are still 1,800 miles west of Sitka. St. Paul and St. George Islands are
the best breeding places of the seals, sea lions, sea otter, and walrus.
These islands are in a continuous fog in summer, and are swept by icy
blasts in winter. There are many interesting facts connected with these
islands and the habits of these phocine kindred, but space is limited.
Suffice that 100,000 seals are killed each year for commercial purposes.
Over 1,000,000 seal pups are born every year, and when they leave for
winter quarters they go in families and not altogether. An average seal
is about six feet long, but some are found eight feet long and weigh from
400 to 800 pounds. The work of catching is all done between the middle of
June and the first of August. The fur company are supposed to pay our
Government $2 for each pelt. These hides are at once shipped to London to
be dyed and made ready to be put on the market in the United States.
In fact, Alaska seems full to overflowing with offerings to seekers of
fortune or pleasure. Its coast climate is mild, with no extreme heat,
because of the snow-clad peaks which temper the humid air, and never
extreme cold, because of the Japan current that bathes its mossy slopes
and destroys the frigid wave before it does its work.
Three thousand miles along this inland sea has revealed scenes of
matchless grandeur--majestic mountains (think of snow-crowned St. Elias,
rising 19,500 feet from the ocean's edge), the mightiest glaciers,
world's of inimitable, indescribable splendor. It is a trip of a
lifetime. There is none other like it, and our party unanimously resolves
that the tourist who fails to take it misses very much.
* * * * *
_Fifth Tour_.--From Portland to San Francisco by steamer is one of the
most enjoyable trips offered the tourist in point of safety and comfort,
and the service is exceptionally fine.
The steamers "Oregon," "Columbia," and "State of California" are powerful
iron steamers, built expressly for tourist travel between Portland and San
Francisco. The traveler will find this fifty-hour ocean voyage thoroughly
enjoyable; the sea is uniformly smooth, no greater motion than the long
swell of the Pacific, and the boats are models of neatness and comfort.
It affords a grand opportunity to run down the California coast, always
in sight of land, and derive the invigorating exhilaration of an ocean
trip without any of its discomforts. Among the many points of interest to
be seen are the picturesque Columbia River Bar, the beautiful Ocean Beach
at Clatsop, the towering heights of Cape Hancock, the lonely Mid-Ocean
Lighthouse at Tillamook Rock, the historical Rogue River Reef, Cape
Mendocino, Humboldt Bay, Point Arena, and last, but not least, the
world-renowned Golden Gate of San Francisco.
[Illustration: MOONLIGHT AT THE OLD BLOCK HOUSE, COLUMBIA RIVER. On the
Union Pacific Ry.]
The steamships of this company are all new, modern-designed iron vessels,
supplied with steam steering apparatus, electric light and bells, and all
improved nautical appliances. The state-rooms, cabins, salons, etc., are
elaborately furnished throughout, the whole presenting an unrivaled scene
of luxurious ocean life.
The advantages of this charming ocean trip to the tourist are most
obvious; there is the healthful air of the grand old Pacific Ocean,
complete freedom from dust, heat, cinders, and all the discomforts which
one meets in midsummer railway travel.
* * * * *
STANDARD PUBLICATIONS BY THE PASSENGER DEPARTMENT OF THE UNION PACIFIC
RAILWAY.
The Passenger Department of the Union Pacific Railway will take pleasure
in forwarding to any address, free, of charge, any of the following
publications, provided that with the application is enclosed the amount
of postage specified below for each publication. All of these books and
pamphlets are fresh from the press, many of them handsomely illustrated,
and accurate as regards the region of country described. They will be
found entertaining and instructive, and invaluable as guides to and
authority on the fertile tracts and landscape wonders of the great empire
of the West. There is information for the tourist, pleasure and health
seeker, the investor, the settler, the sportsman, the artist, and the
invalid.
The Western Resort Book. Send 6 cents for postage.
This is a finely illustrated book describing the vast Union Pacific
system. Every health resort, mountain retreat, watering place, hunter's
paradise, etc., etc., is depicted. This book gives a full and complete
detail of all tours over the line, starting from Sioux City, Council
Bluffs, Omaha, St. Joseph, Leavenworth, or Kansas City, and contains a
complete itinerary of the journey from either of these points to the
Pacific Coast.
Sights and Scenes. Send 2 cents postage for each pamphlet.
There are five pamphlets in this set, pocket folder size, illustrated,
and are descriptive of tours to particular points. The set comprises
"Sights and Scenes in Colorado;" Utah; Idaho and Montana; California;
Oregon, Washington, and Alaska. Each pamphlet, deals minutely with every
resort of pleasure or health within its assigned limit, and will be found
bright and interesting reading for tourists.
Facts and Figures. Send 2 cents postage for each pamphlet.
This is a set of three pamphlets, containing facts and figures relative
to Kansas, Nebraska, and Colorado respectively. They are more
particularly meant for intending settlers in these fertile States and
will be found accurate in every particular; there is a description of all
important towns.
Vest Pocket Memorandum Book. Send 2 cents for postage.
