World’s Oldest Caves Will be Explored

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7169, 17 March 1930, Page 5

World’s Oldest Caves Will be Explored

CAVERNS IN NEW MEXICO. AMERICAN. EXPEDITION i' [ - \ ~ . / : v - LEAVES FOR CARLSBAD. .NEW-YORK. An expedition which will explore the vast underground region, known as the • Carlsbad - Cavern in New Mexico -left this city February 9. The caves which are: said to .be the largest and geologically tho oldest underground caverns ever discovered, .have been explored only in comparatively small- parts. Extensive . photographs ~ of region will be- made. - . . . .. - . Frank Ernest Nicholson,. author and I traveller,. • who/ organised the ,expedi-

tion, declared that the word cave is inadequate to convey the size and grandeur of the subterranean chambers.

“It is a whole underground country,” he declared. “One of tho huge chambers, 750 feet below the surface, is, so vast • that three New York skyscrapers would almost be lost in it. As far as-we know, thero is no life in the. cave except that of some 3,000,000 bats who live somewhere in its depths. The Federal Government, which declared the cave a national park-in 1923/ has pumped out of the upper cave, large quantities of guano. There must be more further down, and a find of, that kind would-be very valuable to the Government.” Hidden River Sougnt. The fact-that the air in the caves is purified every'24 hours, would indicate that, there must be either a hidden river ' or another entrance, Mr. Nicholson believes. Indeed, the chances are two to one that a subterranean river flows through the 1:

caves, he said, and the party has included collapsible boats in its equipment for use in caso of any discovery of this kind. Stalactites which hang from the ceiling of the chamber, 500 feet above the floor, will be studied at close range by means of a Goodyear balloon. The balloon used in the unusual experiment has an observation post on top of the gas bag and will make a captive ascension in the huge chamber, 750 feet below the surface. Capt. Mount Eobb will have charge of the balloon inflation and ascension.

Bottomless Pit. In the floor of this huge chamber is a hole 350 feet deep, according to Mr. Nicholson, at the bottom of which previous explorers have. glimpsed another cavern. With block and tackle, members of the party will be. lowered down this hole to the lower level. This unexplored level of caves has been glimpsed also from other points I of the explored area. In one chamber is a “bottomless pity” down which J

weights were said to have been lowered for 21 miles, until they, broke off of their own weight. In another chamber is a ledge known as the “jumping-off place,” from which can be seen far below the entrance of a passage leading off somewhere into the earth.

A short-wave radio set, photographic apparatus, flares and flashlight guns, carrier pigeons and 50 pounds of highly concentrated food for each member of the party are included in the equipment. The party, which left here in two automobiles and a truck, includes Mme. Mally Wild de Villareal, traveller and writer; Charles J. Bclden and Ernesto Villareal, photographers; Tom Davin, journalist; Geron Lynn, geologist, and Edward J. Eoberts, in charge of equipment. Dr. Howard Grubbs, mineralogist, and Dr. C. E. physician, will join the party at Wichita Falls, and Douglas Oliver of Atlanta, Ga., Boy Scout wno recently returned from a trip with Mr. and Mrs. Martin Johnson in Africa, will, join the group at Washington