Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1923-02-03
is MANS FRIEND
Volcano Wrongly Considered as
an Enemy.
Furnishes Carbon Dioxlde, Without
Which There Could BE No Animal
Life Possible.

II might be a surprise to many to be
told that the iire-spitting, laya-spout-
ing. earth-rocking volcano is one Of
mankind's best friends rather than his
arch enemy, but such was the surpris-
ing declaration to the conference Of
geography Of the National Education
association of Boston.
The most tremendous volcanic erup-
ton Of history, that of Mount Katmai
in Alaska, in 1912, described In this
connection by Or. Robert F. Griggs,
leader of several parties sent to the
scene Of the cataclysm by the National
Geographic society, and who discovered
the valley of Fen Thousand Smokes,
katmais ueighbor wonder Of nature.
Mankinds debt TO the volcano has
been more fully recognized by results
Of recent researches, says bulletin
OF the society describing the upheaval
Without volcanoes, 1t Is now believed,
thie would be no ocean and TO vol
canoes We are indebted for carbon
dioxide, without which life could not
exist
The explosion Of Katmal, the confer
ence was told, was unnoticed be-
cause 1t was SO far from the centers
Of civilization Had the eruption oc-
Cured near New York city, the bulle-
tin declares, the sulphurous fumes
would have polluted the air every.
where east of the Rocky mountains;
the noise would have reverberated ike
an artillery duel across the central
states. The lower Hudson itself would
have been turned into a gigantic tomb.
However, due to the lack Of populu-
ton in that far region, there WAS no
loss Of life. and the eruption provides
scientists and geNgraphers now one Of
their greatest opportunities to study
the phenomena Of the cataclysm
Though generally unaware of the
eruption until long after, every inhab-
liant of the country. and almost Of the
world, felt its effects. one of which
was the cold damp summer Of 1912.
This was caused by the interrogation
of sunlight by the long-hanging dust
cloud in the upper air Even in cloud
less Sahara. it was declared, the sky
was overcast
A succession Of such mighty eXplo-
sions could plunge the earth into an
other ice age, il is believed.
An area around Katmai, larger than
the state Of Delaware, was covered
that summer by more than foot OF
volcanic ash, which was enough TO de
stroy all but the hardest Of yegeta-
ton. When the explosion occurred
two cubic miles Of material were blown
off the top Of the mountain, and the
present whereabouts of the mountain
top i stlll mystery to scientists.
The Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes
from which arises virtually millions Of
steam Jets in a scene OF unsurpassed
grandeur and beauty is believed %
have been an aftermath OF the cata-
clysm
President Wilson turned aside from
the stress Of war to make this region
a national monument second TO none In
the world. While the country is 80 re
mote that the few white men who have
viewed Its wonders have been members
Of the society's expeditions. the edu'
Gators were told, it is easily accessible
from sheltered bay christened in
honor Of the society, and a 5O-mile
roadway viii some day place it within
the compass Of the automobile tourist.