Letter from [Eliza Ruhamah Scidmore] to [Louie Strentzel] Muir, 1890 Dec 31.

[4]Why it was that I missed seeing Mrs. Carr while I was at Santa Monica. I sent a note immediately upon my arrival and heard nothing from her. I am so pleased too to know that Mr. Muir has aroused an Alaskan fervor in Mr. Keith. Provided Mr. [illegible] gets his mail route established between Sitka and Onalaska, via Yakutat & Cooks Inlet, Mr. Keith will be sure of an opportunity see Mt. St. Elias and the peninsula without relying entirely upon Capt. Hooper. I was so very sorry not to be able to accept your[1]1502 21st StreetWashington D.C. Dec 31st 1890My dear Mrs. MuirI send to you with this some photographs of Mr. Muirs summer chalet by the ice. I fear that before this late day they have been duplicated by more prompt and kindly photographers - but indeed, indeed I have been busy and sadly rushed ever since I returned from the [illegible] [2]Alaska is having quite a popularity and prominence in Washington just now. Capt. Carroll has arrived, as full of original salt and sin as ever. His Heave Ho! laugh is as resounding as in his political district and his complexion the same fast and unfading dye. His experiences here and his opinions of ways and people of Washington are most amusing. Prof. Reid was in the city this week at the meeting of the Geologic Assocation[3]and his photographs of the Muir Glacier, of Mr. Muir, the cabin, the chimney, etc. were shone by lantern slides at the same time with Mr. Russell\u27s St. Elias [illegible]. Capt. Hooper and the Corwin are still at Port Townsend and quite likely to remain there they fear. Mrs. Hooper and the children are at 1169 [illegible] St. Oakland and were quite in dispair when they last wrote, at not having Capt. Hooper with them for the holidays. I am so glad to learn 01483 [5]and Mr. Muir\u27s most kind invitation to Martinez last fall, but my time in San Francisco was very short and I was away before I well realized that I had been there. In New York later, Mrs. Rollins told me of her delightful day at the ranch and quite filled me with envy. Everyone has been so delighted to find Mr. Muir again in print and have so enjoyed his Century articles this year. I hope that you will keep him to it and not let him rest until [6]he has given Alaska its fair share of his attention. I am begging Mr. Johnson to make Alaska a point of attack now that the Yosemite and International Copyright are disposed of. Dr. Dall on the Boundary Line and Mr. Muir on the glaciers and scenery would help the territory on amazingly. The Century has such a power

Letter from Eliza Ruhamah Scidmore to [Louie Strentzel] Muir, 1891 Mar 31.

[4]given a banquet and reception by some three hundred admiring tourists of past seasons; and put through some mysterious mining deal, by which, I suppose, some more strangers will learn a deal more of geology than they knew before. We are all hoping that Capt. Hooper will have orders that will allow him to cooperate with the [Int?] St. Elias party and do some exploring and surveying himself. I fear that Mr. Muirs added cares will keep him far away from the glaciers this season, but I hope that he has written out some of the results of his last seasons work.With regards, I amVery Sincerely Eliza Ruhamah Scidmore01507[1]Washington – March 31st 1891My dear Mr. MuirI enclose you the letter that I did write you in December, to prove that I intended to do this much long ago. I have had a very busy winter and lost three weeks of it entirely by illness, and between that and a few flying trips to New York, the season has slipped away from me. I am getting the proof of my new book slowly, but it cannot be many weeks off now before I shall see its covers. Of course Mr Muir and yourself were interested in Mr. Kerrs article in the March Scribner. It was [2]a piece of enterprise in stealing such a march on the April Century, but the mystery is, where did he get his pictures? The illustrations are all from the negatives made by Mr. Russell. Mr. Russell did not give him prints or permission to use, and no one knows how he got hold of them. The Geographic Society is in the field once more, and will send Mr. Russell back to [illegible] [illegible] Elias this summer, to find out its height, latitude and longitude, or not come back alive. A Coast Survey party will probably cooperate with him and the figurers will have to be reliable. Mr Kerr got three different heights himself – 13,500 ft 14,500 and 15,300 ft, and[3]the experts, put to work at his notes after he left the survey, could only get 17,000 ft for St. Elias — so that all the Kerr notes are suppressed, and no U.S. official publication will be made until this next expedition returns. L[illegible] [Schwatka?], having discovered the Yukon, is now about to discover gold along its banks, for the benefit of some New York capitalists. The Century will send Mr Joseph Pennell with Mr. Russell, to sketch St. Elias and we may expect interesting things next year. Capt. Carroll succeeded in getting land laws for his teritory, went to Boston and wa

Letter from Eliza Ruhamah Scidmore to John Muir, 1891 Sep 12.

