He overlooked an important feature, however, in not accepting
Professor Comstock's idea of the tube having a double curve. The double
curve is, or was, conspicuous in both the caves. Unfortunately, its
perfection in Wind Cave was necessarily partially sacrificed to make the
passage traversable for visitors; but in describing the enormous labor
of opening up the cave, Mr. McDonald showed how an arching "crawl" had
been worked down by blasting, and the depression beyond filled to raise
it to the desired level for securing the present easy passage at the
bottom of the main tube, which is the entrance passage. This double
curve in the tube is simply the rough original of the S trap of sanitary
plumbing. In both caves it is somewhat irregular and deformed, but the
familiar "trap" is easily recognized. The destruction of one of the
Yellowstone geysers was, no doubt, due to the breaking of the S. One of
the many reasons for establishing military control over the Park is said
to have been the disastrous results following the introduction of a
large quantity of soap into the geyser to cause a premature eruption.
The impatience of the party was rewarded by an eruption accompanied by
explosions that shook the earth for a great distance, and the geyser has
not been seen in action since.
Dr. Peal finds the theories advanced for the generation of steam
unsatisfactory and insufficient, especially in the class of geysers
having a long steam period.
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