The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-16

More details of the results of the ex-
plorations in the vicinity of Cook inlet by
Capt. Edwin +. Glenn, of the Twenty-fifth
United States infantry, last year than
have heretofore been published are con-
tanned in a recent letter from him which
has been presented to the Alaska Geo
graphical Society. Capt. Glenn is assured
that three trails can be constructed
through the interior of Alaska which viii
be superior to any routes now traversed.
to the Cinema river, and up it to Circle.
and the third to the mouth of the Tanana
river, all starting from Cook inlet, besides
another route to the mouth of the Tanana
by way of the Kuskokwim.
THE fact that troops had been stationed
in the country" writes Capt. Glenn, rem
dered II imperative that we should find
the shortest and best routes over which TO
communicate with them. and these routes
should not pass through foreign territory"
The letter continues that the work OF es-
tablishing a line of communication with
the headquarters of the military district,
at the mouth OF the Tanana (at old Fort
Weare. or what is now called Fort Glib
bon), was placed in charge of Lieut.. ]. S.
Heron, who with a small detachment was
taken up the Yentno river and landed l50
miles from Tynoonok This party was to
go across the Alaskan range Of noun
tains," the report continues, ION the west
river and pass from it over to the mouth
of the Tanana-" News of the arrival. af-
ter many hardships, of Lieut.. Heron at
Fort Gibbon has already been published in
the observation-disclosures.
mo other party, which was sent to fin
ish the explorations of the Sushitna riv-
err, went up that stream TO its forks, and
thence up the middle fork for thirty miles
by steamer. whence II passed over the d.
vide by way OF Indian creek to the head
waters of the Cantwell. From there they
bore to the northeast, finding n very good
pass through the mountains which carried
them down to the valley OF the Tanana."
continues the captain. where they turned
back, finally reaching Knik station.
Results of the Work.
LAS a result of their work. we know
that a trail can easily be constructed from
Cook inlet. via the valley of the Sushitna,
to the Tanana, which II strikes near the
mouth of Saljacket creek. Up this creek
we know that a trail can be established
One OF these Is to Eagle, another to Circle
The country passed over as far as the
Tanana in its natural state is susceptible
of being ridden over on horseback. as ono
of this detachment actually rode horse
the entire distance without having to dis
mount" He says that judging by info--
nation furnished by prospectors the route
from Tanana to Circle is entirely feasible.
ana COnlDueS.
1.-The advantages of this route are that
more than 100 miles directly north from
tidewater can be made by boat up the Sus-
hitna river. from which II cannot be more
than 800 miles at farthest 10 Circle. 1t can
be made use of also to communicate with
the headquarters OF the military district
at Fort Gibbon, since tho Tanana river is
easily navigable from its mouth to the
point where this trail strikes II. 1t is APP
parent. therefore, that to communicate
with that place by this route IL will be
necessary 10 construct an overland trail
for only about $50 miles. to connect the
head of navigation OF the Sushitna with
the Tanana-
The work up the Matanuska river was
completed this year by finding practic-
able trail from Knik inlet 10 Eagle. This
trail leads directly up the valley OF the
Matanuska, which Is thirty miles wide. TO
tho headwaters OF the Tazlena river, from
which point by a direction almost north
east a stretch OF open rolling country for
sixty or seventy miles takes one to a pass
in the Alaskan range. via the head Of the
Toxic river, and down II to the Tanana,
thenee to Lake Mansfield, and from there
to Eagle. The trail from Valdes comedies
with this one from Lake Mansfield, and
probably from Tanana river.