1925-09-12 — Page 12

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THE CHINA MAIL.

LAGS FACH THIS INSIDE PASTAGE.

GLACIER ORIFP our FA SE

Named After John Muir Who First Saw It In 1879-Many Miles Wide and Towers 200 Feet Above Water Line-Best Known Example of a "Live Glacier."

By KATHERINE LOUISE SMITHJ

Temporary withdrawal of Glacier Bay and Muir Clavien. Alaska by executive under of April, 1924, will lead to the permanent reservation of that wonder spud. The under states that the with- drawal inviudes about 2,560,001. neres. A movement to make National Park of this remarkable region has been on foot for same time and is being pushed by scientists, professors and sunny who have seen these glacial wonders. Thu locality is mique and egally Berensible by bouts which ply north from Seattle. A few years ago Alaska and its glaciers seemed remote but souna Highs of Glacier Bay will be necessary for a who desire to know our country. Muir Glacier aqui Chueler Bay are so far as known without pendled in the worth They astound Switzerland travellers for Muir Glacier is larger and more rugged than the well-known Mer de Glace. It IVA

after namodi

the celebrated naturalist, John Muir, who saw it first 1970. He went alone to it in a canos, with hard tack in his pocket and remained several days to investigate. Many years after he went with the Herriman Expedition and at this time noted many changes that had taken place since his first visit.

Forma On Mi. Fairweather. This great Muir Glacier is

an re

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sheet that flows down the slopes of Mt. Fairweather, which is over 15,000 feet high. The Glacier enters Glacier Bay usa pallende of ice many miles wide Cand from 130 to 200 feet high. It forms in barrier across the hend of the Bay and it is calculated that its submarino base renches sover hundred or more feet below sea level. Glacier Bay, fifty mileg, long, with many branches, is the most hy inlet on Alcakn's coast and several glaciers fall into it but Muir Glacier is the largest and most wonder-1 ful. Great chunks of ice, sometimes as farge as the Flatiron Building, are con- tinually breaking off the Glacier and falling with a sound of artillery into the water. An earthquake a few years ago temporarily closed the mouth to the Bay

so that vessels could not enter. Boots jean now approach part way, though always with great caution. Muir Glacier is the inspiration and despah of artists either in werde or colour. Crouping incessantly to the water's edge Chin marvellous ice wall sends hourly crashing icebergs which ausume all manner of hues and at length float off to the sen on the Eden. Sometimes the berge form un impenetrable pack which nu bout can enter and again the Bay is only partially Alled and boate Enpproach to a respectful distance.

THE GREAT MUIR

GLACIER

THE PRIA OL

NOL

Of all of America's glaciers, Muir Glacier has recoived the chief attention of students of physical geography and has naveral times been measured and marked with monuments so changes can be noted. Grout changes took place at the time of the earthquake. only was the inlet packed with icebergs.. but the weak and brittle parts of the Glacior became more susceptible to strain. The parts encroaching on the water were altered and in one place the Glacier was cracked from top to bottom. When John Muir revisited the Glacier. many years after his first study of he noticed nie glaciers falling into Glacier Bay, where before there were Rix, and the shores of the Bay were practically denuded of trees owing to the ice movement,

Fine Example Of Live Glacier.

The Muir Glacier is perhaps the best example of a so-called "live" glacier, for there are both "live and "dead" glaciors. The former dischargo huge pieces of ice, while the latter have a morning at the foot. So interested have roountain climbers and scientists become in glaciers that there is a "Commission Internationale des Glactors that issues reports. Scientists from long study are convinced that the greater part of the glaciers of the world are becoming smaller for so many of them are mok- ing mozaines but the movement is small. What 19 a glacier? Nobody knew unti the great Aguasiz placed this branch of geology on a scientific basis and now we understand that u glacier in a sort of ice river flowing from a snow lake which is near the summit of some mountain prak, and strange to say this river of les ie constantly moving.

ຕ

CONEC PORSCHE GLACERA

As far back as 1794 Vancouver speaks of the lee streams that he saw on the Pacific Coast, and the theory is that nl the glaciers of Alaska once formed

large continuous ice shoot that flowed. along the Western Coast Geologists Hay that large and small glaciors are found in the mountains of the Pacific Coast for a ditance of two thousand miles. Those in the States ure minor to those in Alaska for the "Iceland of Alaska" extends Avo hundr 1 miles and helds both large and small glaciers, some of the latter being in subsidiary canyona and unnamed. The theory is that the Japan Current, with its mild winds, has caused the Alaska glaciers for the winds laden with moisture con tinually condenss on the mountain tops and form favourable conditions for the formation of glacial streams. Not all

the snow melts su ice streams are formed that flow down the mountain sides to the valley below.

