The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-09
Hartman Alaska Expedition.

One of the most interesting things in
connection with this book is it's origin.
The book itself is one of great interest and
merit, but the manner of it's coming into
being is peculiarly illustrative of American
enterprise and liberality. The expedition
which it records and describes was origi-
naIly planned by Edward H. Hartman, a
wealthy New Yorker, as a summer cruise
for the pleasure and recreation Of his fam
lily and a few friends. With this view a
steamer was obtained and QUILTED, a crew
hired and complete arrangements made for
a cruise. By degrees the scope of the ex-
petition expanded until the party included
a number of members of the Washington
Academy of Sciences and other scientific
experts. All the paraphernalia for extern
SiVe exploration was added, and DR.. G.
Hart Merriam, of Washington, was en-
ployed as chief historian of the expedition.
The entire expense of these and all other
arrangements connected with the expedi-
ton from it's first Quitting TO it's con-
clusion was borne by Mr.. Hartman. The
party included, beside his personal friends,
three artists and twenty-five men of sci
ence, representing various branches OF re-
search and including ~well-known profess
sors in universities on both sides of the
continent and leaders in several branches
of government scientific work. The govern
ment itself could hardly have. sent out a
better organized or better equipped expedi-
ton. 1t sailed from Seattle May 30. 1899,
and was gone just two months, during
which a distance of 5000 miles was ira
versed, much of the time in strange and
new waters among the islands or along the
coast of Alaska. Frequent landings were
made, and, no matter how brief, were util-
lied by the artists, photographers, geolo-
gists, botanists, biologists and students Of
glaciers. Sometimes longer stops were
made, and camping parties were put ashore
that more thorough work might be done.
Large and important collections were made
of animals, fishes, birds, minerals and
plants which have furnished several hun
dred species new to science and have
added immensely to the store of scientific
knowledge concerning Alaska and its
waters. A number of glaciers not previ-
ously known, as well as many others
which had been vaguely or imperfectly
known, were mapped, photographed and
described, and much evidence was gathered
as to the changes they are undergoing.
The hunters of the party, including Mr..
Hartman himself. had some rare sport
and succeeded in killing a bear of the cele-
brated Kadiak variety, said to be the larg-
est i'm the world. All these adventures,
discoveries and explorations are described
i'm a very interesting manner by skilled
writer's in two large volumes, which are
profusely and beautifully illustrated. The
text is full Of interest and instruction con-
corning Alaska and its products, people
and environments, while the illustrations,
taken from life and faithfully reproduced,
constitute a unique art collection. No
amount of description could convey as
vivid an impression of Alaskan life and
scenery, on land and sea, as do the illus
t~rations in these volumes. The literary
part of the work is done by John Bur-
roughs, John Muir, George b. Grinnell,
Henry Gannett, DIT. c. II. Merriam and
other ~well-known writer's, while the Illus
t~rations are by numerous artists. The lat
ter include colored plates and text figures
TO the number Of several hundred. The
part of the narrative contributed by John
Burroughs, numbering us large pages,
really constitutes a new work 10y him and
contains several original poems. The book
is published in very handsome style by
Doubleday, Page & Co, New YORK, and Is
sold at the net price of SIS for the two
volumes.