Letter from J[ohn] M. Vanderbilt to John Muir, 1881 May 5.

• Main Author: Vanderbilt, John M.
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Scholarly Commons 1881
• Subjects: Environmentalist; naturalist; travel; conservation; national parks; John Muir; history; correspondence; letters; Cape Spencer; Dun; Glacier Bay; Indian; Seal Ground; glacier; glaciers; Alaska
• Online Access: https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/muir-correspondence/636; https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/context/muir-correspondence/article/1635/viewcontent/muir04_0529_md_1.pdf

[1]Sitka Alaska May 5th 1881Dear Mr. MuirHave just returned from our second trip to Chile at this season and I am very glad to say that business & prospects are better than we anticipated. We have given up on [Iakatat?] trip owning to the amount of work we have to attend to this season besides we learn that the [Iakatat?] Indians are expected to come down to Cross Sound to trade at our Hoonyah stove. The next steamer from Portland will bring boiler &c for our oil works which we will establish in Cross Sound. A Capt Almy has arrived here from Newport R.I. to [illegible] the same. We have now six stores in operation – the east one established is at the new town of Harrisburg or Rockwell in the Auk country about 8 miles below the Auk Glacier – the00996[Page 2][2]town contains about 50 houses & a white population of some 200 – very rich looking rock has been found in that vicinity, new finds are daily made & there is every prospect of that section being well prospected. I met Mr. Young about three weeks ago at the new town – he was on his way to Portland where he intends placing a number of indian boys at the Government School. Young said he would take a dun down to California to see you if he had time. The Glaciers are looking fine this spring and I am sure would be pleased to see you – I anticipate a fine trip this month up Glacier Bay Cross Sound where I will remain with the steamer eight or ten days prospecting the [hair seal ground?]. We have had a good deal of lovely weather this spring giving our numerous passengers opportunity to admire the beautiful scenery and above all[3]the noble Glaciers invariably enchanting all beholders. About a month ago I was down in Icy Straits near Cape Spencer with a party of mining expects on board who wanted to see Dick Willoughbys locations of ledges in that direction. We went up [illegible] for about twelve miles I estimated; the Inlet is about eight miles north of Cap Spencer. U.S. Signal Stations have just been established at our posts with one at Sitka – a ...