Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-08-15
VOLCANIC WONDERS
National Geographic Society Makes a
Remarkable Discovery. .
TREMENDOUS ERUPTION IN FAR ALASKA
If the CatacIysm Had Occurred In
New York II Would Have Destroyed
One-fovrth of the American Cont


Ono fourth of the American Cont
nent
When Katmai volcano, in Alaska,
blow OFF its top the cloudlcss sky of
Sahara was overcast and the United
States had the cold, damp summer of
1912, which weather observers could
not account for at thGt time, accord
ing to DR.. Robert +. Griggs, who spoke
recently before the Conference on Gc-
ography, National Educational associ-
alton, Boston.
Had the eruption occurred in New
York city not soul would have sur
vivcd in Manhattan, the thundcrous
noise would have rolled across the
central states and sounded like an ar
tillery duel even in St. Louis. and the
sulphur fumes would have polluted the
air of all the territory cast of the
Rocky mountains, the speaker said.
So remote is Katmai that not n soul
was killed in this terrific upheaval,
and the amazing effects are just be-
coming known as the findings of the
National Geographic Society cXDedi-
tions, of which DR.. Griggs was the
leader are announced.
For the first time a scientific eXpedi-
ton of this kind was accompanied by
motion picture camera men and re-
markable motion pictures of the Mt.
Katmai region and the adjoining
eighth wonder of the world" the VAL
ley of Ten Thousand Smokes, were ex-
hibited.
While Katmai's explosion was the
invitation to scientific study, the VAL
ley of Ten Thousand Smokes which
the expeditions discovered, will be a
perpetual laboratory for scientists and
one of the most remarkable scenic
Fairgrounds among our national parks
second in size only to Yellowstone, and
displaying phenomena to be seen no
where else in the world.
This valley, which recently was set
aside as a national monument, pre-
sents a panorama of rolling clouds of
vapor that arise in never ending
streams and so billowing off down the
valley with mile-long trails behind
them.
Upon closer inspection this steam is
seen to pour from vents, called fuma-
roles, and upon it's emergence it is
sometimes six times as hot as ordi
nary steam-so hot that a single
breath would be fatal. Everywhere
these fumaroles produce colorful en-
crustations, now a mass of bright yell
low sulphur, now chunk Of ash turn
ed red and blue by the action of heated
gases, now lump of pure white sill
cious material. Members of the expe-
dition cooked their meals over them,
once they learned TO hold down their
frying pans against the force of the
uprushing stream.
Though remote, this newest member
of tho national Park family is not in
accessible. a commodious harbor' was
the expeditions, ard named Geograph-
c Harbor in honor of the society
which directed the explorations.
A falling mountain that rumbles as
it disintcgrates, lake where one may
get bath hot, cold or any tcmpcra-
ture desired by swimming few
strokes, and, perhaps most amazing OF
all. streams with trout that will bite
at almost any bait, are among the
marvels of this Alaskan wonderland
described by DIR. Griggs.
Pictures are no longer teaching
luxury. but an absolute necessity in
many branches of study, according to
Miss Erna Grassmuck, director of ge-
ography in the state department of
education of Pennsylvania, who pre-
sided ut the conference.
Both newspapers and magazines of
fer picture sources which should be
more generally utilized, both in the
school and in the home, Miss. Grass
mucl; said.
That which attracts the child of
two years and still holds the attention
of the octogcnarian is worthy of care
ful analysis in the teaching process"
Miss Grassmuck continued.
Pictures make n decided contribu-
tion in helping us to understand and
thus appreciate the problems confront
ing the various people of the world be
they Tibetans, BOlivians, Kaffirs, or
Armenians. Not less do thcy make us
feel one with, the people OF Massachu-
sctts, Louisiana, California even