Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1886-10-13
The unknown NORTH.
Storey's Exploring Expedition-The
Anarchists Sentenced The
Knights at Richmond.
THE ALASKA
Interesting Account Of 1t by Engineer
Lane, Of the Bear.

Interesting Account of 1t by Engineer
Lane, Of the Bear.
SAN FRANc0co, October 1O.-The Chroni-
Gle will publish tomorrow an interview
with Assistant Engineer Lane, who was
with Lieutenant Storey on his exploring
expedition Of that portion of Alaska north
of the Yukon River and of Putnam River,
which was discovered some two years ago
by Storey. Assistant Engineer Lane ar
rived in this city a few days ago in advance
OF the rest OF the party, who are expected
here on the United States Steamer Bear
next Friday. The exploring party left San
Francisco May 8, 1856. Abont December
l, Storey and a party OF sailors started
for Noatoak River, about 100 miles north
OF the Putnam. ~Soundings of the river
were made as well al surveys OF the region
through which it flowed. Engineer Lane
and several men then
TARrE TO EXPLORE THE COUNTRY
in the direction of st. Michael. That point
was reached after q journey of % days.
A rough survey of the country by the COM
pass bearings was made. While Lane was
away Storey went southwest in the region
OF Selewik Lake and the river of the same
lame. He noted various small lakes,
rivers and mountain ranges. February LIST
Storey went eastward to the headwaters
Of Putnam and Noatoak rivers and was gone
As days. About these headwaters he
REACHED AN IMMENSE LAKE
on the banks OF which the natives from the
region of Point Barrow the most northern
point on the continent of North America,
meet to trade with The Indians of the Pu-
gam Valley. It generally takes the
natives two seasons to make
this trip. The severity of
the winter compelling them to remain 10
winter quarters near the lake. StOrey's
intention was to make the trip to Point
Barrow from this lake, but an immense
arid plain would have to be traversed
which made it impossible OF account of the
scarcity of dogs. On April IL, however.
Ensign Howard and F. j. Price, a sailor,
started for Point Barrow, and after
GREAT AND %PRIvATIoN,
succeeding in reaching it on August 16, OF
the present year, after a journey of ninety.
six days. June !, the breaking OF the ice
in the river enabled all of the party to pass
down to it's mouth. The explorers gained
many new facts of particular value to
geographers. Professor Baird, OF
the Smithsonian Institute has been
particularly anxious that the party
should explore Jade Mountain or Green
Stone Mountain, as the natives call it,
out of which they obtain the green stone
used in making hatchets and other imple-
ments. Engineer Lane visited the III
tain. 1t is 200 miles above the mouth Of
The green stone, as it is called, is more cor
rectIy a serpentine and is found in layers
of considerable thickness. The Esquimaux
Indians OF that region
ARE PoLYdAMIsrs.
No available minerals were discovered.
Coal was found in abundance on Putnam
River and of good quality. Granite exists
in large quantities and some asbestus
was found and as the Indians had
none in their possession and never
mentioned them. the explorers come to the
conclusion that it is doubtful whether they
exist in large quantities in that part OF
Alaska. Putnam River is about 400 miles
long,, hall a mile wide and navigab'e for 5
miles when rapids are encountered. 1t
drains a large area OF Putnam Valley,
which is thirty miles wide. The volume OF
water that flows down is immense. The
river is surrounded by a range OF noun
Ohlilo dOOuo S,oVo NS "Ao"' WIN -oA
peak of which
is 1000 FEET HIGH.
There is a dense growth OF spruce and birch
wood along the banks. The stream is sew
eral hundreds of miles above the Yukon
River, and flows east and west and
empties into the Katzebue Sound.
Noatoak River is 12O mil es
north OF Putnam, separated from it by q
range OF mountains. 1t is shallow and
rocky and flows east and west. There is
very little vegetation along it's banks. 1t
is about 400 miles long and empties into
Katzebue Sound. South OF Putnam about
three miles is Selewik Lake, twenty miles
in diameter and very deep. Selewik River
is 200 miles long and flows east and west.
1t is divided into two branches and flows
into the lake. North OF Noatoak River is
A WIDE DESERT PLAIN
/ extending for $50 miles, and ~interpolated
| with many large and small streams. 1t
extends clear to the Arctic ocean. The
soil is very poor and never thaws
but to the depth of a few inches and
| aside from possible deposits o.
| gold and silver and the fur trade, the our
try is not of any practical value to white
men. Lieut.. Lane regards the report o
| Schwatka's discovery OF the so-calle Jones
river as highly probable for the country Ii
so little known and there are SO many
rivers that it is not a hard task to dis
cover a new stream in an extended trlI
through the territory.