WILLIAM EIMBECK. 
129 
was to follow approximately the 39th parallel of latitude to 
the capes of Delaware. This was the inception of what was 
to be the main life work of Mr. Eimbeck, and to which for 
18 years he gave all that was best in both mind and body. 
Stretching from the Sierra Nevadas to Pikes Peak and the 
east line of the Rocky Mountains, and including in its list 
of occupied stations mountain peaks reaching an elevation 
of 14,400 feet, in regions where supplies had to be carried 
for hundreds of miles through deserts and wastes, destitute 
of roads and almost destitute even of water, the successful 
conduct of this work called for the endurance of the most 
rugged of pioneers, the undaunted courage of the explorer, 
while the operations represent the highest type of work de- 
manded from the scientist and observer. In this triangula- 
tion one line, observed in both directions, is over 183 miles 
long, and is not exceeded in the work of any country. 
There are two instances where the change between adjoin- 
ing stations necessitated a journey of 300 miles, one of these 
being the transfer of parties from Mount Ellen to Mount 
Tavaputs, made under the fierce suns of August and Septem- 
ber, across a desert section which tested almost to their limits 
the endurance of the men and animals, and it is remarkable 
to relate that in his most expansive moments Eimbeck never 
seemed to consider that any special merit could be claimed 
for successfully overcoming all these hardships and dangers. 
A reference to the annual report of the Superintendent will 
emphasize this feature of our friend’s character, as therein 
will be found only a simple statement of the work completed 
each year, because of the modesty which would not permit 
him to give an adequate account of the toils he faced and 
conquered. 
Near the close of this great triangulation Mr. Eimbeck 
designed the Duplex Base Apparatus, which was constructed 
at the Coast and Geodetic Survey Office and used by him in 
the measurement of the Salt Lake Base. 
In addition to the field work upon which he was so act- 
ively engaged, he was always deeply interested in every 
branch of the work of the Survey, and specially those per- 