Washington, D. C., Sept. 12th, \u2791. Dear Mr. Muir: As I am not in the way of seeing you in person this fall, will you tell me the common and uncommon name of this little flower - the fragrant wax plant that grows in the mosses in the woods all around Sitka? I never found such a botanical desert in one way as Alaska is. There were the hills and the valleys and the mountain summits all around Juneau and Sitka covered with the thickest mats and carpets of blossoms that I had never seen before, and no one in either town could tell me a thing about them. I climbed Verstoraia, back of Sitka, three times and each time was quite wild over the weather, and the perfect snow banks of these fragrant white blossoms with the collar of leaves at their branching stems. Will you tell me what it is? And then there is this exquisite little tulip-y sort of a flower that I found up among the heather patches above Muir glacier. It is the purest and truest blue that I have ever seen in a flower\u27s petals, and Mr. Richardson, our artist, was quite excited over it. It was shameful for us to be there in the midst of all that rich flora and not even know the names of the things - but the other ignorant people whom I have met ever since have not been able to help me out. Your Inlet will be crowded next year - the S.S. Co. mean to keep a guide there during the excursion season, and the Coast Survey as usual threaten to have the Patterson there and a camp on shore. Meanwhile the Canadian Conference meets here in a few weeks and Dr. Dawson will make a grab for everything worth having on the mainland coast. He needs to be muzzled before they send him on a diplomatic errand again, as before he started for Bering Sea he spoke openly as to what he would and would not do - dead set and convicted on every point beforehand. I do not care very much what he does about the Pribylof Islands, but Revillagigedo and Scidmore Islands cannot be spared him, and you must make a stand for your own glacier and the Taku. The people living on the thirty mile strip do not nearly appreciate what a serious thing [Letter incomplete][Eliza Ruhamah Scidmore

Letter from Eliza Ruhamah Scidmore to John Muir, 1894 Jan 7.

any contributions of that which will be gratefully received by our committees.We are to have Rev E.C. Smith, who has twice climbed the peak, lecture to us here on the 19th as part of the scheme of whooping it up. Prof. Davidson shall be gathered in, you may believe.Capt. Hooper has been here some weeks and leaves for his home tomorrow. I have heard that Capt. Carroll is coming on to secure legislation for Alaska. You know that an attempt was made to secure the governorship for him. Could anything have been more absurd? ParksThe map I [enclose?] you is the legal one from government surveys and lately made surer by decision of Board of Geographic Names. The same surveyor who found the trees 600 ft high by instrumental measurement --and then came down to 350 feet--made a map last year and renamed the glaciers to suit himself. The Board of Names promptly turned his map down.Sincerely,Eliza Ruhamah Scidmore01763https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/jmcl/26399/thumbnail.jp

Letter from Eliza Ruhamah Scidmore to John Muir, 1890 Oct 22.

[2]about Mark Kerrs Great Feat. Mark Kerr alone on Mr. St. Elias. It seems M. K. had rushed home to San F. and into the arms of the local and Ass. Press and there was no whisper about the Russell Expedition or any one but M.K. the young dude, who went as Mr Russells assistant. On the strength of those dispatches Mr. Johnson had telegraphed to some one to find M.K. & got refusal of an [mss.?] & had telegraphed you. I fairly groaned at the situation. All Mr Russells work and effort of two years to go to the glory of that insignificant Kerr. Mr. Russell [3]was on the train travelling toward Washington as fast as he could while Mark Kerr was dazzling San Francisco. It was hard to catch him, but I wrote a letter for Mr. Johnson to Mrs. Russell While I was writing it Mr. Gilder handed in your telegram with the Never heard of Kerr. Russell is reliable in it and I almost hurrahed. It was quite dramatic and you saved the day for Mr. Russell. After that I wrote to the manager of the Associated Press at Washington and asked him if he couldn\u27t send out something from this end of the linehttps://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/jmcl/38032/thumbnail.jp

Letter from Eliza Ruhamah Scidmore to John Muir, 1890 Oct 22.

