HYDROLOGY OF NEW YORK 



517 



and that forestation should be carried on within the limits fixed 

 by such a commission. 



Examining the hypsometric map accompanying this report, we 

 observe that there are six high points which may be denominated 

 water centers, which are referred to on page 40. 



The largest and most important of these is the elevated region 

 known as the Adirondack mountains, or for present purposes, the 

 Adirondack center, the highest peaks of which rise to an altitude 

 of over 5000 feet, and there are about 4000 square miles at an ele- 

 vation of 2000 feet and over. This region has a population of 

 from 8 to 10 to the square mile. The population of the balance of 

 the water centers is somewhat greater than this, but in none of 

 them is it beyond the limit of a pure water supply, with proper 

 precaution. The principal lakes lie at an elevation of from 1500 

 to 2000 feet. 1 



The second, or Oatskill center, includes the Catskill mountains 

 in the southeastern part of the State, where the highest points 

 rise to an altitude of over 4000 feet and there is an area of about 

 1000 square miles at an elevation of 2000 feet and over. 



The third, which may be called the Allegheny center, is the ele- 

 vated region in the southwestern part of the State in Cattaraugus, 

 Allegany and Steuben counties, where the highest points are at an 

 elevation of over 2000 feet and there is an area of from 500 to 800 

 square miles at an elevation of over 1500 feet. 



The fourth, or Rensselaer center, lies east of Troy, Albany and 

 Poughkeepsie, and its highest altitudes are over 2000 feet, while 

 there are from 1000 to 1200 square miles at an elevation of over 

 600 feet. Since the distance from the Hudson river is short, this 

 elevation is enough to supply the ' cities and towns naturally 

 tributary. 



The fifth, or Chenango center, is west of the Catskill mountains, 

 with an extreme elevation of over 1800 feet, and there are from 

 1200 to 2000 square miles at an elevation exceeding 1200 feet. 



The sixth, or Lowville center, is to the north of Oneida lake, 

 with an extreme elevation of from 1800 to 2000 feet, and there are 

 from 400 to 600 square miles at an elevation of over 1200 feet. The 

 issuing streams are lower than the foregoing, but still high enough 

 to insure gravity supplies. 



*For elevation of lakes of Adirondack region, see pages 221 and 241. 



