The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1923-12-04
find FAIRYLAND
IN ARCTIC REGION
Explorers Mapping Valley Area
Covered With Grass and
Flowers.

Washington.-What may prove the
future fairyland of the far North IL
being placed on maps of the United
States for the first time.
1t is bong, narrow valley, or sue
cession of valleys, Swallowed on both
sides by sno~-covered mountains,
where over mile after mile of level
country rich herdsgrass grows five feet
tall, where q rainbow-l like. profusion
Of flowers extends in ribbons along
the foothills, and from which even
wandering Indian families have been
driven by 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, 1915 Lawrence street
N. E., have returned full of enthu-
siasm over the wonderland of the
North and are engaged in making ex-
act Typographical records of the ter
ritory.
First White Men to Explore.
With one exception they are perhaps
the first white men ever to have en-
tered the country. One lone prospec-
tor has built cabin at the upper end
of the valley, where he is guarding,
year after year, copper claim.
The country lies at the extreme
northwestern base of the Alaska pen
land from that section OF the territory
which is most familiar to tourists, the
barren coastline surmounted by the
Aleutian mountains. Numerous ships
skirt the shore, but the prospect is SO
uninviting that none suspect what lies
beyond the desolate coast.
Mr.. Sergeant led his party into the
valley from the north. Mr.. Lynt went
In from the south, making his way
northward 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
If they were on another planet. Dur
ing the entire summer they did not |
meet human being or hardly trace |
Of any who had gone before.
Each party carried its entire sup
plies, food, tents, blankets, oter the
mountains on six pack horses.
Silence Held Supernatural.
The valley is one of almost super.
natural silence. Most prominently
above it looms the volcano Katmai.
which has the reputation Of being the
most active in the whole North. The
explorers claim, however, that it grad
1ally is becoming quieter. Its frequent
long before frightened ava:
he Indians.
TIE country is well watered. Noun
ain streams thunder through 1t at a.
most regular intervals. 1t has 4 con
siderable stock Of game. The explor
RS met frequently with the Kodiak
year. the largest creature of the spe-
les. Mr.. Lynt kill0 one. These
.reatures dominate the valley, feeding
III Tile SuidIicI uAlhid dna oA St'S |
,reat herds Of caribou which take ad-
antage of the excellent grazing.
The explorers report the Kodiak as
comparatively inoffensive animal.
which will fight emily when very hun
nv or when wounded. They have !
ecume so accustomed to their suprem
cy in the country, however, that they
how no fear Of man.
Speak in Pralse Of Climate.
Mr. Sergeant end Mr. Lynt psafse
he country particularly for IT. eli. {
,ate. The grass WAS so thick thAt the s
ackhorses Barely nisbied the tops. In c
specially favored places it grew eight /
set high. ~
The two mountain ranges cut oil S
cree winds. which sweep tine coast b
ne, but the valley st1a is very windy f
times. This fs bold partly respon !
Bile for nhe absence Of large trees. t
There are, however, very thick groves p
shrub aIders. The explorers found
avel through these like penetrating \
70 dense South American jungles.
The explorers found some evidence
hich may indicate oil in the valley.
here is some trace Of copper In the G
mountains. The territory e,
about $50 miles long by so miles ci
ide, making approximately 7,Ot p
uare miles added to the map of the a
nited States. Fl