New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-10-12
CEnRG EIONES RLYER N7SGl


The controversy over that subterranean
sewer, "GeorgejOnes River" has been closed
by our neighbor, The Sun, in most convincing
manner. 1t had previously shown by lac
smile reproductions from well-known maps
and charts that the stream alleged to have been
discovered by Lieutenant Schwatka was pre-
viously known to geographers. In MIR. Dalfs
map of Alaska there was river flowing into
Icy Bay from the st. Elias range. The latest
chart of the United States photographic Office
also contained tracing of the same stream.
These two mans established the fact that the
existence of the river was positively known to
geographers before the ridiculous Times expe-
dltion set out to rediscoveI Old discoveries.
The Sun, while not considering it necessary to
adduce additional proofs produced section or
La PerOuse's map and portion or VancouYers
narrative in orIer to show that there were good
grounds for believing that the stream had been
discovered at least a century ago. 1t npw CON-
nletes its chain of evidence by copying sections
from two Russian maps in TebienGOTs atlas,
each of which contains the river in the precise
locality where Lieutenant Schwatka founu lt.
This atlas was published in 1919 and nearly all
subsequent charts of Alaska have been based
upon it. The river was represented In these
Russian maps because that portion OF the coast
had been repeatedly visited by official survey
ors and hunting parties and was famlllary
known.
II il unnecessary to comment upon the malic-
ions charges of Justification on the part OF me
Times which The Sun refutes without difficulty.
It WAS a characteristic exhibition of eifrontery
for n journal, which had itself printed thor
oughly dishonest and Enthusiastically map, to
raise a great hue and cry over the "bogus"
maps of its "lying" and "jealous" contem-
porary. In order to clear the ground for Lieu
tenant Schwatka's discoveries" and grotesque
nomenclature it published broadside map of
Alaska which disclosed no signs of any water
course emptying into Icy Bay. The dishonesty
of this performance will be appreciated wnen it
| ia stated that every detailed chart OF unques-
toned authority contains n tracing OF the glacial
river. II is on a level with The Timcs's reckless
charge that it's contemporaries of this town had
becn purchased by the Bell Telephone
Company, when in reality it was itself the only
journal which had either solicited or received
money from that quarter.
While congratulating The Sun upon the COM
plcteness of its exposure OF the Ceorgejones
| River humbug, We venture to suggest, III the
interest of a public that is likely to be bored by
prolonged geographical disputatlon, satisfact-
ory basis of compromise. 1t cannot be denied
that Russian hunters and surveyors have
known of the exsten co of this glacial Hume for
the greater part of century, and that since 1t
has appeared on all the standard charts Lieu
tenant Schwatka cannot be credited with dis
coYeripg il. Neither can it be denied that it
had not been named, or thought worth naming
on those charts, nor is the appropriateness of
the title bestowed by the gallant lieutenant,
whose misfortune it is to have appeared on the
scene a hundred years too late, to be seriously
disputed. AS a shallow, big-mouthed sewer
surcharged with mud ana filth. 1t was appro-
priately named the Georgejones River. Let
the name stand, or rather lie. on the map. 1t
seems to us that everybody ought to be
satisfied, if the name be added to the mex
chart published by the photographic Ofce
with the probable date of its original discovery
bracketed, as follows: GeOrgejones River
I-SfAD