Admiral Walker and Railroad President Return from Alaska Adventure

President C. E. Perkins, of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad, who for the past two weeks has been the guest of Rear Admiral John G. Walker, on the trip of the lighthouse tender Columbine into Alaskan waters, left for the East yesterday via Portland. President Perkins, Admiral Walker, Chief Clerk A. B. Johnson, of the lighthouse board, and W. F. McFarland, Mr. Perkins' private secretary, formed a jolly party in the Burlington car at the Northern Pacific depot just before the train pulled out. All were in splendid health and spirits. Admiral Walker seemed to have greatly improved after his voyage to the North, and his companions bore the ruddy complexions imparted by the fresh, bracing air of the sea.

"We went north to 59 degrees 30 minutes," said the admiral, "or as high as the southern point of Greenland, and could have gone far beyond the 60 degree point. We were in the neighborhood of Pybus Inlet and Chilkat. We were at Muir glacier, and cruised among immense bergs, some of them appearing larger than the biggest brick buildings in Seattle."

The Columbine made an inspection of the aids to navigation all through the upper waters, and Admiral Walker claims the distinction of having established the first lighthouse at Sitka. In the rear of the old Baranoff castle and next to the jail he set up a little post light. The framework consists of an upright and cross-piece, not unlike many of the lights on the Sound. The amusing part of the matter is that the inhabitants looked with undisguised awe upon the gibbet-like framework so conveniently near the jail, and fell to wondering who the victim was to be.

Admiral Walker and party evidently had been impressed with the grandeur and magnificence of Alaskan scenery, and during the conversation many references were made to the natural beauty of the regions of the North. Finally the admiral remarked: "I should think some newspaper man would visit Alaska and write a book about it. He would find a subject practically inexhaustible."

"Since Kate Field went to Alaska there is nothing new to write," answered the Post representative.

"Yes," said Mr. Johnson, "Kate Field, I am told, spent four hours in Alaska, and has been about it ever since. Her accounts are highly entertaining, too."

The Columbine, which arrived yesterday from Port Orchard, left almost immediately for Tacoma, but will return shortly and then the inspection will be continued as far as San Diego.

President Perkins was little to say further than that the trip to the new possessions of the Arctic had been a round of continued pleasure. As on his former visit, he manifested interest in the south canal scheme, and seemed to know how the work was along. When asked as to the proposed Burlington extension to this city he said: "It's all talk. The Burlington is a road built to make money, and it has enough to do now to look after its lines to the East. Further extensions, I think, there are enough transcontinental lines already."

Further than this Mr. Perkins did not seem disposed to talk of the matter, and his manner indicated that he would rather speak of something else. The subject was adroitly shifted by Admiral Walker, who gave an entertaining conversation as to lighthouse matters.

Notwithstanding Perkins' statement that the proposed extension to this city is "all talk," the fact remains that two years ago the Burlington sent a party of surveyors into the Cascade mountains ostensibly in search of a pass with easy grades. One of the hard problems confronting the road is entrance to Seattle, and when the south canal became assured it seemed to be a matter of great importance to the Burlington, as a railroad could easily come in by one of the tunnels. No sooner had the project of the canal advanced until the financial arrangements were complete than there appeared at the Northern hotel in this city a mysterious stranger, who was quiet and watchful. He was here April 27, and remained for several days, and finally turned out to be none other than Col. N. E. Gregg, of Lincoln, Neb., right-of-way attorney of the Burlington, who has been advance agent of every extension made by that road. When President Perkins arrived here June 8 he was accompanied by Vice President George B. Harris, and there is no concealment of the fact that the Burlington officials watch with the closest interest every movement made in the canal and tide lands enterprise. A matter that cannot be lost sight of is this: That if the Northern Pacific passes under the domination of James J. Hill, the Burlington will be dependent absolutely on a competitor for connections with the Pacific coast. The policy of the road has been to build slowly and surely, and to develop its territory as it goes along. Whether the rule will be changed now remains to be seen.