The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-04-01

B0tanist Funston Will Make q
Study Of It.
COLLECTIONS IN DUPLICATE.
VIII Mako . Trip to Headwsters oi
Yakea ond . Journey - the
APtie Circle.

TACOMA. March 31.1Special lEFrede-
rick Funston, special agent Of the depart
ment OF agriculture. will leave Tacoma on
sunday night for Alaska by the City of
Topeka, to make study Of the plant life
OF the Yukon valley from the source
OF that river to its mouth.
His work will consist not only
In making collections of the
hors Of the region. but in obtaining all the
information possible regarding growth
and geographical distribution Of the var,-
Gus species and in learning the uses made Of
plants By the natives. Collections of plants
Will b made in duplicate, one specimen
OF each species to be deposited in the ma
tional. herbarium ut Washington City
and the others distributed by the depart
ment of agriculture among the various
educational institutions Of the country.
The general purpose OF the work is more
scientific than economic. Mr.. Funston
carries with him number of instruments
from the weather bureau to be
used in making observations regarding
temperature, humidity, wind and rainfall.
This Is only incidental to the main pur-
pose OF the trip. which il . study Of the
plant life OF the region visited. He will
also collect materials Of native workman
ship for exposition in the national mu-
scum.
On reaching juneau. about April 10, Mr..
Funston will join party Of miners bound
for the placer mines on Forty Mile creek,
located near where the Yukon river
crosses the eastern boundary of Alaska.
The trip from juneau to the
headwaters Of the Yukon will be
made by way of the Chilkoot pass on
snowshoes. Indians accompanying Is far
As the lakes at the rivers source to carry
the camp outfit.
Here, on the shore of Lake Marsh,
spruce trees will bs whipsawed into
rough boards and 1at-bottomed
boats constructed for the journey of
700 miles down the river to McQuestin's
Post, which is only about eighty miles
from the placer mines on Forty Mile
creek. This point will be reached about
June Is and will be headquar-
tiers for botanical work until
March Is, 1884. From here, &C
companied by one Esquimo. q
twenty days. journey will DO made BY dog
sledges due north across an entirely unex-
plored region to hampart House, q Hud-
son Bay company's trading post within
the Arctic circle, whore the Porcupine
river crosses the eastern boundary of
Alaska.
He will remain here until June 20. 1894,
when he will start alone in q birch
bark canoe down the Porcupine
river to its junction with the Yukon
and down the latter river. . distance of
1,5OO miles, to its mouth, camping on
shore at night and drifting with the cur
rent in day time.
st. Michaels, an Alaska Commercial
Company trading post located on the coast
of Norton's sound, near the mouth of the
Yukon. will DO reached late in August of
passage on the revenue cutter Bear, re-
turning from its annual trip to the Arctic
ocean, and will arrive at San Francisco
after an absence of eighteen or twenty
months.
Mr.. Funston's Republicanism was no
bar to his being retained by the present
administration In position which
can be filled only by man
having special knowledge of the
work and the necessary experience
to carry it out. He was employed in the
summer Of 1880 In making botanical COL
iections for the department in portions of
North Dakota and Manitoba, and was as
sistant botanist of the famous Death Valley
expedition OF 1891, spending nine months
in that region. and last year made fine
collection in the vicinity of Yakutat bay,
Alaska, . report of which will soon be
published by the agricultural department.
Mr.. Funston will be the guest of r. B.
Whitaker until the steamer sails on Sun
piDh