A handy, neatly gotten-up little memorandum book, very useful for the
farmer, business man, traveler, and tourist.
Calendar, 1890. Send 6 cents for postage.
An elegant Calendar for the year 1890, suitable for the office and
counting room.
Comprehensive Pamphlets. Send 6 cents postage for each pamphlet.
A set of pamphlets on Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Utah, Idaho, Oregon,
and Washington. These books treat, of the resources, climate, acreage,
minerals, grasses, soil, and products of these various empires on an
extended scale, entering very fully upon an exhaustive treatise of the
capabilities and promise of the places described. They have been very
carefully compiled, and the information collated from Official Reports,
actual settlers, and residents of the different States and Territories.
Theatrical Diary. Send 10 cents for postage.
This is a Theatrical Diary for 1890-91, bound in Turkey Morocco, gilt
tops, and contains a, list of 255 theatres and opera houses reached by
the Union Pacific system, seating capacity, size of stage, terms,
newspapers in each town, etc., etc. This Diary is intended only for the
theatrical profession.
Commercial Salesman's Expense Book. Send 2 cents for postage.
A neat vest pocket memorandum book for 1890--dates, cash accounts, etc.,
etc.
Outdoor Sports and Pastimes. Send 2 cents for postage.
A carefully compiled pamphlet of some thirty pages, giving the complete
rules of this year, for Lawn Tennis, Base Ball, Croquet, Racquet,
Cricket, Quoits, La Crosse, Polo, Curling, Foot Ball, etc., etc. There
are also diagrams of a Lawn Tennis Court and Base Ball diamond. This
pamphlet will be found especially valuable to lovers of these games.
Map of the United States. Send 25 cents for postage.
A large wall map of the United States, complete in every particular, and
compiled from the latest surveys; just published; size, 46 x 66 inches;
railways, counties, roads, etc., etc.
Stream, Sound and Sea. Send 2 cents for postage.
A neat, illustrated pamphlet descriptive of a trip from The Dalles of the
Columbia to Portland, Ore., Astoria, Clatsop Beach; through the strait of
Juan de Fuca and the waters of the Puget Sound, and up the coast to
Alaska. A handsome pamphlet containing valuable information for the
tourist.
Wonderful Story. Send 2 cents for postage.
The romance of railway building. The wonderful story of the early surveys
and the building of the Union Pacific. A paper by General G.M. Dodge, read
before the Society of the Army of the Tennessee, September, 1888. General
Sherman pronounces this document fascinatingly interesting and, of great
historical value, and vouches for its accuracy.
Gun Club Rules and Revised Game Laws. Send 2 cents for postage.
This valuable publication is a digest of the laws relating to game in all
the Western States and Territories. It also contains the various gun club
rules, together with a guide to all Western localities where game of
whatsoever description may be found. Every sportsman should have one.
"The Oldest Inhabitant." Send 10 cents for postage.
This is a buffalo head in Sepia, a very artistic study from life. It is
characterized by strong drawing and wonderful fidelity. A very handsome
acquisition for parlor or library.
Crofutt's Overland Guide, No. 1. Send $1.00.
This book has just been issued. It graphically describes every point,
giving its history, population, business resources, etc., etc., on the
line of the Union Pacific Hallway, between the Missouri River and the
Pacific Coast, and the tourist should not start West without a copy in
his possession. It furnishes in one volume a complete guide to the
country traversed by the Union Pacific system, and can not fail to be of
great assistance to the tourist in selecting his route, and obtaining
complete information about the points to be visited.
A Glimpse of Great Salt Lake. Send 4 cents for postage.
This is a charming description of a yachting cruise on the mysterious
Inland sea, beautifully illustrated with original sketches by the
well-known artist, Mr. Alfred Lambourne, of Salt Lake City. This
startling phenomena of sea and cloud and light and color are finely
portrayed. This book touches a new region, a voyage on Great Salt Lake
never before having been described and pictured.
General Folder. No postage required.
A carefully revised General Folder is issued regularly every month. This
publication gives condensed through time tables; through car service; a
first-class map of the United States, west of Chicago and St. Louis;
important baggage and ticket regulations of the Union Pacific Railway,
thus making a valuable compendium for the traveler and for ticket agent
in selling through tickets over the Union Pacific Railway.
The Pathfinder. No postage required.
A book of some fifty pages devoted to local time cards; containing a
complete list of stations with the altitude of each; also connections
with western stage lines and ocean steamships; through car service;
baggage and Pullman Sleeping Car rates and the principal ticket
regulations, which will prove of great value as a ready reference for
ticket agents to give passengers information about the local branches of
the Union Pacific Railway.
Alaska Folder. No postage required.
This Folder contains a brief outline of the trip to Alaska, and also a
correct map of the Northwest Pacific Coast, from Portland to Sitka,
Alaska, showing the route of vessels to and from this new and almost
unknown country.
[Illustration: Oregon, Washington and Alaska. Sights and Scenes for the
Tourist.]
[Illustration: Tourist Map of Union Pacific and Connecting Lines.]