The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-05-23

Three Miles VIA. a.d Three Hundred
Feet IN Thickness.


Feet In Thickness.
To the average mind this territory IL a
small piece OF land. with a few out
lying isianos TAR to tho north, and pos
sesslng but few points OF interest TO
any other than the trador eager 10 swap
brIgnty tinted cancOes tor iuxuriant
furs. the miner IN pursuit Of the pnan.
tom fortune. the missionary Win an
earnest zeal TO save tho savage. and
the ubiquitous tourist VINO considers too
country as place only TO be viewed
from the deck OF a steamer. Tho latter
class stand aghast when Informed that
Alaka comprises In area almost "a mucn
as the entire United States east Of tho
Mississippi. With unmstakable lncfcdu.
lily they receive the statemdn, that there
are mountain peaks contained within
our boundaries 80 high and 20 mighty
that other mountains In the United States
are az mere molchills In comparison, ana
when told OF our marvellous glaciers
and vast iceneIds, wondcrmcnt Is no
longer concealed and they realize tor
the first time the immensely ~ the COM 4
try. which to so many Is but o. scaied
volume.
In the vast nor aine OF Ice back Of and
surrounding Mount st. Elias the State
OF RHODE Island could be placed and
would be only a fly spcck on a sheet
of spotless paper; the State OF Delaware
might be dropped into "a crevasse and
its sides would never be scratched In rs
descent to the bottom. Visions OF gIg-
ciers, as seen from an excursion steamer
are confined to the Takou Inlet and Gia-
cier bay. Soon after leaving Wrangei.
tho first mountain of ice Is seen In tho
distance looking like frozen river
emerging from the clouds. The sea Is
CLASSY. and a procession Of small bergs
broken away from the glacier. ioat
silently toward the south. II is natures
dead march to the sun, to be melted
In its burning kisses and to be trans
planted into happy tears. Wild ducks
ny past. and from its eyrie bald-head-
ed eagle surveys the scene, deeply. dark
~. beautifully blue. apparently conscious
that he IS the symbol OF the republic.
At Glacier bay on the first sight or
Muir glacier one draws comparisons and
mentally notes that there are glaciers
and glaciers. In switzerland a glacier
IS vast bed OF dirty air-holed ice. that
has fastened itself like porous plaster
TO the side Of the Alps. and distance
alone lends enchantment to the view.
In Alaska glacier Is a wonderful torrent
that seems to have been suddenly frog
en- when about to plunge into the sea.
Down and about mountains wind these
snow-ciad serpents. extending mile In
land. with ~ many arms. frequently.
as an octopus. Wonderfully picturesque
IL the Davidson glacier. but more extend
ed Is the one named In honor of Jonn
Muir, which marks the extreme north
erIy point of the route travelled by the
excursion steamers. Imagine a glacier
three miles wide and 800 feet high at
it, mouth. Think Of Niagara falls froz-
en- stiff, add thirty-six feet to its height
and you will have a slight idea of the
terminus Of Muir glacier. In front OF
which your steamer anchors. Picture q
background Of mountains 1900 feet high.
ali clad In 3 mantle OF perpetual snow.
and then imagine . gorgeous sun light
ing mp thu Ice crystals with all the
hues Of multi-colored rainbow. and
YOU WIN have q vision such as would
have delighted the soul Of Raphael The
face Of the glacier takes on the color OF
aduansarins. the tint Of every particle
Of floating ice. big and little. that sur.
rornds the steamer and sometimes proves
auch IN impedimsnt 70 navigation. These
glaciers are constantly moving ana tune
bling headlong into the sea. aud az the
hues masses fall the ear IL startled By
submarine thunder, the echoes OF which
rcsound far and near. Down. down.
down goes the berg. and woe TO the btst
In III way when q again ytaeA IL the
eprfaess-~A1aska NeNA - ars4~