SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE SURVEYS. 103 



In order that these observations may be easy of reference they are arranged 

 under definite heads, as shown in the accompanying table of contents. All 

 references to the personal incidents of the journey have been omitted for the 

 reason that the trip was in no way an original exploration, so far as a 

 general knowledge of the region visited is concerned. In following this 

 course I may be doing an injustice to my companions and fellow-travelers, 

 to whom I am indebted in many ways, and especially to Messrs. McGrath 

 and Turner, who did all in their power to make the trip both pleasant and 

 profitable. While writing these pages my thoughts often revert to the 

 lonely snow-bound cabins in the far North, where my friends and comrades 

 of many weeks of interesting travel are keeping their vigils with the stars. 



I am also indebted to the Alaska Commercial Company for allowing me 

 to accompany the expedition free of expense. 



My companions in the arduous journey from Fort Selkirk to the head of 

 Lynn canal were Frederick Miller, Frank Cromier, Henry Lariviere, and 

 Joseph Beauchreau — all open-hearted frontiersmen of wide and varied ex- 

 perience, to whom I am indebted not only for personal assistance but for 

 much valuable information. 



In closing I wish to call attention to two enterprises which might greatly 

 assist the development of the interior of Alaska. 



The first is a survey of the Yukon delta, which would determine whether 

 there is a channel by which ocean-going vessels can enter the river. 



The second is a survey of the passes between the head-waters of the Yukon 

 and the coast. This would furnish those interested in the development of 

 the country the needful data for making trails and wagon roads from the 

 sea-shore to the head-waters of the great river system of the interior. There 

 are four passes more or less practicable for this purpose, none of which have 

 been surveyed. Beginning with the easternmost, the first is the Taku pass. 

 It lies between the head of Taku inlet, just east of Juneau, and the head of 

 A-tlin lake, or the head of the Tako arm of Tagish lake. This is reported 

 to be a very low divide, too low in fact to be called a pass, and is thought 

 to be practicable for a wagon road. The second is White pass, leading from 

 Taiya inlet, at the head of Lynn canal, to the Tako arm of Tagish lake. 

 The third is the Chilkoot pass, already well known in a general way. The 

 fourth is the Chilkat pass, leading from the Chilkat inlet, at the head of 

 Lynn canal, to the head of the Tahk-heena river, which joins the Lewes a 

 few miles above Lake Lebarge. 



So far as I can judge, the most practicable of these several routes, though 

 not the shortest, is the Taku pass. While there is reason to suppose that a 

 wagon road could be constructed on this route without great expense, there 

 is little doubt that the other routes mentioned are entirely impracticable for 

 the purpose. The White and Chilkoot passes are considered available for 