Other Glaciers.

visitors onjoy a sight of Taku Inlet, whare two ice rivers side by side come to the sea. One of them is a river of ice clear and sparkling, a great wall of ice jutting over the water from which

iceberga come crashing with se like thundor, splashing water in the air and Alling the channel with fantastic shapes. The other ta gray and receding with a moraine between it and the sea. The Indians have. a. legend regarding this inlet and call it the Spirit's home. The "live" and sparkling glacier is really an arm of the great Llewellyn Glacier which faces on Lake An In British Columbia and which les" because of its immensity. the old Pacific Coast Indians call "Big

Many of the glaciers in this country have been explored by such men as Lo Conte, Professor Davidson and John Muir, whose names have been given to Them. In Alaska is the wonderful Davidson Glacier which is separated. from the sea by a gravel fat or moraine of considerable. depth, but the les of this indier is noted for its iridescent effects. On the Kenia Peninsula are the Childs and Spencer Glaciers. The story is told that when the late Prest dent Harding ordered his aide to fire at une of these glaciers in order to note the reverberations" the number of echoes were exactly the number for a All of the Alaskan glaciers are called presidential salutė. Many Alaskan (the Alpine type because they resemble

Resemble Swiss Glaciers.

the glaciers of Awi

of turquoiss, but those that here exposed long, to the samurphire -white with a SEMINAR

panorama of these glaciers ranges. colour from light to fridescent affecta and extends hundreds of miles from Wrangel Narrows to Skaguay. Among them are the Jumdum, uk, Windom, Yale, Surpriss and Columbia,

Almost as interesting are the glaciers of the Canadian Rockles and nearby ranges. One on Mt. Babson is almost perpendicular on one side of this high mountain. The Illecillewaet Glacier near Glacier, B. C., the best known Canadian glacier and has been carefully watched and marked by Investigators of glacier phenomena, especially an boulders have appeared on this gincler apparently pushed down from up above." Au these boulders have appeared they have been marked with rod paint and "now, several stand out in the morsino at the foot of the glacier. Measurements have been taken to discover the exact flow of this glaciar and steel plates. were all in a straight line across the In this way glacier above the morning.

It was found that this glazier, moves. about six inches a day. The Abulkan Glacier is near the Illecillewaet and by some is considered more beautiful. Its upper portions are buried in deep snow and this glacier is also retreating.

An Interesting Trip.

A trip to Alaska was once a novelty, Now. It is taken by all who wish to "See. America. First." Moreover the whole length of the no-called "Inside Passagewater bordered by bigh mountains that shat out the Pacifie and this is the road to Muir Glacier, la diversified by many enjoyments. The sunnets in thean walors are superb. The ship ploughs through watera bordered by heights that are forever white.

Whales come blowing to the surface of the water and herds of porpoises may tumble past. Then, as the western sun gleams near the horizon the vessel seems riding on in violet, carmine and gold expanse. Some nights. the sky is glorified by the IDRIİDE splendor of the Aurora Borealis, shim- mering, quivering, flashing from horizon to zenith At times it overspreads the sky and at other seasons it looks like

a. coloured arch.

Perhaps Mair Glacier was soon by the men of the small wohooner the FM.S. "Queen Charlotte," that boat of carly romance, which floated the Royal Standard of Spain as the plied up and down these shores in 1787. The Hudson Bay men may have stopped dickering with Indians long enough to gaze with awe on this stupendous ice wall and Captain Cook with his ships "Resolute" and "Discovery" surely heard of this incomparable gincier if he did not see It Within a few years Muir Glaciar will become the most remarkable of our National scenic assets, unmarred by.. man and presenting to the world marvellous sight as the huge lee front crumbles her crystal els into Glacier Bay.

Surveyors Measure Stream Flow Every Day in the Year- Wading and Cable Cars-Value Measurements.

By FRANKLIN JOHNSON.)

of

Wuding is a scientific matter when undertaken by the men who measure the water-power resources of the nation. Accuracy in gauging the volume of atroam-flow is net a problem to be worked out in a cozy office with steam heat and mahogany desks. The one way to procura selontiac data on this subject is to go to the streams them- selves and go to the bottom of them.

1 Precise knowledge of stream-flow one of the fundamentals of mad

maderz progress. Without such information thero no chance for the development of power for industrial purposes. Ne engineer will undertake to construct great power plant without definite data concerning the volume and speed of the stream on which the plant is to be located.

Varying Volume Of Water. The reasons are obvious." Streams Kro full of eccentricities.

The moun- tair rivers of the United States have a habit changing their characteristics over night. The stream which to-day shows a potential development of ten thousand horse-power may dwindle to nothing before the end of thirty days. The torrential river of June, with thirty fest of depth, way shrink to the polat of easy wading before the first of 'August.

