Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-27
EXPLORING FOR SCIENCE.
New Mountains and Plants Found in
Northern Montana.

From the New York Tribune.
Several new mountains which have been
named after New York men, and 5000
specimens of plants, in which were many
species new to science, were among the re-
suits of the recent expedition sent to north
ern Montana by the New York Botanical
Garden. The expedition was in charge of
Professor D. T. MacDougal, director of lab
oratories. From Mssoula the outfit was
transported in a wagon, and flying camps,
sometimes with shelter and sometimes with
out, were established at various points along
the foothills of the Mission and Kootenay
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 ascent Of
Sin-yale-a-min peak, $500 feet high, find
ing its summit, even late in June. covered
with snow Of depths varying from ten to
forty feet and extending far down the
slopes. Many alpine forms Of plants were
encountered. The mountain regions sur
rounding Mcdonald lake were found to have
almost continual snow and rain storms, and
results were secured with great difficulty
Flathead lake and its tributary mountain
streams and environs presented less diff
culties. Here were various craft by means
of which rapid collections were made. A
canvas boat, readily transported across in
tervening strips of land, made the tributa-
ries easy of conquest. The results were rich
In rare and novel forms found in and about
the lake, streams swamps, prairies, forests
and mountain slopes.
Ample statistics were secured establishing
the variation in plant life caused by temper
ature and altitude, limnology of inland wa
tiers, of low temperature, and the general
vertical distribution of flora. The arctic-al-
pine forms of the high Kootenay
ranges presented interesting studies. The
sight of a mountain at least 800 feet high
not found on the maps, resulted in a consul
tation with a party of the United States
geological survey near by, and it was found
to be new. 1t was Immediately named af-
ter William e. Dodge of the board of man
ayers for promoting the expedition. AS there
We're several other new mountain peaks
near by, one was named by the biologists
MacDougal peak, In honor of its discoyerer
At Rost lake, Echo lake and Siloway peak
the phenomenon. of red snow was encoun-
tered. Professors MacDougal and M. J. Ell
rod crossed the mountain ranges and pene-
trated the valleys of Trail lake, Lake Placid
and View lake, gathering rich material
Much of the fields traversed had never been
visited by botanists or biologists before
In addition to the big collections made the
University of Montana turned over to the
expedition its entire herbarium, to have its
plants named, giving all duplicates to the
New York Botanical Garden.
The expedition, comprising principals, as
sistants and guides, went well armed and
equipped, but, far from finding the Flat
head Indians of this unknown region saw
tile and well-cultvated farms, living in
good houses, possessing large herds of cat
tie, sheep and horses, and dressing general
ly in civilized clothes