Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-07-24

Tacoma and the Other Alpine Peaks Of
Washington Territory.
Lieut. Schwatka In the New York Times.

Lieut.. Schwatka In the New York Times
Olympia Is very picturesQuey situated at the
head OF the sound" although In this respect
Ii differs but little from the other cities there
al oil them being on high rolling shore, with
most beautiful background of tall frs, sur
mounted by high, snow.clad peaks. All
through oregon Mount Hood has been in sight,
ana yet can be seen this far north. Due east,
almost, are Mounts st. Helens and Adams, ap-
parentiy but little lower, and by the time Te-
nino Is reached Mount Tacoma (once called
i halnier, and still so called by the Oldest and
ne clear and favorable bursts into view, the
nlgnest OF Them all. From Tacoma, the end of
smp' Uao Inc view OF this grand mountain Is
$500 Ieet above the level of the sea at our
s lseI; No other mountain in the United
as q. Tacoma, for the simple reason that
II Is the highest mountain therein above
On in ths 1. rests few Sa other
nttie higher level above the sea- but nearly all
81 them spring from range or plateau already
man. III. ieet above. How disappointing are many
OF the Rocky mountain peaks of $4,000 TO
1000 feet I'm height TO one who has seen Taco
tbsy sn1n ana for the simple rsason that
leet above sea level, and seem as they are, but
t nign bills on high plateau. How like pigmies
ahey appear to Tacoma, Hood and others, prob
ably not so high above the ocean base line, but
whose nearly every loot above sea level is in
NOUN mountain slope When 1 speak Of the United
states, however, mean to omit Alaska, with
the king Of the continent, Mount St. Elias. The
pest view OF Mount Tacoma that know of is
rom the tower-like cupola OF the Tacoma hotel
In The city of the same name, q hosiery almost
entirely devoted to tourists and undoubtedly
ane best north OF San Francisco Il was built
ana furnished at a cost of over $780, 1000, and
SHOWS that the money was well spent, aud even
at the risk OF some tree advertising cannot re-
ram from commencing the public-spirited
feeling which puts up such q magnificent build
Ing expecting to lose $40, 900 year on the in.
vestment, rather than be worsted by rival
in q o fny of -
The best time TO see these snow-ca d peaks Of
the Cascade range is in the spring or fall. In
lowering weather make the chances few IL the
traveller has but day or two TO depend upon 1t
being always possible. however, to see some OF
lneih III ne has week or two to spare In the
summer the smoke from the burning timber in
the mountains may equally obscure these grand
sights, although this impedment does not occur
every season by any manner of means. can
remember as "a boy years ago when these heavy
forest fires in Oregon and Washington occurred
only at rare intervals-every five or six years,
perhaps-and it was thought then that their
IaVages would cease as the population increased
ana roads were cut through the timber and
neIds We're cleared at intervals to prevent their
spread; but the very conditions that were ex.
pected TO decrease them have acted in lust
the reverse manner, and incoming population
seeking new homes mas only added to the num-
Der and frequency of fires. OF course there
must come time when these fires will reach
thelr maximum mum Der and steadily decrease
after that as the population increases. The
early fail rains beat down the smoke and clear
the atmosphere so tina. all the mountains can
De seen-tae Three Sisters, Mounts Jefferson,
Rood st: HeIens, Adams, Tacoma and Baker.
vi these Mount Hood is the most graceful and
Rrettlly formed and Tacoma the most majestic.
Ihe latter has EO less than fifteen glaciers upon
It's Ioch-Dound TANKS that have been dscOv
cred ana mapped out, while doubtless many
others exist A trail leads from an accessible
point In civilization near by to the sides OF the
mountain and some two-thirds of the way UP
1t. past anu over some three OF the known glu.
clers. Guides and camping and Alpine outfits
can now be had in Tacoma. Hardly summer
passes that parties are not made up to ascend
the mountains rs far as they can, this kind of
ascent being perfectly free from danger. even
Tor ladies. Comparing the glaciers of Tacoma
Vermont, has said that the greatest effects he
saw IN a long tour in the Alps could not COM
Mount Tacoma