Because of this tendency to change cach stream must be studied through- out the your. The engineer does not feel really acquainted with a river until be knows what it will do at each season. He must be informed on its maximum flow, at time of heavy rains or molting. snows; and he must be familiar with its low water murk after a long dry spall:

ERING GAGE,

From his mountain camp the surveyor may travel in a light outomobile or he may scramble afoot. Methods of trans- pertation vary with the topography, The one thing that counts is "getting on the Job."

IPTITIVE FASHIONÍ

TAGGING THE MOUNTAIN TORRENT

perhaps equal longth Stream messure- of Alaaks. Wherever there is potential; total volume of water passing between rents, therefore, constitute a labour, in water-power the surveyor of the United), the two banks, the surveyor must know; which the required reqnits, call for the

heat of summer with unflinching forti- States Geological Survey packs his the depth as well as the velocity. His exercise of

inlaite pat

patience and per

tudge-Thair work takes them: In Ylaces hoota into his dunnage and goes forth depth measurements are already made, aistence, deren parke to take up his stand on the bridge and The importance of this work is not which most people would regard as to his wading.

and are readily, available in the fonn There are many streams in which the drop his mater into the current from to be questioned. With the rapid inaccessible. Dimculty of approach is of a prodle chart of the river bed. This water la beyond wading depth. In these this point of vantage. Not the less depletion of the world's fuel supply never known to interfere with the chart shows the depth at every point cases the serverer must work from merit of bridge measuremaale, trong: the thorn it increasing need for the develop under taking in hand. ti the between banke. Simple mathematical above, the current His method is viewpoint of the surveyor, la the apvor, ment of water power the massume lamade up of rugged", fountain” idea calculation: mables the surveyor to simple and effective. From a tree or, a unity for human contact. In the cable | monta ad seled by the Goological Survey, and jagged rocks the surveyors windy reach accurate, determination of the atout tripod, on the bank, he stretches car and invading the observer: 1. farnish the information arequired for clamber to their goal by mala quantity of water passing his "station" a strong wire cable across the river altogether isolated and exiled. On proper development of this great type and its the skill of the seasoned

with its other end fastened on the brides he hue a zhando to pass the time of nationsí-resourón..... ach second, t

opposita bank. This cable serves as his" of day, with users of the filghway with Another · alerter

of importance is thel canoes: becomes. lupasiebie: the-depe ence of all the great mie or two the voyagers CATEY The figures thus achieved, are then and observatory. The surveyur helpful interruption of the montonous found

uses it for suspending a car in which character of the day's routine

baale indust

fance of water craft overlandia de Thare la no way to acquire the electric current meteran ingenious figures of to-day only. To-morrow needed familiarity without the delly device for registering the velocity of the they may be worthles & rise of the can seat hinisel for prolonged and Fishing Through

observation Pulling the car' to any record of stream under all condi- stream-flow. To the casual: observer of half an inch in the height of the | dexiest position between the two banks tions of weather and water. Properly the aparatus suggests a new-fangled stream may change the focord by yhod of the river he makes hin mature trasted, the river will write its own bob for trout fishing. It is an outfit sands of cubic feet to the seconds. For ments at required, intervals with the crederd, but not for the man who stayn:] with delicate mochenism calculated 42 | this reason it in nudessary

same accuracy procurable knwadage doors. The secret is given to none measure, the pulse of the empent, and metrarements from day but him who will brave the elements to tell the story of water-power (from year to you. The and cultivate acquaintanceship with the possibilities. rivar in its own stamping ground.pe The man drops the meter into the lyutas at the re

G@Tüleyis where hip: 300la ɛbecqme a necessity. Strictly speaking, they are mot hip boots at all. They come to the armpits and at times the surveyor will

When The Wading: Begins. Arrived at his station' the engineer hurrows into his books and begins wading. In one hand he carries an

current at five foot intervala!- Wisen he hapls it up for inspection he is able read the record written by the sta itself the record of the speci

Farron that they hhould come several the current, la passing the

Lost higher,

Yospot at that particular

Suppose we follow the wairar, in hisruppating the opPEAK of Perhaps he is surveying. The aufpryor Shine bection of the Grand River in Colorado, rapidity of tasteure Porribly has somewhere in the batik?

Alleghanies or in the Adirondacks it This

#not unlikely that he is in the widening To

Figures Always Changing.

Stel another form of the frosch, mælace: off the stream/ of which inrvers, may Winters

in manufacture Some of the true thrills at the #917 fand-lainining vice are found in Alaska, where Arotic Zundamental; "gleciem develop problems of cladiriinai

of the supply - W/ typuj Is, surmounting thass

See the surveyor trust blend the

of the Alpine guide with the Fund resourcefulness of the

Through the