Report on Exploration in Alaska. 249 



with cooperation, for the Society to extend this year the explo- 

 ration work of last year in the vicinity of Mount St. Elias. Spe- 

 cifically it is recommended that the plan be to determine directly, 

 from a long base line near the coast, the height of the mountain, 

 to ascend it, to observe systematically the unique phenomena of 

 physical geography of the Malaspina glacier from Icy bay to the 

 initial point of last year's exploration, and to explore the Seward 

 glacier to its head if deemed advisalDle after the ascent of the 

 peak. 



In view of the fact that it is the purpose of the Ooast and 

 Geodetic Survey to carry the international boundary survey into 

 this region within one or two years, it is considered inexpedient 

 for the Society to undertake extended topographic work. It 

 is, however, submitted, as a principle which this Society should 

 emphasize in projecting exploration, that facts of physical geog- 

 raphy have minimum value and may lead to false conclusions 

 unless correlated through their space relations ; and it is recom- 

 mended that the expedition aim always to employ such means 

 as may be practicable for making record of its course and of its 

 observations in a^^proximate geometric relation to surroundings. i 



Conditional offers of cooperation have been made b}^ the 

 Revenue Marine Service, the Geological Survey, the Coast and 

 Geodetic Survey, and the Century Company of New York. 

 Transportation from Seattle to Alaska and return, it is thought, 

 may be secured on the steamer Corwin, and that vessel's com- 

 mander, Captain Hooper, has expressed a desire to extend his 

 coast-line exploration of last year by making a survey of Dis- 

 enchantment bay. The Geological Survey offers to detail Mr. 

 Russell to conduct the expedition, and to bear the expense of a 

 number of field hands and of their equipment. The Coast and 

 Geodetic Surve}^ has expressed a desire to aid, if practicable, by 

 beginning boundary work in the same field this year, and inci- 

 dentally to do other surveying with special relation to the work 

 of the expedition. The Century Company off'ers to send an 

 artist ' experienced in Alpine work and to pay the greater por- 

 tion of his expenses. The opportunity for study of the fauna 

 and flora of the region it is thought should not be neglected. 



The cost to the Society, wholly in items of field expense other- 

 wise unprovided for, which may be considered as the cost of 

 enabling the combination to work as one organization, is esti- 

 mated at 



