The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-09-30
DISCOVERY or UNKNOWN NOUN
rAINs IN MONTANA.
PLACE WHERE SNOW IS RED
Scientific Expedition Spends Summer
Exploring Northern Part Of
the State.

81 H.. tSeAfs"l 49, EsNH ZEUls GHr L. rEhsa
Last Sundays New York Times
contains an illustrated article relating
the experience and work accomplish
ed by an expedition sent into this
state last summer by the New York
botanical gardens. The members OF
the expedition claim the distinction
of having discovered several peaks
in the Kootenai mountains which had
been overlooked by other explorers,
at least they had no m CT places
on the map and the party named them,
bestowing upon them the names Of
the scientists who accompanied the
expeditions.
The expedition was sent out for the
purpose of studying plant life in Mon
tana.
From the article mentioned the fol
lowing paragraphs are taken:
Several new mountains, which
have been named after New York
men, and three thousand specimens
Of plants, in which were many species
new to science, we're among the re-
suits Of the recent expedition sent
to northern Montana by the New
York Botanical Garden.
1.-THE expeditions was In charge of
Professor D. T. MacDougal, director
OF laboratories. From Missoula the
outfit was transported in a wagon,
and flying camps. sometimes with
shelter and sometimes without, were
established at various points along
the foothills Of the Mission and Koo-
tenai mountains and eastern shore Of
Flathead lake. From these camps
short trips were made into regions to
be reached only by pack animals or
on foot.
Professor MacDougal made the as
cent Of Sin-yale-a-min peak, $500 feet
high. finding its summit, even late in
June, covered with snow Of depths
varying from 10 to 10 feet and extend
ing far down the slopes. Many alpine
forms of plants were encountered.
The mountain regions surrounding
Mcdonald lake were found to have al
most continual snow and rain storms,
and results were secured with great
difficulty. Wathead lake and it's trib-
utary mountain streams and environs
presented less difficulties. Here
were various craft by means of which
rapid collections were made. A cam
vass boat, readily transported across
intervening strips Of land, made the
tributary easy of conquest. The re-
suits were rich in a and novel
forms found in and about the lake,
streams, swamps, prairies, forests aud
mountain slopes.
Ample statistics were secured es-
tablishing the variation in plant life
caused by temperature and altitude,
limnology Of inland waters ct low
temperature, and the general vertical
distribution Of fora. The arctic-alpine
forms of the near high Kootenai
ranges presenter interesting studies:
The sight Of a mountain at least $500
feet high, not found on the maps, re-
suited in a consultation with a party
of the United States geological sur-
vey near by. and it was found to be
new. 1t was Immediately named af-
ter William E. Dodge, Of the board Of
managers for promoting the expedi-
ton. AS there were several other new
mountain peaks near by, n was
named by the biologists MacDougal.
Peak, in homer of its d%iscoverer. At
Rost lake, Echo lake and Siloway
peak the phenomenon Of red snow
Awas encountered. Professors Mac
bougal and NJ. j.. Elrod crossed the
mountain ranges and penetrated the
valleys of Trail lake. Lake Placid and
View lake, gathering rich material.
Much of the fields traversed had new
er been visited by botanists or geolo-
gists before. In addition to the big
collections made, the University Of
Montana turned over to the expedi-
ton it's entire herbarium, to have its
plants named, giving all duplicates
to the New York Botanical Garden.
''The expedition, comprising prin-
cipals, assistants and guides, went
well armed and equipped. but. far
from finding the Flathead Indians OF
this unknown region savage and hos
tile, it found them rich in fertile and
well cultivated farms, living in good
houses, possessing large herds Of cat
tie, sheep and horses, and dressing
generally in civilized clothes"
Annual Meeting.
The annual moo+ino nj the stock