Transcription:
First draft of letter, in note-book March 13, 1905 . Mr. Chas. F. Townsend, Director Aquarium, Battery Park, New York.
Dear Mr. Townsend: The southmost of the coast mountains on which I have myself seen the wild goat is Mt. Rainier, though
undoubtedly it was at one time abundant on the snowy peaks much farther south. Hunters have told me that they had found skulls
on Mt. Shasta, one of which was shown me, but it proved to be a skull of the female mountain sheep. Whether or not the goat
still exists on Mt. Hood I can't say, but I think you can find out by writing to the Mazama Club of Portland. Very few, if
any, are left even on Rainier. They are too good to live. On the mountains of southeastern Alaska along the icy fiords above
the timber line I have seen thousands. Regretting that I can give you no definite information in the discussion of this fine
mountaineer in the southern part of its range, I am, Faithfully yours, John Muir