MODERN CHANGES 103 



view of the theorist there is special interest in the history 

 of changes in regions remote from those which have here- 

 tofore received chief attention. Comparatively little is 

 known of the history of American glaciers, but the avail- 

 able data have been carefully collated by Russell 1 and 

 Reid, 2 and an important contribution has recently been 

 made by Klotz. 3 



The local descriptions of the preceding pages contain 

 the additional observations made by the Harriman Ex- 

 pedition, together with inferences as to modern changes; 

 but as the paragraphs on variations are somewhat scat- 

 tered, the principal inferences are here assembled in re- 

 sume. The geographic order, from east to west, is re- 

 tained. 



In Glacier Bay the observations pertain to a large area, 

 containing at the present time a considerable number of 

 separate trunk glaciers. The data concerning variations 

 are not equally full in all parts, but so far as comparable 

 they are harmonious. It is probable that the history of the 

 whole district centering in the bay is a unit. The history 

 begins with an epoch when the glaciers were smaller than 

 now. During this epoch a forest grew to maturity and 

 then was overwhelmed by gravelly waste from the ice; 

 the epoch was therefore measured by centuries. The 

 glaciers then advanced many miles, attaining a maximum 

 one hundred or one hundred and fifty years ago, and they 

 have since retreated. Measured to the Muir Glacier, the 

 total retreat to 1899 was more than fifteen miles; meas- 

 ured to the Grand Pacific, it was more than thirty-five 



1 Climatic Changes indicated bj the Glaciers of North America : Am. Geol., 

 vol. ix, pp. 322-336, 1892. Reprinted, with little change, as chapter vin of 

 Glaciers of North America. 



2 Variations of Glaciers : Jour. Geol., vol. in, pp. 278-288, 1895; vol. v, pp. 

 378-3 8 3 1897; vol. vi, pp. 473-476, 1898; vol. vii, pp. 217-225, 1899; vol. 

 vm, pp. 154-159. 1900; vol. ix, pp. 250-254, 1901 ; vol. x, pp. 313-317. I9 2 - 



Notes on Glaciers of southeastern Alaska and adjoining territory. By Otto 

 J. Klotz. Geog. Jour., vol. xiv, pp. 523-534, 1899. 



