New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-09-21
EXPLORING FOR SCIENCE.
NEW MOUNTAINS AND PLANTS FOUND
IN NORTHERN MONTANA

Several new mountains, which have been
rar.aed after New-York men, and three thou
sand specimens of plants in which were many
eneces new to science, were among the results
of the recent expedition sent to Northern Mon
tana by the New-York Botanical Garden The
expedition was in charge OF Professor D. T.
MacDougal. director of laboratories From Mis-
soula the outfit was transported in wagon,
and flying camps, sometimes with shelter and
sometimes without were established at various
roints along the foothills of the Mission and
Kootenay mountains and eastern shore of Flat
head 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-vale-a-unin peak, $500 feet high, finding
IT'S summit, 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 noun
tain regions surrounding Mcdonald Lake were
forn5 to have almost continual snow and rain
s-orns and results were secured with great
difficulty Flathead Lake and its tributary
maintain streams and environs presented less
difficulties Here were various craft by means
OF which rapid collections were made. canvas
boat readily transported across Intervening
strips Of land made the tributaries easy Of con-
quest The results were rich in rare and novel
ferns found in and about the lake, streams,
sEarrps. prairies forests and mountain slopes
Ample statistics were secured establishing
the variation in plant life caused by tenpera-
tire and altitude, limnology Of inland waters
of low temperature, and the general vertical
distribution of fora The arctic-alpine forms
Of The near high Kootenay ranges presented in
teresting studies. The sight Of a mountain at
least 1890 feet high, not found on the maps,
resulted in a consultation with party Of the
United States Geological Survey near by. and it
WIS found &c be new. It was Immediately named
after William E Dodge, Of the board Of man
ege-s for promoting the expedition As there
were several other EeE- mountain peaks near by,
one was named by the biologists MacDougal
Peak, in honor OF its discOverer. At Rost Lake.
Echo Lake and SilCway Peak the phenomenon
OF red snow was encountered Professors Mac
Dougal and N. J. EIrod 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
never been visited by botauists biologists
before In addition TO the big collections
made. the University of Montana turned over
10 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 Flathead
Indians Of this unknown region savage and
hostile, il found them rich in fertile and Well
cultivated farms. living il good houses pos
sessing large herds Of cattle, sheep and horses.
and dressing generally in civilized clothes.