322 THE SUSHITNA RIVER, ALASKA 



fresh-water lakes skirting the eastern mountain front, which, 

 albeit perhaps partly held in place by morainic dams, undoubt- 

 edly owe their preservation to the sluggishness of the rivers flow- 

 ing toward the Atlantic — and all these features, as well as some 

 others, indicate that the lifting was greater along the eastern 

 margin of the continent, so as to produce a general warping or 

 westward tilting. The histor}^ of the evolution of this conti- 

 nental terminus has been complex, as shown by the geologic suc- 

 cession brought out through Mr Hatcher's observations ; there 

 have been several oscillations of greater or less extent ; doubt- 

 less at times the Patagonian Cordillera formed a great archipelago 

 like the present Tierra del Fuego, and the course of Mayer river 

 may have been a strait like the present Magellan ; yet the 

 minor episodes but combined to make up the general history of 

 uplifting and westward tilting. 



Mr Hatcher has just sailed for Punta Arenas to continue his 

 explorations and surveys. W J M. 



THE SUSHITNA RIVER, ALASKA 

 By W. A. Dickey 



The Sushitna,* though an almost unknown river, is one of the 

 largest in Alaska, carrying more water than Copper river, though 

 the latter is somewhat longer. It has a delta at its mouth, be- 

 yond which extensive mud flats reach far out into Cook inlet. 

 The river is divided into many channels and spread out over the 

 mud flats, rendering steamboat navigation difficult. The tides 

 at this point in Cook inlet rise over 30 feet, yet, notwithstanding 

 this great rise, they have but little effect in checking the swift 

 current of the river, so little as to be unnoticeable a few miles up 

 the stream. The tide flats surrounding the mouth are bare at 

 low water for a distance of nearly ten miles, and are very dan- 

 gerous to pass. In the treacherous glacial mud a rowboat is 

 liable to sink, and to be held so firmly that the incoming tide, 

 which rises with incredible rapidity, will fail to float it. 



The mouth of the river is nearly opposite Turnagain arm, a 

 branch of Cook inlet, which is a great breeder of storms. It is 

 therefore exposed to sudden squalls, which may catch the unfor- 

 tunate boatman where there is neither landing place nor shelter. 



* Sushitna means tlie great muddy river, and is descriptive. 



* 



