The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-08-16
PLEASURE WITH A PURPOSE.
Club of Scientific People Who Make
Their Summer Outings Educational

We'll Chamber the cliffs on C~olumbia's
By splendid willamette. where cataracts
Anon TO the mountains. in venturous mood:
Wen camp in the gap of the crater or
Hood;
Explore his dread canyons. which suns
never light;
Climb upwards. through tempests. to cav
Where SHOWS are eternal. and Flora in vain
Invades the fierce Ice Kings exalted do
main;
Drink deep of the wine of his crystalline
And carnival hold with the gods of the
mountains
So sing the Mazamas, a band of happy
go-lucky. yet scientifically inclined. noun
tain climbers. who scale great peaks
of perpetual snow and descend into
smoking c~raters. with song and
gladness in one hand and science
in the other. AS good roads are becoming
an established fact through the efforts of
bicyclists. so scientific knowledge of the
upper regions of the earth is being attained
and given to the world by this enthusiastic
club of climbers. 1t was organized on the
summit of Mount Hood in 1894. amid per-
petual snow and ice, while a thunderstorm
ragged so far below that. had a stone been
dropped. il would have fallen over a mile
dow 10 the clouds and vivid lightning.
On the evening of July 10 ten young men
from the Y. NJ. c. A. of Portland, better
known as the Triangle Mountain Climb
ers." illuminated Mount Hood with red fire,
so that 1t was visible throughout a large
portion of Oregon. This was the third sue
cessful illumination of the mountain, and
was witnessed by thousands of spectators
in various portions of the State. and espe-
cially Portland. sixty miles distant. Last
year the Mazamas conceived the idea Of
sending a message from British Columbia
TO Mexico by flashing the suns rays from
one mountain peak to another. Their eff
forts in this line attracted universal atten-
ton and stimulated interest in heliograph-
ing among the signal corps of the various
State militias.
One object of the organization is to bring
together all outing parties for the year in
such a manner that IN understanding
may be arrived at in time to accomplish
a certain scientific work. then place the
knowledge thus obtained In convenient and
permanent form for future use. For in
stance, the club may contribute very ma
terially TO the plan outlined by the Johns
Hopkins University for the determination
by means of photographs, of the shouts
of glaciers. on a broad and comprehensive
scale. gathered from all parts of the world,
with a view of determining. over a long
period of years, whether these glaciers are
advancing or receding, thus establishing
the fact scientifically whether the surface
of the globe is getting hotter or colder. 1t
is impossible for the club to investigate
n IL f. -@--
famous country, so only the most attract
i've, or representative, ones are attempted.
The world possesses numerous depressions,
the cause and origin of which are an inter-
esting study. The greatest of all these is
Crater lake, located on the summit Of the
Cascade range of mountains in southern
Oregon. AS this is the best typical Illus
tration of earth depressions, in contrast to
~upheavals. it has been selected for this
years outing, and a meeting will be held
there from the 10Th to the 22d of August.
inclusive, at which time each day will be
set aside for a specially prepared pro-
Among other exercises will be
addresses by Mr.. ]. S. Diller AND Mr.. r.
u. Good, of the United States Geological
Survey; DIR. G. Hart Merriam, of the Bio
logical Survey; Prof. B.. w. Everman, of
the United States Fish Commission; Prof.
f. V. Coville, botanist, Department of Ag-
ricuIture, and probably Prof. e. l.. Green,
of the Catholic University. Washington, D.
c.; Prof. j.. G.. Lennon, botanist. Oakland.
Cal; John Muir, Prof. Thomas london, of
the Oregon State University, and a-rep-
~resentative of the United States Weather
Bureau. 1t is not unlikely. also, that the
United States Forest Commission will be
present. The theory of Crater lake is that
it was once a very high mountain, which
first blew out, then telescoped, leaving a
cavity four by five miles in extent and four
thousand feet deep. In the course of time
two thousand feet of water collected. thus
forming what is now known as Crater lake.
Although the lake is rapidly becoming ia
NOUS, the great mountain in which it is To-
Gated has never been named. During the
meeting in August it is proposed to chris
ten it Mount Mazama. The business of
the club is transacted by a council of seven
members. AT "A recent meeting it was de-
cided to adjourn, TO meet on the 10th in
slant on the summit of Mount Hood. and
thus celebrate the second anniversary.
This proposition was carried into effect.
and forty persons met on the summit OF
the mountain at the appointed time.
For next year it has been suggested that
the club devote itself to scientific kite fly
ing. simultaneously, from the SUBMITS of
various mountains in oregon and Wash
ington. Half a dozen peaks, UT more, il
necessary, could be selected that would
measure from 1900 to 1900 feet. From
these points kites could be sent up 5000
feet higher, thus giving results of an alti-
tude of from 1900 to 10000. With thirty
kites flying from six peaks. and properly
supplied with appropriate instruments, i'm
portant results should be obtained in refer
ence to the upper wind currents and condi-
lions in the higher attitudes. The club has
just issued its first annual magazine. enti-
tied "Mazama." devoted to scientific and
outing features. Next year this magazine
will deal principally with Crater lake and
vicinity.
In my next letter this lake will be fully
described. and the work of this year and
plans for next given in detail.
W.. G.. STEEL