The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1923-12-06
FAIRYLAND
IN ARCTIC REGION
Explorers Mapping Valley Area
Covered With Grass and
Flowers.

Washington.-What NAV prove th.
future fairyland of the fnr North i.
oelhg placed on maps of the United
States for the first time.
1t is a long, narrow valley, or SIC
cesslon of valleys, shadowed on bott
sides by snow-covered mountains
where over mile after mile of level
country rich herdsgrass grows five feet
tau, where a r~ainbOw-like profusion
OF MOVERS extends in ribbons along
the foothills, and from which even
wandering Indian families have beer
drIVen by a superstitious fear.
The existence of this country was
unrecorded and hardly suspected until
tWo parties of explorers from the
United States geological survey made
up OF Washington men, entered it with
pack horses early this summer. The
leaders of both parties, r. H. Sar-
geant, 1858 Mckinley street N. w, and
Richard A. Lynt, 1916 Lawrence street
N. t., have returned full of entfu-
siasm over the wonderland of the
North and are engaged in making ex-
= topoSldpiMCd records OF the ter
ritory.
First White Men to Explore.
with n exception they are perhaps
the first white men ever to have en-
tered the country. One lone prospec-
tor has built a cabin at the upper end
OF the valley, where ne is guarding,
year after year, a copper claim.
The country lies at the extreme
northwestern base of the Alaska pen-
insula. 1t is less than 100 miles over
Ian from that section of the territory |
which is most familiar to tourists, the
barren coastline ~surmounted by the
Aleutian mountains. Numerous ships
skirt he shore, but the prospect is so
uninviting that none suspect what lies
beyond the desOlate coast. I
Mr.. Sergeant led his party into the
valley from the north. MI. Lynt went
in from the south, making his way
through the famous val
ley of Ten Thousand Smokes the
two making scientific data along the
way and coming together somewhere
In the center. Once the mountain
range was crossed the two parties
were as much cut off from mankind as
# they were on another planet. Dur
ng the entire summer they did not
meet a human being or hardly a trace
If any who had gone before. 1
Each party carried it's entire sup
llies, food, tents, blankets, owe the
Mountains or six pack horses. =.
Silence Held Supernatural.
The valley is one of almost super
Natural silence. Most prominently
lbove it looms the volcano Katmai, !
has the reputation OF being the :
most active in the whole North. The :
Explorers claim, however, that it grad
is becoming quieter. It's frequent !
ruptions long before frightened away :
Indians. A
The country Is well watered. Noun .
ain streams thunder through it at al .
lost regular intervals. 1t has 4 con =
stock of game. The explor \
RS met frequently with the Kodiak =
ear. the largest creature Of the spe. \
Mr.. Lynt killed one. These 4
dominate the valley, feeding Z
q the smaller animals and on the .
rcAL ucTUB Oh CAIlDCu, WAlCA LdAQ NJ "a
antage OF the EXCELLENT grazing. &
The explorers report the Kodiak a. 4
comparatively ino&ensive animal, =
hich will fight only when very hun. \
or when wounded. They have q
,come so accustomed to their suprem. Il
in the country. however. that they =
low no fear OF man. =
spsak In krslss It cIiinsts. Z
Mr.. Sergeant and Nh Lynt praise 4
e country particularly for Its eli q
ate. The gress vas 20 thick that thsS
Ickhorses barely nibblsd the tops. hH
p~ecIaliy favored Places 1t grew eight
ct high. 4
The two mountain ranges cut OF
rec winds, which sweep the coast 4
but the valley still Is very windy q
times. This is held-partly respon- 4
lie for the absence of large trees.
There are, however, very thick groves
shrub aJders. The explorers found q
lvel through these like penetrating =
!, dense South American jungles. =
rhe explorers found some evidence =
may indicate oil in the valley. IA
ere is some trace Of copper I n the ~
rounding mountains. The territory tE
about $50 miles long by so miles lE
lie, making approximately 1900 IL
lare miles added to the map OF the IN
tied States. ~ U6