
5D 
The average or mean elevation of the several political divisions is given 
by good authorities as follows: Montana, 3,000 feet; Idaho, 4,700 feet ; 
Wyoming, 6,000 feet; Colorado, 7,000 feet ; New Mexico, 5,600 feet. 
The approximate mean elevation of the Idaho and Montana ranges 
is 8,000 feet; of the Wyoming ranges, 9,000 feet. The mean height of 
the Colorado and New Mexico system, south to the latitude of Santa 
Fé, is about 10,500 feet. 
In Montana two mountains reach an elevation of 8,355 and 10,629 feet 
respectively. Eleven peaks in Idaho range in height from 9,100 to 
13,691 feet. In Wyoming fifteen of the principal peaks range in alti- 
tude from 9,273 to 13,790 feet. The best Known and named peaks of 
the Colorado system, sixty-seven in number, vary in height from 10,906 
to 11,464 feet. Seventy-two other peaks in the same State, between 
13,500 and 14,500 feet in height, are unnamed. Two prominent mount- 
ains in New Mexico have an elevation, one of 11,200 feet and the other 
of 12,202 feet; while Utah boasts of seventy-five peaks above 10,000 
and fourteen above 12,000 feet, the highest being Mount Emmons, with 
13,694 feet. 
Llevation of timber-line on some of the mountains rn the Rocky Mountain region.* 
{Taken from Dictionary of Altitudes, U. 5S. Geological Survey. } 




| 
Ae a as 
Mountain. | 4 jab er: Mountain. Timber- 
ine. line. 
% COLORADO. | Feet. || COLORADO—continued. Feet. 
Tapahoe Peak -....-.-. i). SO eee A100) ||SWoncsShe Calas 2545/0. ores Seep ene ener 11, 100 
maarit HOT Gh ht NG 25 ya eae ee 11,325 || Massive Mountain......----..--.--.--. 11, 607 
BOMOUNEAN Os ac sai-c Soe esa ese ean LL AUO OM aks Wiateya le Cu <1). Seta ects Sea 11, 100 
OPENER RETO es eae ne ee an a Wiad TsO se |S se Sh epalkes wn Paes 24t S ee a eee 11, 720 
ei: US a Ss SE Se WAN Moun bow elles). Soi ee eee a 11, 600 
lL TG Eases Soe lie ae ee el IPaOPewounty erinceton.:= css. s.ceeaone noe 11, 500 
DIMI UAM ASS irae a ea os Ste se kee: i BOOM CCE IVEOUUT anil se eiis oe nis crevasse creeye meee 11, 746 
MEEPS RG LOM te oF rte cele aot cle aS Se, iat SS Hee eon p rwrbo ANtoSe oe 6 aioe aia oe | 11, 817 
moMbe nc olmann, 25. .cnb es ccet. ol: TIALS H NP SLEULAP DS ATIC i. 256 ee esismroee eine eee 10, 410 
MME VaAUISaees eb 5 Be cn inc + 11, 723 || Mount Silverheels.....--.......-.. fas Shale 11, 549 
ene oo Ma Ee RIO a 7aie 3 a ics "a> =< 1300 al White noch Mountbaim: 2225-2225. -- 025. 11, 919 
DR Te oS oe oe 11, 100 
Briecis nt Tye din apes, eke Bet eager 11, 758 : MONTANA. 
Mount Giryot. ._.....-............2..-. 11,811 | 
SD OE ees ee ee 10; 840... Mount Blackmores. 2... 5-2. . 2s ---oe- 9, 550 
Lr tht Mee es ee 2 Lg WN Regubanied Danan 5 aeeonGeee se mes cace coc 8, 784 
4 geben = SE OR a | 11,100 | Electric Peak..--...--.---+++--++--+++: 9, 442 
TRAM EL OUMUALD Yi eS, sacle eos wc dae - } 12,080 
meee Monnban ole. oe 28. | 11,100 | UTAH. 
Ss StS Sa eIDADG I eGul bert saben a: tus. saa cacn Sue ee | 11, 160 


Capt. E. L. Berthoud, a civil engineer, of Golden, Colo., and a good authority, referring to a mount- 
ain range about 8 miles southwest ot Georgetown, Colo., says: ‘‘ Across the narrow valley north of 
McClellan Mountain, and upon another high peak, the limit of tree growth exceeds 12,400 feet eleva- 
tion on the south slope of that peak. Here can be seen Pinus aristata, some of the trees 2 feet in 
diameter and 30 feet high, that retain their hold and slowly increase in size, thus maintaining them- 
selves in respectable numbers in spite of furious gales of snow and wind, and an extreme arctic cold.” 

SURROUNDINGS. 
The “Great Plains” lie contiguous to and eastward of the Rocky 
Mountains, but how far to the east they extend—at what point the 
* plains” (so long a synonym for sterility) end, and the prairie, or fruit- 
ful country, begins, is not easily determined. It is safe to say, how- 

