62 • ILLINOIS STATE ACADEMY OF SCIENCE 



frequently occurs. A gully developed by the spring 

 freshets of one year is shown in the accompanying pic- 

 tures. The down-cutting was creating market changes in 

 the topography. The lumps of peat dislodged frequently 

 were deposited in short distances with their plants undis- 

 turbed, and these then continued their growth in their 

 new situation. Retrogression due to drainage of a pre- 

 viously undrained area would naturally give rise to more 

 xerophytic conditions. In locations where this had hap- 

 pened, a lichen association was found over-growing the 

 former plant association. The plants of this former as- 

 sociation did not die completely, but continued to live in 

 less vigorous condition and send occasional shoots above 

 the over-growing lichens. 



These observations were made in the month of our 

 stay in the Kougarok. "We left there on the third of Sep- 

 tember and traveled overland to Nome, a "mush" of 

 about one hundred fifty miles, with an Alaskan pack sad- 

 dle carrying all our luggage. The weight was easy to 

 carry because of the comfort of the pack in spite of the 

 difficult walk ; and the weather was the most beautiful of 

 the whole summer. At Shelton we took the Seward Pen- 

 insula Railroad, an old track laid for use with gasoline 

 engines in the days when Shelton hummed with gold pros- 

 pects. Since then no one is left living in Shelton, and the 

 railroad is unrepaired. Its rails are frequently missing, 

 and sometimes the tundra beneath the track has sunk 

 out of sight; yet in spite of danger, it is easier travel 

 than walking, and it is used by individuals who hitch 

 their dogs to small hand cars and enjoy traveling at the 

 greatest speed of five to six miles an hour on the up- 

 grades and twenty miles an hour or more on the down 

 grades. For excitement and adventure, there can be no 

 rival for the Seward Peninsula Railroad ! 



The journey of nearly four months resulted in only 

 meager results. It was not primarily a Botanical ex- 

 pedition, altho that was the main interest of the writer. 

 But it served as an introduction to a novel land of delight 

 for all those who love adventuring in the open and a land 

 of possibility for Botanists who wish an unexplored field. 

 The Northward Course of Empire by Steffanson can 



