The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-03-20
IN ALASKA'S GOLD REGIONS.
PUBLICATION OF TWO IMPORTANT
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY REPORTS.
Recon notssance Made by Experts
Examination Of the Deposits ON
the Coast Islands-ln the Yukon
Valley NOn-Glacfak Placeru.

Two papers. containing important con-
tributions TO the gold bearing regions OF
Alaska, papers the publication OF which
have been awaited with great interest for
nearly year, have just issued from the
government printing office. They are both
advance chapters from part III. OF the
eighteenth annual report OF the director OF
the United States Geological survey, not
yet issued. The papers give the result Of
reconnaissance examinations by survey ex-
perts. made. respectively. I'm the summers
CT 1885 and 1886. or shortly before the out
break OF the kIondike gold excitement.
The paper entitled Reconnaissance OF
the Gold Fields of Southern Alaska"
pamphlet OF eighty-six pages of text and
a number of maps and other illustrations,
records the result of observations by Mr.
George f. Becker. In 1886. iss publication
having beer delayed until this time mainly
by reason OF DR. Becker's absence during
part M 1896 making study OF the gold
deposits OF the Transvaal
The principal developments OF The coast
al region Of Alaska have been made
among the islands OF the Alexander archi-
peiago and on the adjoining shores OF the
panhandle strip OF southeastern Alaska
In this region are the famous Alaska
Treadweli and the Alaska Mexican mines
on Douglas Island. and a series of impor-
tant deposits on the mainland opposite
and not far from Juneau. and the Fun.er's
Bay mines. on Admiralty island To the
northwest are the Bernsr's Bay mines
on the eastern shore of Lynn ca
nal. and 10 the southwest the Sumaum
mines. on sumdum bay. all OF which are
IN the same general belt of metamor-
phized states and intrusive rocks that re-
senlbie. In a general way. the country
rocks Of the mother lode in California
and are supposed 10 be- OF the same gem
eTai formation. / second mere westerly
IA Sh I'm min f+t.,
BaronoT island which presents similar
geological features Prospecting in this
region is rendered more difficult by the
dense covering OF fallen timber and moss
which everywhere covers the rock surface
The placers and beach sands OF Cock inlet
and the mines OF kadiak island are also
described. and appear TO occur in similar
rocks 20 those OF the Alexander archipel-
ago. ON Cnga island Is the Apollo mine.
! the largest In the territory next to the
/ Tfead~eli, which is eruptive rock
The report Of Mr.. J Z, Spur s3s2 pages
o. text. with maps and other Illustrations.
which treats mainly Of the valley of the
Yukon. Is az more immediate. interest n.
the present time. since, although the
klendlke region did not come within the
! limits OF his official work he recognized
/ the probable importance OF that region
as result Of his studies oi the districts oe
Forty Mile and Arctic cav within Amer
!
Geology Of the Yukon Gold District OF
Alaska. by J. Edward Spur. with an in
tfcf'uc'ory chapter on the history ard
conditions Of the district To 1897, by Harold
/ 81 Goodrich"
In spite OF the difficulties Of travel and
/ short season OF work. Nj. Spur was en-
| abled 20 get a birds eve view Of the
hFosSd general features 0s the geological!
! structure Of This immense Interior, and to
determine the position ard characteristic
features ~ the gold bearing rock forrna-
tiouS. from the wearing down CT which
/ TIA unusually gich placer Deposits no,
! caly - the already discovered districts IN
American territory. ha; Also Of ;hosa watch
{ nave since created So great an excitement
within Canadian borders were derived
Taess rock formations. which 80 fests.
mates rs tae BIRCH creek. For1y-Mlae and
Rampant series, are 0f aulznea~@ thickness
saa very old. dating back beyond the pa leo-
&5fc ara, RAJ resting au fuBdagneufa I
! granite oT guesSs- The r3eher psacefs ara
/ Az fa8na anon. ths smaller gz1IcAex head.
tnE ~ bills formed - tAase eock= wafsh
af@ v9Ts snlk ~ gold bsuriag quartz veins
1aeN are aI@a sod s@srlag cvsaglouerat~s
I fes med n the former geological rerssE A4-
I sas wearing dean % thtn rpcss along an
ancient SEA beach AMI TlwrA consolidated
Z ma hard yeok lifted ua ana folded "a 3ers
! aaf%slGn h&s Furnished gold - some ~
fs= g5ar~rs @Fssi w9isfl nsxy prove ths-,-
sSstss 20 - AoaTc@s ~ sfrs.;a IN ,Aa t.
+ Ese.osae@l asa5,s II pa. snlang districts
! fsst<ta A14t@ eSgst.l4s1s sa1 discussion, II
sac manner ~ was&A placer depgsss1 a. are
termed A@ eTecgua1ly iazgs9xs-x az IRE
j statement made ~ TIE late director 81 re
] cozsi survey. Ger. DaT's!e. nat he
PAGERS aFe = gsactRl artgta ~ shru.r.
! Sssast TIE region where they sre gsagnss Ia
: sF$S1 t'c HszSs@ a as NeKaF covered tx ~.
e'sssst Al 80 Skevs T2,e para " 81 ana
aosao. stfE EtoEe - greas sane n a~er9-
as sd ss.Se . as "a Nszft Il ia fhf fsst.sT~
: g se'fs EerTss-s 1H&eFzga ssS,rE - rhe ss-4-
&zeF ~ ~ a. xrs&s sss-snAa
) ~ fRr0 ~ sh@S< pAg~r~ sAsa ss-atog AT
sNfNss as &aS-s -. sSsaes ssT sxaeg.l