Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-12-25
SUB.SURFACe Of THE EARTH
Hint of What May Be Found
Twelve Miles Down
National Geographic Society Making
Rapid strides In This Direction
Expedition Returns from VT.
Kntmai Region in Alaska

! world-famed engineer to the British ss.
ISOLATION for the advancement Of science
that shaft he bored twelve miles deer
: "A task estimated to take eighty-fve
years and to cost s25, 900 00o--is only one
evidence Of the increas sing interest In
the possible value of the pent up energy
under the thin crust OF the earth's SUR
face.
While British science has been debat
ing that project an American body, the
National GeoErap hic society Of Wash
ington, has made rapid strides In the
study of the composition of the earth's
sub-surface The sixth Of it's expeditions
to the Mt. Katmai region. in Alaska.
has just returned. In that area there
are nature-mado shafts. volcanoes, which
already have revealed hidden secrets of
Mother Earth. There is also a field of
kissing vapors hundreds Of degrees
above the boiling point. popularity known
az the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes
The expedition which has just come
back is the largest and best equipped
yet sent to Mt. Katmsi. Dr. r. F. Griggs.
who was In personal charge. has headed
the previous National Geographic ex-
petitions into the lttle-known areas
DR.. Grigg's reports not only disclosed
that the region was one of great in
terest for science. but also a place of
such wondrous natural beauty that by
executive order, President Wilson has
directed 1t TO be set aside as a national
monument, pending the time when
transportation facilities will make il our
farthest-north national playground
The great scientific value Of the region
lies in the fact that it affords an OPP
portunity to study the mysterious
natural processes by which the earth
became habitable. For this entire
volcanic field is an isolated patch on tho
surface of the earth where, through
some backward physical process. that
surface still is in the making This
region. in a word. is a bit of the earth
that remains much as all of 1t was
niinons of years ago, before man had
/ appeared.
For the first time an expedition of this
/ Kind was equipped to take extensive
motion picture photographs; so that 1t
brings back material no. only for the
prolonged study of laboratory micro
scopes. but record that may be con-
Veyed. In few hours, to millions of
eyes This record shows that nature not
only is performing some queer pranks
in Alaska. but that this region also has
natu'al beauties which some day will
Yellowstone. Yosemite. and Mesa We, da.
The so-caled Valley of Ten Thousand
! Smokes is such an unusual phenomenon
| that it Is hard to convey mental pic
| trre of its wonders. 1t most resembles
| a r.agnified train yard where thousands
! or engines are splitting forth kissing
| columns of steam. But many Of the
( fumaroles, the technical name for these
natural smokestacks. squirt forth
vapors far too hot to be visible as sream
The early expeditions found that some
, of them were so hot that instruments
taken along could not measure the inten-
sty of the heat. Preparation for this
contingency was made on the 1919 ex-
petition. and the highest temperature
found was 1,191.2 degrees Fahrenheit.
A heavy piece of wood kindles as quick
| ~ when held over the opening of many
of these seethng fumaroles as does a
match over a gas flame. In the course Of
centuries. or more likely after several
milleniums, this region will resemble
the geysers to be seen in our western
national parks. AS yet, most of the
region has not reached the comparative
ly late stage in surface developments
when geysers are formed
| A discovery of Importance made during
| tnis summer was the finding of a lake
| twelve miles long. The body of water
| il one of great natural beauty and adds
one more to the scenic wonders Of a
region which practically was Unknown
until Mt. Katmai blew off its Gargan-
| tuan lid. and attracted men there for
humanity's sake. who returned in the
| interests of science.
| The party reached an unexplored end
of the valley and found volcanoes which
| hitherto have not been viewed by
| civilized men The crater of one was
half mile in diameter The explorers
traVersed 100 miles of uncommon
! country, and surveyed much of the
region. Some parts were extremely
| rugged. More than 100 miles of un-
! charted or incorrectly charted coast line
was mapped.
But some of the most valuable results
of the trip are yet to be revea;ed-those
results which only will be known after
thorough tests of the comprehensive
collection of lava specimens brought
back for Photographic examination, and
laboratory study Of many specimens of
plant and animal life.
ENplorat tons OF this sort are not a
new thing for the National Geographic
society. In the more than thirty years
of it's existence this society has sailed
I've seas. climbed the mountains. pushed
out into the frozen zones. explored other
volcanic craters, and studied the past Of
the earth
Once, the north pole was the goal an
parenty beyond the reach of men. A
founder of the society. Greedy. reached
f1rthest north; then it was the hardy
Nansen. and finally came Peary who
conquered the Jearth's ultimate north.
The society helped support his under
takings.
Mont Pelee exploded in distant
Martinique, at Messina the earth
developed an ague that destroyed a great
city and snuffed out thousands of lives,
and then Mt. Katmai, the Alaskan
Titan. exploded and to all three places
the National Geographic society sent ex-
petitions which brought back data
about the relation between volcano and
earthquake.
Another achievement was that of IN
earthing a city where conquered race
with a vanished religion had fed for
refuge. At Machu Picchu the ancient
Incas lived, and their city was preserved
for present day study by the debris of
centuries. which National Geographic
explorers removed. wealth OF infor-
nation about the people who lived here
before Columbus came was the result of
the study of these ruins. For example.
1t was found that when the Incas desired
to commemorate a heroic life 1t was
their custom to construct, as memorials.
wonderful agricultural works hanging