[6]have come out so well that I am provoked that I did not take more. I shall have time to print some in a few weeks and can then send you some views of your cabin and chimney, Vancouver [illegible] etc. You will be pleased to know that I have a tolerably good one of the Captain\u27s valet coming up the deck to answer the bell, of the stern and etc. I have seen Mr. and Mrs. Rollins since here and they speak so enthusiastically of the day they spent at Martinez, of Mrs. Muir, the[7]children, Dr. and Mrs. Strentzel and the onyx mantle piece with the glacier painting reflected over it. Mrs. Hooper writes me that the Captain is enthusiastic over Alaska. he reached Sitka four hours after the Queen had left. Please remember me to Mrs. Muir and believe meVery TrulyEliza Ruhamah ScidmoreP.S. I have acquired my Alaska plates myself and I shall no doubt take your advice and write an entirelyhttps://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/jmcl/38034/thumbnail.jp

Winter India

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Letter from [Eliza Ruhamah Scidmore] to [Louie Strentzel] Muir, 1890 Dec 31.

[4]Why it was that I missed seeing Mrs. Carr while I was at Santa Monica. I sent a note immediately upon my arrival and heard nothing from her. I am so pleased too to know that Mr. Muir has aroused an Alaskan fervor in Mr. Keith. Provided Mr. [illegible] gets his mail route established between Sitka and Onalaska, via Yakutat & Cooks Inlet, Mr. Keith will be sure of an opportunity see Mt. St. Elias and the peninsula without relying entirely upon Capt. Hooper. I was so very sorry not to be able to accept your[1]1502 21st StreetWashington D.C. Dec 31st 1890My dear Mrs. MuirI send to you with this some photographs of Mr. Muirs summer chalet by the ice. I fear that before this late day they have been duplicated by more prompt and kindly photographers - but indeed, indeed I have been busy and sadly rushed ever since I returned from the [illegible] [2]Alaska is having quite a popularity and prominence in Washington just now. Capt. Carroll has arrived, as full of original salt and sin as ever. His Heave Ho! laugh is as resounding as in his political district and his complexion the same fast and unfading dye. His experiences here and his opinions of ways and people of Washington are most amusing. Prof. Reid was in the city this week at the meeting of the Geologic Assocation[3]and his photographs of the Muir Glacier, of Mr. Muir, the cabin, the chimney, etc. were shone by lantern slides at the same time with Mr. Russell\u27s St. Elias [illegible]. Capt. Hooper and the Corwin are still at Port Townsend and quite likely to remain there they fear. Mrs. Hooper and the children are at 1169 [illegible] St. Oakland and were quite in dispair when they last wrote, at not having Capt. Hooper with them for the holidays. I am so glad to learn 01483 [5]and Mr. Muir\u27s most kind invitation to Martinez last fall, but my time in San Francisco was very short and I was away before I well realized that I had been there. In New York later, Mrs. Rollins told me of her delightful day at the ranch and quite filled me with envy. Everyone has been so delighted to find Mr. Muir again in print and have so enjoyed his Century articles this year. I hope that you will keep him to it and not let him rest until [6]he has given Alaska its fair share of his attention. I am begging Mr. Johnson to make Alaska a point of attack now that the Yosemite and International Copyright are disposed of. Dr. Dall on the Boundary Line and Mr. Muir on the glaciers and scenery would help the territory on amazingly. The Century has such a power

Letter from Eliza Ruhamah Scidmore to John Muir, 1891 Sep 12.

https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/jmcl/39362/thumbnail.jp

Letter from Eliza Ruhamah Scidmore to John Muir, 1894 Jan 7.

any contributions of that which will be gratefully received by our committees.We are to have Rev E.C. Smith, who has twice climbed the peak, lecture to us here on the 19th as part of the scheme of whooping it up. Prof. Davidson shall be gathered in, you may believe.Capt. Hooper has been here some weeks and leaves for his home tomorrow. I have heard that Capt. Carroll is coming on to secure legislation for Alaska. You know that an attempt was made to secure the governorship for him. Could anything have been more absurd? ParksThe map I [enclose?] you is the legal one from government surveys and lately made surer by decision of Board of Geographic Names. The same surveyor who found the trees 600 ft high by instrumental measurement --and then came down to 350 feet--made a map last year and renamed the glaciers to suit himself. The Board of Names promptly turned his map down.Sincerely,Eliza Ruhamah Scidmore01763https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/jmcl/26399/thumbnail.jp