t is well to note that the final hypsometrical computations
fully affirm my discovery that in Mount Haystack we have another
mountain of five thousand feet altitude. It may not be
uninteresting also to remark that the difference between the
altitudes of Mount Marcy and Mount Washington of the White
Mountains of New Hampshire is found to be quite eight hundred
feet. Mount Marcy, Mount MacIntyre, and Mount Haystack are to be
remembered as the three royal summits of the state.
"The four prominent peaks are--
Mount Marcy {Mount _Tahawus_--"I cleave}
{ the clouds," } 5,402.65
Mount Haystack, 5,006.73
Mount MacIntyre, 5,201.80
Mount Skylight, 4,977.76."
If the general reader will pardon a seeming digression to gratify the
curiosity of some of my boating friends, I will give from the report of
the Adirondack Survey Mr. Colvin's account of his singular boat,--one of
the lightest yet constructed, and weighing only as much as a hunter's
double-barrelled gun.
Mr. Colvin says:
"I also had constructed a canvas boat, of my own invention, for
use in the interior of the wilderness on such of the mountain
lakes as were inaccessible to boats, and which it would be
necessary to map. This boat was peculiar; no more frame being
needed than could be readily cut in thirty minutes in the first
thicket. It was twelve feet long, with thin sheet brass prows,
riveted on, and so fitted as to receive the keelson, prow
pieces, and ribs (of boughs), when required; the canoe being
made water-proof with pure rubber gum, dissolved in naphtha,
rubbed into it."
Page 43 of Mr. Colvin's report informs the reader how well this novel
craft served the purpose for which it was built.
"September 12 was devoted to levelling and topographical work at
Ampersand Pond, a solitary lake locked in by mountains, and
seldom visited. There was no boat upon its surface, and in order
to complete the hydrographical work we had now, of necessity, to
try my portable canvas boat, which had hitherto done service as
bed or tent. Cutting green rods for ribs, we unrolled the boat
and tied them in, lashing poles for gunwales at the sides, and
in a short time our canvas canoe, buoyant as a cork, was
floating on the water. The g
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