New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-02

beacons above the clouds to the far-of mariners
on the Pacific.
ALAsKA's ICY MOUNTAINS.
The marvellous beauty of the celebrated T" In
land Passage" from Puget Sound to Southern
Alaska is known 10 hundreds of summer tourists.
but the real wonders Of that region are beyond
the limits of the - round trip to Alaska, and
only glimpse of them is granted from the usual
route of travel West of Mount Crllon and
Mount Fairweather, seen in clear weather during
the voyage from Juneau to Sitka, there stretch
more than a hundred miles of glacier-covered
peaks which surpass in stern grandeur, as well as
in elevation and ruggedness. all other mountains
in America These constitute the 81. Elias Range,
which eliminates in the great summit of the
same name, the approximate eievaton OIL which
is 1880 feet. This majestic mountain is in full
Wow from the sea and freely reveals the grandeur
Of its immense height when the clouds that usually
veil its face are blown aside. Bold climbers from
various lands have essaycd to reach the summit
of st. Elias. but have failed. The highest point
attained in these attempts about IL 900 feet
The fascination of exploring unknown regions is
SO great, however, that the time when flag will
be planted on this the highest point in America,
cannot he far distant. What device that flag
shall bear remains TO be seen. North of St Elias
and about 200 miles distant, stands its rival, the
active volcano known as Mount Wrangcll It's ele-
walton by approximate measurement is 10, 400 feet
Additional exploration is necessary, however, be-
fore the altitude of either Of these great mountains
can be considered as definitely determined. In
the wholly UNEMPLOYED region OF The Alaskan Range
to the northwest OF Mount Wrangcl there is
lofty peak that has been by only few bold
miners and adventurous traders, which is thought
10 rival in altitude even st. Elias and Wrangcll.
This newly discovered peak has as yet no place
on our maps, but if half of the reports concerning
II which one hears about Alaskan camps and
cabins are founded on fact. it Is one of the very
grandcst peaks in America. if not in the world.
COMPARISONS.
1t will be seen that thus far progressive series
has been followed, beginning with the Appala-
chans and ending with the lofty peaks of the
St. Elias and Alaskan ranges. This increase In
height toward the west is accompanied by
marked variation in the relation of various peaks
to the upper limits of timber growth and TO the
lower limit of perennial snow. The Appaachans
barely reach the upper limit OF tree growth; the
Rocky Mountains rise far above that limit and
touch the region of perennial snow; the Sierra
Nevada has small glaciers about its highest sum
mits many Of the peaks of the Cascade Range
give origin to glaciers of large size, and, finally in
Alaska the mountains are covered with snow
and ice from base to summit. While the elcva-
ton of the tmbcr-line Of the snow-linc may
not be the same for any two ranges yet the
relations which q mountain bears 10 these limits
indicate many Of its most important character
isiics The heights OF few Of the peaks Ia which
have directed attention are shown for convenience
of comparison, IN the following table. Actual
heights are given in the first column and approM-
mate visual heights in the second