A GAME 



COUNTRY WITHOUT RIVAL 

 IN AMERICA 



The Proposed Mount McKinley National Park 

 By Stephen R. Capps, of the U. S. Geological Survey 



IN THE spring of 191 6 a bill was 

 presented to Congress to establish in 

 Alaska the Mount McKinley Na- 

 tional Park. This bill was passed by the 

 Senate during the summer, and its final 

 enactment into law now requires favor- 

 able action by the House and the Presi- 

 dent. Before this article is published the 

 necessary legislation may have been com- 

 pleted and the dream of this new park 

 have become a reality ; but in any event 

 every one of us who loves outdoor life 

 should realize what a wonderful coun- 

 try—a country of impressive mountain 

 scenery and big game — we have in that 

 northern territory, and how seriously the 

 wild life of that region is menaced. 



Two parties from the U. S. Geological 

 Survey were detailed to a part of the 

 proposed park in 191 6. We proceeded 

 into interior Alaska by the usual route 

 down Yukon River, and disembarked at 

 the new town of Nenana, at which place 

 construction on the new government rail- 

 road is in progress. 



The 55-mile trip over a little-used trail 

 up Nenana River was eventful enough. 

 We had only a badly damaged and leaky 

 boat to cross that swollen and turbulent 

 stream, and for the better part of a day 

 the horses refused to swim the icy tor- 

 rent. Then, too, in the forested lowlands 

 the mosquitos surrounded us in clouds. 

 We could protect ourselves with gloves 



Photograph by J. S. Sterling 

 HAULING LOGS VIA THE) "CANINE)" ROUTE) IN ALASKA 



69 



