The Kusko times., 1932-12-10
FACTS ABOUT THERM MQNfETER
 LEFT ON MOUNT MekINLEY
 BY ARCHEDEACON STUCK
)By D. E. Stubbs, C.. E., Mckinley
 Park. Alaaka.l.


 Since the Lindley expedition,.a few month sago, brought back the mini- muh registering thermometer left on Mt. Mckinley in June, 1913, by the Stuck expedition, concerning which reports were published at the time that reading of from1a06 to 115 de- grees below zero were shown, many writers having a knowledge of Alas l kan winters have severely criticised the accuracy of the reported readings
 Since there is nothing. to indicate that temperatures as low as hun dred or more below zero have ever occurred in Alaska or anywherernear approaching such lows, the following facts are submitted in the interest of historical accuracy.
 l When the Stuck expedition partial ly climbed Mt. Mckinley. in 1913,. a minimum registering thermometer was left at an unknown elevation, in a pile of stones.
 This instrument was. known as a 1 portable type, serial Mo- ~11581 ,. the I number indicating it was. manufac- tured in June 1908. This type was probably suggested by Lieut. R. E. Peary, who took twelve of them on a polar trip. Archdeacon Stuck bought two, gave one in 1912 to a man at McGrath, on the KusknkWim, river I The other is the one he left on Mt. Mckinley. The writer owned one.
 After seasoning and boring the tube receives charge of uncolored alcohol (not. metallic mercury. as 1 ly reported when first brought inl. A small amount of air below strato- l sphere pressure is admitted. Tube is marked at two points,, generally freezing and boiling points, Fahren- heit, and as near to reaEing4 ofa30 barometer as possible. Other marks are sometimes added, spaced at equal distances, assuming the bore, of, tube to be uniform throughout it's length. This tube is then attached to a metal plate (and extending below it) which has previously been stamped with marks and figures above and below zero, marks on the tube CO., inciding as near as may be with marks on the metal scale.
 In this particular instrument the tube. not having been firmly an- chored, had slid down on the scale, reading being inaccurate by that amount
 Before sealing tube colored glass index is inserted in the bore. The in dex is round at top and flat at bottom and rather loose fit in bore. This type requires being placed horizontal ly to insure index leaving record (and differs from most minimum thermometers that require setting on an incline), and when set level will usually carry down the index when alcohol contracts, leaving index at lowest reading when it again expands. Both reports by the Lindley party and marks on the case indicate this thermometer had been wrongly set at an incline of about 2.5 degrees. So set, earth tremors and high wind vii brstions would cause the index to creep down into bulb, where it was found, and leaving no minimum rec ord at all.
 E Reported readings of from 1O6 to 115 degrees below zero, Fahrenheit, would indicate the index reached a point away below the scale and below the tube and bulb. They were merely Imaginary and had no basis of fact whatsoever. While the metal plate on which tube is mounted is stamped to read 20 degrees belo wzero, no value attaches tt Oany such figure. and is