THE HARRIMAN ALASKA EXPEDITION 



By Henry Gannett, 

 Chief Geographer, U. S. Geological Survey 



This expedition, notices of whose movements have appeared 

 in earlier numbers of The National Geographic Magazine, 

 reached Seattle on its return July 31. It left the same port for 

 the north June 1, and in the intervening 60 days the George W. 

 Elder, bearing the expedition, steamed 9,000 miles and visited 

 points along the entire northwest coast from Seattle to Bering 

 strait. Not less than 50 different landings were made. The 

 Elder's route is represented in a general way on the accompany- 

 ing sketch map of Alaska. 



The party was composed of Mr Harriman's family and a few 

 of his personal friends, with some 30 scientific men, making a 

 total party of 50. This comprised zoologists, botanists, geologists, 

 and geographers. Every possible facility for the prosecution 

 of scientific work was made, including outfits for inland travel 

 and accommodations for the preparation of specimens, etc. In- 

 deed, the whole expedition, although projected primarily as a 

 pleasure trip for Mr Harriman's family, was subordinated in 

 all ways to the needs of the scientific party. Even the move- 

 ments of the ship were arranged day by day by a committee on 

 board in the interest of the scientific work. 



The general plan pursued was to follow the coast, making brief 

 stops at numerous points for the purpose of making observations 

 and collections. The steamer followed the inside passages as far 

 as Glacier bay, making numerous stops on the way, but none of 

 much duration until Glacier bay was reached. At this point, 

 which is notable for the immense glaciers which reach the sea- 

 level and discharge icebergs, the ship remained for several days, 

 which were improved by the geologists in mapping the glaciers, 

 paying special attention to the positions of their discharging fronts, 

 for purposes of comparison with earlier measurements and for 

 comparison by future students. A similar stop was made in 

 Yakutat bay, where the steamer was taken not only to the head 

 of Ynkui.it bay proper, but traversed its extension to its head. 

 From Yakutat bay the expedition went to Prince William sound 

 and spent a week in this interesting and almost unknown region. 



