First Annual Report of the New York Geological Survey Assembly Document 161

Marcy, W.L.; Emmons, Ebenezer,;Mather, W.W.; Conrad, T.A.

Published by New York State Assembly, 1837

About this Item

The New York State Geological Survey, one of the first in the United States, took place over five years from 1836 to 1840. Each year a report was submitted to the state legislature. This is the first of those reports. The individual annual reports are very rare, much more uncommon than the large bound volumes at the conclusion of the survey. Ebenezer Emmons , responsible for the northern district made his first explorations of the Adirondacks, climbed and measured the height of Whiteface. Another highlight in this report is Lewis Beck s extensive survey of the iron mining and refining industry in New York which consisted of hundreds of small operations. The document was issued unbound and uncut and binding left to the Owner. This particular copy is unbound and bears the signature (unreadable) of its original owner. The report on Northern New York is the most interesting to me. He makes a general survey of the area which includes the St. Lawrence and Lake Champlain Valleys and what we now know as the Adirondacks. (this name was given to that region by Emmons in his next geological report the following year). Much of the region outside of the valleys was still wilderness and little explored. Among the interesting accomplishments was the first measurement of Whiteface Mountain showing it to be more two thousand feet higher than had been previously reported. He also observed a range of mountains to the south and determined that a then unnamed and unclimbed peak was the highest and higher than Whiteface. (Emmons was a co-leader of the expedition which climbed it the following year. (Mt. Marcy) Emmons also visited the iron works at the McIntyre mine, and the Indian Pass (described in a footnote). He also advocates for the application of science in mining. This copy is uncut, in other woods the edges are uneven and some of the bound pages have not been separated at the top (careful use of an ordinary playing card is one method to remedy this if you choose to do so.) The front cover is worn and shows its age. The back page is wrinkled. The interior is in good condition although the page edges are uneven. (Trimming was left to the binder.). 212 pages. A very hard to find item in any condition.

Seller Inventory # 24320

Bibliographic Details

• Title: First Annual Report of the New York Geological Survey Assembly Document 161
• Publisher: New York State Assembly
• Publication Date: 1837
• Binding: No Binding
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: Good
• Weight: 1 pound
• Seller catalogs:
  • Adirondacks
  • North Country NY
  • geology