Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-30
BIOLOGISTS At BANQUET
Function Given By Aosdemy Of Sciences in
Honor of Visitors.
Narrative of the1Harriman Expedition
to Alaska Given by Mr.. Merriam
Other. Addresses.

The function which was given last even
ing at the Columbian University by the
Washington Academy OF Sciences, in honor
of the members of the Geological Society
of America which is in session in this
city, brought together a large company
representative of the scientific and literary
circles of the nations capital. The guests
were received by committee composed of
the following representatives of the vari-
Gus scientific societies composing the men,
bership of the academy: Anthropological,
Gerard Mathes; biological, F. A. Lucas,
chairman of the committee, and T. H.
Kearney: chemical, v. K Chestnut and H.
c. Workman; chronological, w. H. Ash
mead; geographic. G. H. Grosvenor, Mar
Gus Baker and T. S. Palmer; medical, F.
T. Morgan: philosophical, o. H. Tittmann:
historical. w. B. Bryan: geological, Whit
man Cross and David White.
Alaskan Expedition.
When the guests had laid aside their
wraps and were sea Oh in the assembly
hall, the president g re academy Mr..
Charles D. Walcott, stated that, with the
cooperation of the academy, an expedi-
ton had gone to Alaska, and it had been
arranged that the first public repc~t was
to be made at this time. He then called
upon Mr.. G. Hart Merriam, who gave what
he termed the narrative of the Hartman
Alaskan expedition, so called. as he ex-
planned, in homer of the patron of the ex-
petition, Mr.. Henry Hartman of New York
city. Mr.. Hartman, he said. is a business
man, who, last spring, came to the conclu-
sion that he ought to have complete rest
and change and decided to go away for a
trip. He finally selected Alaska as the place
best suited for his purpose, which was to
separate himself as completely as possible
from all business cares and worries. He
therefore chartered a vessel to take him
self and family to that country, and after
he had secured it he found it was a good
deal too large for his needs, and he then
concluded to increase the size of the party
by adding to it men of science.
He visited this city last spring, and
one result, Il party Of twenty-five scientific
men were chosen, and as they were mostly
members OF the academy, it was decided
the expedition should go with the co-opera-
ticn of that organization. The technical
results of the scientific observations and
conclusions, Mr.. Merriam said would be
printed in the volume of the proceedings
of the academy.
The expedition left New York the latter
part of May and Travelled to Seattle by
special train, which was furnished by Mr..
Hartman. Two months was spent in
coasting along the shores of Alaska visit
ing The Pribyloff Islands and crossing Ber-
ing sea to the coast of Siberia.
Geography of the Country.
An account of the geography of the
country was given by Mr.. Henry Gannett,
who commented humorousy on the agri-
cultural possibilities Of the region. An in
teresting account was given by Mr.. G. X.
Gilbert of the glaciers. Mr.. F. V. Colville
spoke of the vegetation, and Mr.. w. H.
Dali of the natives.
All the addresses were illustrated by fine
photographs, which were thrown upon the
screen, and gave an excellent idea of the
country and Its people. At the close of the
ar Il inc ot {. W Ipl a nd I1e