country and of Europe generally, is to be found in the proof that the creature or thing on the crest was originally the totem of the clan or tribe. Richard Gleason Greene, regarding this, says:

"On this supposition the widespread Chattan or Cattan, which is respresented in the Scotch Highlands and which can be traced in France, Germany, and Egypt, would become recognized as the "cat tribe," the cat having once been its totem, as it is still its crest or emblem. It has also been thrown out that many of the mythical traditions of ancient Greece admit of a reasonable meaning,

CACHE FOR SUPPLIES.

A Typical Alaskan Scene. These primitive storehouses keep provisions secure from dogs and wild animals, and are held inviolable by pioneers.

ALASKAN PROSPECTOR'S CAMP.

A Bunch of Game Birds (Ptarmigan) on the Sled.

But

In Uncle Sam's new Alaskan territory these crests or emblems can be found on the tombstones of all the burying grounds, and on tall totem poles, some standing near the Indian abodes and some far out in the deserted woods. while these tribes are now builders of the strange emblems that characterized the ruder early races of human beings, there are other conditions that show evidence of a considerably higher degree of civilization they once enjoyed. In the possession of some of the inhabitants, and in hillsides with buried ruins, were found samples of earthenware and carvings that show the result of high skill. And there are indications of fine stone dwellings in which the inhabitants once resided. Inscriptions that none of the pres

if we suppose there were anciently in Greece tribes with totems-bull, boar, and lion tribes; snake, ant, and dragon tribes. So far as the inquiry has gone, the results are in favor of the conclusions to which they point as to the early conditions of the human tribes all over the world. A single instance may be given of success in tracing back a totem to old times and in widely separated countries. There are numerous existing snake tribes, both in America and in the South Sea islands, and there is something like proof that the snake was the totem of very many and powerful ancient races; its worship can be traced among Semitic races; there are traces of it in the traditions of the Pelasgi; there are proofs of it among the Celts; and the most magnificent ecclesiastical architecture in the world is that of Nagas-the serpent-worshipers of Cambodia-still existing and only recently brought to light."

WHIPSAWING AT NUGGET CREEK.

ent tribesmen can read have been dug up by prospectors for gold. The Indians as they now appear show evident signs of degeneracy. They seem to be something of a cross between a North American Indian and an Esquimau. In their strange country, protected from the warlike Southern tribes by the intensely cold regions intervening, they have enjoyed their climate and picturesque surroundings uninterrupted until now. Soon they must abandon their possessions to the American, even as did the American Indian to the earlier invaders.

AN ALASKAN EXPLORER.

The land abounds in rare timbers, splendid game, and swift-flowing streams. that swarm with the finest of fish. The United States Geological Survey, in a recent report on this district, describes it as a high plateau dissected by numerous deep and narrow valleys giving it a general aspect rugged and mountainous. The average elevation of the summits is about 5,000 feet above sea-level, the mountain slopes being rounded and glaciated, with no abrupt benches or terraces. The valley of the Klehini is a flat-bottomed gravel flat averaging onefourth of a mile in width. The creeks,

AFTER A CLEAN-UP ON MCKINLEY CREEK.

The water power of the district may afford opportunities for commercial enterprises when the country is further advanced. Just now all of the far northern regions are attracting considerable attention because of the new boundary decision and the mining enterprises. None of them will be found more interesting to tourists and adventurers than the Porcupine District. Visitors to this land, however, must not expect the luxury of riding on Pullman trains or even on river steamers. Travel is generally by foot and dog-sled; but these conditions may soon change, and the prospects are fair that this strange land which Canada tried so hard to keep from us will some day become the garden spot of Alaska.

I

F the people who attended the PanAmerican Exposition at Buffalo, and its gigantic successor, the World's Fair at St. Louis, were asked what spectacle impressed them most, the answer would probably be the electrical illumination. While the vast number of lights at Buffalo formed a scene which will never be forgotten, the most fascinating feature of it all was the striking manner in which the lights increased in intensity from a faint glow to a dazzling. brilliancy. At the St. Louis Exposition these effects were varied with red and green, which enhanced the beauty of the spectacle.

Few of the spectators, however, realized that the current for this illumination was generated practically by one individual unit actuated by a single engine. Experts who visited the Palace of Machinery, however, had opportunity to study this installation, which was justly considered one of the most elaborate on the grounds. In spite of the huge proportions of the engine and generator and their auxiliary parts, it seems almost incredible that they formed the source of such power. As electrical engineering has advanced, the tendency has been to construct generating units of increased size, until here and there throughout the United States as well as Europe, can be found power stations containing some very large types of such mechanism. The one referred to, however, furnished no less than 5,000 horse-power; but this service was required, since it supplied the necessary current for circuits containing 125,000 lamps of eight candle-power each. A detailed description of this isolated power station, as it might be termed, is of interest, since in some features it

has no parallel in steam and electrical engineering.

The engine, which is of the AllisChalmers design, is connected to a Bullock generator. It is understood to be the largest single reciprocating engine which has yet been built, and represents both the vertical and horizontal compound-condensing system. An idea of its dimensions can be realized when it is stated that the diameter of the highpressure cylinder alone is no less than 44 inches, while that of the vertical lowpressure cylinder is 94 inches, each having a 60-inch stroke. The piston-rod serving the high-pressure cylinder is nine. inches in diameter, while that of the lowpressure cylinder is ten inches. The crank-pin itself is actually larger in diameter than in length, being eighteen inches long by twenty inches in diameter. For the shaft, a hollow forging 37 inches in diameter was made, while the main bearing was 34 by 60 inches.

A further idea of the size of the engine can be obtained by comparing it with the gigantic plant installed in the Manhattan Power Station, New York City, where electric power for operating the train service on Manhattan Island is produced. The St. Louis engine is actually larger than any of those in the Manhattan power house, its low-pressure cylinder being no less than 6 inches greater in size. While it is not called upon to produce over 6,000 horse-power at the Exposition, it is calculated that, if worked to its full capacity, it would represent fully 8.000 horse-power.

As erected in the Palace of Machinery, the engine extends to a distance of 40 feet above its foundation. The enormous fly wheel it operates weighs 150 tons.

and in close contact with the fly wheel. To this method is probably due in part the remarkable efficiency of the plant. Tests which have been made show that when working under a quarter-load the percentage is between 90 and 91; under a half-load, 94.6; while under a full load the maximum percentage is 96.7. At a

position it has furnished a three-phase current of 6,000 volts to the circuits, reaching the various buildings and other features to be illuminated.

The unit has been in practically continuous service at the Exposition for ten hours out of the twenty-four, as, in addition to furnishing the illuminating cur