302 National Geographic Magazine. 
SUMMARY OF REPORTS ON THE MT. ST. ELIAS 
EXPEDITION. 
During the year 1890, the National Geographic Society made 
its first venture in exploration. This venture consisted in raising 
funds, organizing and sending to the vicinity of Mt. St. Elias, 
Alaska, a small party in charge of Mr. I. C. Russell to make 
geographic and geologic studies. The following is a condensed 
account of the enterprise, taken largely from reports of commit- 
tees and other records not otherwise published. 
During the spring months of 1890, the Board of Managers of 
the National Geographic Society considered from time to time 
ways and means for carrying out the declared purpose of the 
Society “to increase and diffuse geographic knowledge.” The 
advisability of undertaking some exploratory work was discussed. 
That geographic knowledge could be diffused by lectures and by 
publications was obvious. But to 7nrerease geographic knowledge 
other means were clearly necessary. Exploration seemed the 
most obvious mode for accomplishing this increase. What par- 
ticular exploration should be undertaken was then considered. 
A proposition to aid in continuing the researches of Mr. W. W. 
Rockhill, m Thibet, was made but was given up on account of the 
expense, which seemed beyond the means of the Society. Later 
a proposition by Mr. W. D. Johnson that the Society should 
send a party to the vicinity of Mt. St. Elias, Alaska, was sub- 
mitted and adopted provisionally, the proviso relating to success 
in securing the necessary funds. This proposition was submitted 
to the Board of Managers May 20, and adopted May 23, 1890. 
Four days later, viz., on May 27, 1890, a largely attended spe- 
cial meeting of the Board went over the whole matter. It was 
submitted that the probable cost of the expedition would be 
about $3500; that of this sum about $2500 had already been 
paid or pledged and that 13 persons had signed a joint note for 
$1000 by which to secure the needful balance and insure the 
departure of the expedition. Furthermore it was submitted that 
the Secretary of the Navy had directed the U. 8. 8. Pinta to 
transport the party from Sitka to Yakutat Bay and return, and 
the Director of the U. 8. Geclogical Survey had authorized the 
