Evening star., 1898-11-10
STORY OF SURVEYORS
Papers on Alaska Read Before Geological
Society of Washington.
Narrative of Trip Up Sushftna River
Notes of Survey of Forty
Mile District.


Society of Washington was held last night
in the assembly hall of the Cosmos Club
President Arnold Hague presided, with Mr.
T. w. Stanton serving secretary. The
evening Was given over to the reading of
pers on Alaska by surveyors who spent
the past summer in the far north possess
sion of the United States
The first paper was by Mr.. Robert Null
drow, who gave narrative of recent trip
up the Sushitna river of western Alaska
The river was entered at Cooks Inlet and
in small boats Mr. Muldrow's party made
their way up stream proceeding by water
as far as the head of Indian creek. The
vegetation through that section is pale
green. giving the whole country tinge of
color to be found nowhere in the United
States. Leaving the boats at Indian creek
the party made it's way over the noun
tains in q northerly direction, establishing
base on plateau from where the mag
nificent Mount Bulshaia, ~. 800 feet above
the sea level, was in full view. This range,
the speaker explained. the most mag
nificent stretch of mountains he had ever
beheld, and IN comparison Mount St. Elias
was indeed significant. Towering peaks,
resembling church spires at a distance,
raised their heads to the height of l. $50 or
more feet above the plane of the range.
Rice the Only Food.
Returning from the valleys and noun
tains, the party at last found themselves
without food, and forty-five miles from the
camp on Indian creek A fve-Dound sack
of rice was found the trail and it suf-
feed to feed six men. September the
boats were again placed in the water and
the party hoated down the Sushitna, trav-
working a paddle. Reaching Tyoonok, a
steamer for Juneau was missed by twen-
ty-four hours. necGSSitatinS layOVer of
fifteen days. At Juneau connection was
also missed and 1t was the 9th of Oc-
tober before Seattle was finally reached
on the return trip.
Mr.. Muldrow said the valley in the vi
cinity of the head waters of the Sushitna
is a beautiful stretch of country, suitable
for agriculture. and in this section a rail-
road might easily be constructed Near
the mouth of the river, in the country
tributary to Cooks Inlet, fine potatoes and
other vegetables were being raised. The
timber in the vicinity all that could
be desired for local consumption. Ducks
and geese swarmed about the inlet in mil
lions, while many bears We're seen in the
trip over the mountains, one two brown
and black ones coming within fifty feet of
the camp. All along the Sushitna gold
colors might be found by simply washing
out a plate of the river gravel
Forty-MiIc District Survey.
Mr.. +. G. Barnard followed with paper
on the survey of the FortyMie district of
Alaska lying just west of the international
boundary line and not far from Dawson
City. Both speakers used maps and
sketches to illustrate their remarks. Leav-
ing Seattle April 1 last spring Mr.. Barnard
and his party met the Sheldon jackson
reindeer expedition at a point near Dyea.
Mr.. Barnard had an order for 200 of the
animals, but did not take them. as they
were too weak and sick to be of any ser
vice whatever. Passing up the Chicoot,
which is hard travelling on account of the
heavy SHOWS, the party reached Skasway
on April s. On the road to Sheep camp
they met any number of prospectors, using
all sorts of animals in carrying forward
their belongings and supplies. Burros,
horses, oxen, goats, dogs, men and women
We're all employed as draught animals.
The speaker created much amusement by
telling of a Wooden-legged man dragging
a sled over the SHOWS.
Mr.. Barnard spoke Interestingly of his
trip to Dawson City from Dyea. passing
through Lake Bennett, Tagish lake, Marsh
lake, LeeVes river and Lake Labarge into
the famous Yukon. All sorts of prospect
ors and all sorts of boats were encountered
on the passage, and much sport had
in sailing the seds across the frozen sur
faces when favorable winds were to be
had. At Lake Bennett, April p, the
weather was fine, the thermometer drop
ping to zero at night, but rising to the
thawing point in the day. Sawmlls had
been established along the way and were
selling plain boards at $3.50 per 1000 feet.
May l was beautiful spring day and
brought with it an abundance of mosqui-
toes. the little pests remaining with the
party until the latter part of August.
tram read assisted the party in passing
around White Horse rapids in Miles canyon
Dawson City.
The speaker declared he found Dawson
a most interesting place, having all the
accCmpaniTnents of a frontier town, but
being devoid Of any lawlessness far as
he saw. 1t is situated at the mouth of the
klondike river, and was last May a town
of some 5000 population. Ham was SELL
ing at $50 per pound; tobacco, 50 per
pound; eggs. SIS per dozen, while whisky
was as valuable god dust, because none
20 be had. Throughout the Alaskan
country the dog is mans greatest friend.
The canine can live on a diet Of dried fish
and make his way along where it would
be Impossible for horses to travel. Enough
grain could not be easily carried for feed
ing the equines. Forest fires were raging
in many parts of the country.
The party finally left Dawson and estab-
lished base at Eagle City. which is the
American town, a settlement of some one
thousand people. Angles were read at II
pm, when the sun was just sinking in the
west One day some mischievous persons
set fire to their provisions while in the
country. Mr.. Barnard succeeded in saw
ing his valuable papers and instruments,
but all the provisions WSre gone. Tha party
however. saved an American flag from the
fire, and, hoisting it, waited for some one
to come. There were many Americans in
the vicinity, it seems, and boats drew in
from every direction, the miners inquiring
If an American custom house had been es-
tablished. Mr.. Barnard told them the truth
and received supplies enough to last until
more were had from the warehouse at Eagle
City.
Gardens and Vegetables.
Little gardens and spring vegetables were
iourishing in the vicinity of Fort Cudahy.
Mr.. Barnard then told of the Typographical
work done by his party. The striking topo-
graphical features of the Forty-Mle district
are the numerous domeS to be found con-
nected by flat ridges having a uniform
height of 32o9 feet. Cold was to be found
on nearly all the streams in the district
-Forty-Milc creek, Dome creek, Canon
creek Franklin gulch and Napoleon creek,
where the pumpkin seed gold is found in
large quantities. The precious metal is also
to be found in American creek, Boundary
creek and Chicken gulch.
The party returned by way of St. Mich