St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-11-01
ALASKAN EXPLORATIONS.

AT the time Mr.. SEWARD negotiated The
purchase Of Alaska and added it to the ter
ritorial possessions of the United States,
people were disposed to laugh at it as Wis
ionary project, and regarded it just that
much money thrown away. 1t has been
demonstrated since that the purchase was q
valuable one. The result of explorations
made during the past summer will fully con-
firm the wisdom of Mr.. SEwARD's policy,
for it is likely to prove one of the best in
vestments this country has ever made. The
United States revenue cutter CorWin was
sent out from San Francisco last April with
two exploring parties on board. One was
under command of Lieut.. CANTwELL
who explored the Kowak river. and the
other commanded by Engineer McLENE-
GAN was sent to explore the River Noitak,
both of which streams enter into Kotzebue
sound and neither of which was ever before
explored by white men above its mouth.
It will be observed that all the rivers of
Alaska not named by Europeans end with
the monosyllable ak, which in the language
of the Arctic Indians signifies river, the
prefix to this term generally referring to
some characteristic feature of the stream
named.
In an interview with the New York
Herald the officers commanding the
various expeditions give some inter-
esting details of their explorations. The
party which proceeded up the Korvak in a
steam launch consisted of Lieut.. CANT
WELL, @. II. TOWNSEND of the United
States fish commission, two seamen and ten
Indians. After reaching the rapids of the
river Mr.. TOWNSEND was left in command
of the launch and Lieut.. CANTwELL con-
tnued on his explorations with skin boats.
The explorer experienced considerable
trouble in making Roadway. as the
was at times shallow and OBJ
structed by rocks carried down by
glacial action. The banks of the
stream were covered with growth of
thick brush and small trees, which necessi-
tated the pulling of the boat in the stream.
After journeying over one hundred miles
the explorers came to place which the In
dams said was the head of navigation. 1t
was gorge, and the walls rose at places
perpendicuarly to the height of six hum
dred feet, forming canyon of stupendous
proportions. The water rushed through
the gorge with deafening noise, leaping
from rock to rock in great waves. Beyond
this gorge the river widened. and the voy-
ayers proceeded. The stream kept on en-
larging until place was reached resem-
bling small archipelago of islands.
The party labored sixteen hours day
,e&o Il fab D,,i bo0 OIL
of July the last tributary of the Korvak was
reached and it was found to be of larger
volume than the main stream. The explor-
els pushed onward and finally reached the
source of the Korvak, which derives its
water from large lake surrounded by high
and precipitous mountains. By portages
several small lakes were found to be con-
nected with the main lake. Soundings
were made IN the large body of water but
a forty-fathom line did not touch bottom.
The party made expeditions up the tribu-
tary streams, and, after penetrating into the
interior of Alaska for the distance OF $50
miles, began their return journey. Lieut..
CANTwELL reported having encountered
Lieut. SToNEY about $50 miles from the
mouth of the Korvak river, and stated that
he was building winter quarters, naming his
new house Fort Cosmos. Lieut.. CANTwELL
discovered that communication is possible
between Kotzebue sound and the settle
ments of the Yukon by means of the Yukon
river, as portage was found which con-
meets the Korvak and Koyoukuk rivers.
Engineer MCLENEGAN's explorations
were directed up the Norfolk. which flows
into the Arctic ocean forty miles north of
the Arctic circle. With skin canoe and
volunteer seaman. McLENEGAN proceeded
up the river at the rate of fifteen miles
day. About two hundred and fifty miles
from the mouth gorges were passed of i'm
mense dimensions, and canyons seen whose
sides lowered upward for 1000 feet above