Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-08-24
RIVAL TO THE ALPS.
Senator Ednunds Enthusiastic over q
Washington Territory Glacier.

Correspondence OF the Portland pregonianl
NEw-TAcoMA, Washington, June 23.-
Senator Edmnnds, accompanied by Il. F.
Oakes, First Vice President of the North
ern Pacific Railroad ; Lieut. Arthur,
United States Navy, and j. NJ. Berkeley,
General Manager of the Western Divi-
sion of the line, left Tacoma on Wednes-
day, the 20th for the glaciers reported rs
existent on Mount Tacoma by Mr.. b.
Willis, of the Geological Survey. They
spent two days on the way to the glaciers
in inspection Of the Carbon Hill coal sys-
TEN, and on the third day returned from
the foot of the glaciers to Tacoma, arriv-
ing at I p. IN. Next morning they left
for Kalama by special train, accompanied
by correspondent of the Oregonian, to
whom Senator Edmunds said, in refer
ence to his "trip:
"I absolutely never believed there was
anything in America comparable in gran
deur to the scenery have seen on my
necessarily brief visit to Mount Tacoma.
The access, thanks to the well-cut trails
made by. the engineer of the Northern
Pacific Railroad, is easy and, as / learn
from Mr.. Oakes, will lbe made rs easy as
carriage-road, OF nearly. within month
from now. To express half of my admi-
ration for the transcendent grandeur Of
every part of the scenery, and especially
of the glacier, would be impossible. A
more perfect glacier, in all the features
found Ill such phenomena. it would be
impossible to find. Certainly no Alpine
glacier excels it in perfection, and yet, as
/ was given to understand, it is the least
in point of size of all that have been dis
covered on this mountain. i cannot help
saying that I am thoroughly convinced
that no resort in the United States will be
so much sought after as this what once
people come to know that when men cross
the Atlantic to see can be seen in equal
splendor, if not surpassed, ut home.
81 hear doubts expressed as to whether
Mount Tacoma can be ascended, but a
steady head, sure foot, reliable alpen-
stock, and n little determination could
probably accomplish what is, of course,
very daring feat. New-Tacoma has q
from which to start to this the grandes,
of all American mountains, and learr
from Mr.. Oakes that guides and all con
veniences will be afforded to tourists de
sirous of visiting this magnificent scene
If Switzerland is rightly called the play
ground OF Europe, am satisfied tina
around the base of Mount Tacoma viii
become prominent place of resort no
for Americans only, but for the world be
sides.
81 need not deal with the particulars G
our journey, as you can get them minute
ly logged by my young friend Lieut. Al
thur. Let me only add this much in thi
regard, that nothing could be, to me 6
least, more enjoyable than the gradui
approach to the inner circle of the coul
where the monarch of our Norther
mountains reigns supreme. The emt
tions stirred in ones breast-at least the
were in mine-completely defy all I'll
powers of language to express. Whe
we reached the foot of the glaciers, foo
sore and weary as we We're, could n,
help pausing i'll breathless silence as v
reviewed this majestic mass of ice, in
bedded in tho bosom of this gigant
monarch among the Alps. If it was n
the grandest of the group, as we were i
formed by Mr.. Willis, who was one
our party, it was enough magniicence +
us. The stupendous sides of the cane
in which the glacier lay formed settiI
perfect in its harmony OF contrast, if Il
term be admissible to the pagodas al
pinnacles of the secluded mass of ice.
81 have been through the Swiss mou
tains, and am compelled to own that,
credible as the assertion may appei
there is absolutely no comparison betwe
the finest effects that are exhibited the
and what is seen in approaching Il
gland isolated mountain. l would
willing to go 500 miles again to see ii
scene. The continent is yet in ignoral
of the existence of what will be one
the grandest show-places, as well as
sanitarium."