THE GLACIER HIGHWAY IN ALASKA 



707 



carvings of this slow-moving ice-river as it has relent- 

 lessly moved downward for centuries. A roaring stream 

 issues from beneath the mass, tearing at the edges of 

 the immense ridges of rock and gravel ever being shoved 

 ahead by the enormous bulk of ice behind. The forest, 

 through centuries, has been struggling to cover the smooth 

 rock sides of the valley, and has begun to creep up on 



A VIEW OF THE GLACIER FROM THE HIGHWAY. AUTOMO- 

 BILES MAY APPROACH WITHIN A FEW HUNDRED YARDS 

 OF THE GLACIER AND THERE IS A FINE CAMPING SITE 

 NEARBY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THOSE WHO WISH TO SPEND 

 MORE TIME IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD 



the terminal moraines, aspen first, flaunting its quivering 

 banners, now green, now yellow, with spruces fol- 

 lowing slowly behind. Here a country in the making 

 can be seen. 



Leaving Mendenhall Glacier the highway swings along 

 the west side of Auke Lake where there are fish, boats 

 and bathing. From the highway here magnificent views 

 are to be had on one side, of Mendenhall and Herbert 

 Glaciers, with high above them rugged, snow-capped 

 peaks, and on the other, glimpses of Favorite Channel 

 and Lynn Canal through the heavy stands of spruce 

 timber. Auke Inlet, with points of timber running out 

 almost encircling it, offers charming vistas which will 

 some day delight the tourist. Along the shores of Auke 

 Inlet are a summer home or two, and several canneries, 

 almost hidden from the highway by the fringe of forest 

 between. Although only some fifteen miles of the pro- 



posed sixty have been built to date the Bureau of Public 

 Roads is now at work on the construction of the portion 

 along Auke Inlet and will extend the preliminary survey 

 work to Eagle River. In the vicinity of Eagle River 

 there are extensive agricultural lands, some of which are 

 even now being made productive by the eight or ten 

 homesteaders who have settled there. One rancher is 

 said to have cleared $200 from one-half acre of straw- 

 berries in 1919. Fine strawberries and raspberries, and 

 such vegetables as cabbage, cauliflower, rhubarb, potatoes, 

 carrots, turnips and celery, are now grown, as well as a 

 bewildering array of flowers. The extensive meadow 

 lands produce a fine quality of native hay, and here are 

 seen sleek cattle and horses in pasture and chickens 

 around the door yards. The Glacier Highway will open 

 up the markets of Juneau, Treadwell and Thane for the 



DISTINGUISHED VISITORS AT THE MENDENHALL GLACIER. 

 THIS SHOWS CHIEF FORESTER GREELEY AND DISTRICT 

 FORESTER CECIL AT THE GLACIER ON THE TONGASS 

 NATIONAL FOREST 



produce of these farming lands. Even now one rancher is 

 planning on buying a Henry, ahead of the completion of 

 the road to his ranch. 



The Glacier Highway will be a wonder way for the 

 tourist a few years hence. It will afiford alternate views 

 of glaciers, ice-capped peaks, sea meadows, rivers, rug- 

 ged mountains, forested islands and inlets, farms, and 



