlet lake, Tear-of-the clouds 
Almost hidden in the gigantic mountain domes of Marcy, Sky- 
light and Gray peaks, this lovely pool lifted on its granite pedestal 
toward heaven, the loftiest water-mirror of the stars; beseeching, 
not in vain, from each low-drifting cloud some tribute for the 
sources of the Hudson; fresh, new, unvisited save by the wild 
beast that drank ; it was a gem more pure and delightful to the 
eye than the most precious jewel.” 
Mt. Marcy is the center of the scenic, sporting, artistic, poetic 
and scientific interest in the Adirondack region. The timber 
limit is here well defined at 4900 feet above the sea. The crev- 
ices are densely filled with stunted evergreen and the deep valleys 
between the mountain crests are covered with forests of pine, 
spruce, hemlock, beech, birch and other trees. Snows are almost 
perpetual here, summer lasting but two months. So far as may 
be judged by one who has visited each, there is little difference in 
temperature and climatic conditions between an altitude of 5000 
feet on Mt. Marcy and 12,000 feet elevation in Wyoming. This 
similarity may be accounted for by means of the ameliorating in- 
fluences of the Pacific coast on the Rocky mountains. Mt. Marcy 
is beginning to attract many visitors and is certain to draw heavily 
on the traveling public as soon as its grandeur and attractions 
become more generally known. It was seldom scaled until in 
1875 the State survey projected a line of levels to its highest 
oint. Since then there has been a gradual increase of summer 
visitants. The Indians called Mt. Marcy Ta-ha-wus, signifying 
“ I cleave the clouds.” 
Observations tend to show a considerable decrease of rainfall 
in the State. This decrease has been attributed to the general 
denuding of forests in the Adirondacks. The iron industries 
alone have been shown to consume the wood on six thousand 
acres of land annually, to say nothing of the trees utilized as 
lumber. While no one of note has disputed the influence of for- 
ests on rainfall, such influence has not been satisfactorily ex- 
plained. The following explanation is offered : 
The Gulf Stream projects its waters along the Atlantic coast. 
It furnishes moisture to the winds which sweep over the land, 
VOL. XIX.—-NO. VI. 38 
