The Topeka state journal., 1898-03-15
Organized by the Government
to Give Vacation
To a Geological Survey" Ex-
pedition in Alaska.
THIS ONE TO TRAVEL
Over a Lot of UnpronOunceable
River Valleys
Until Weather Becomes UncOm-
Portable, Then Come Home.

Washington, March Interpretations
have been made by Director WalcOtt. Of
the geological survey for an extensive
exploration of the geological, topo-
graphical and other features Of Alaska.
This will be done under authority OF
congress. which appropriated $4,000 for
the purpose. Ten officers Of the survey
will be assigned to the work in pros
pect, viz, George H. Eldridge, Arthur
Keath, J. E. Spur, Alfred Brooks II.
c. Barnard, w. J. Peters, Robert Null
droW,. w. S. Post w c.. Mendenhau
are to accompany military exploring
parties.
In addition to the above named, IS
camp men Will be employed -Four par
ties are to be organized under the gen
eral charge of Mr.. Eldridge. Mt Sut-
tier will be the Quitting point; the
whole expedition viii proceed there
about April 1st. The gunbOat Wheel
ing will transport the parties. At Ska
quay two parties will be detached, the
first under Mr. Barnard, proceeding to
the Klondike region for the purpose OF
making a topographic survey Of the
district adjacent to the eastern bOun-
dary of Alaska, the list meridian.
The survey will extend westward from
the Yukon, between the Gath and 65th
parallels of latitude and will include
the Forty bile district. The map to be
made by Barnard's party viii serve as
a basis for a careful geologic investiga-
ton of the region by Mr.. Keath. VINO
will use Barnard's camp as basis DuE
will operate to some extent independ-
emily. The second party leaving Mr.
EIdridge at Skaguay Will be IN charge
of Mr.. Spur, who will cooperate with
Barnard in crossing the passes and on
reaching the mouth of the White river
will enter upon it's special field Of work.
namely the exploration Of the White
and Tanana river systems.
It is expected that this party viii de-
scend the Tanana to it's mouth and VIII
explore Melogikaket with a view to fu-
ture operations on the Koyukuk- After
organizing the Barnard and Spur par
ties at Skaguay, Mr.. Eldridge with the
remaining members of the force VIII go
in the Wheeling to Cook inlet to land
at the mouth of the Sushtal- river
He is expected TO proceed with the en-
tire corps then with him, up the river
to about latitude 63 degrees 40 minutes,
where several forks of the river com
bine. At this point party under Mr.
Peters will be detached to explore the
northeastern portion of the rivers
drainage basin, with the expectation
that their work viii connect with thaI
of a party sent from the war depart
ment on Copper river and that they
will close on Mr.. Spurs surveys down
the Tanana. After detaching Mr.. Pc
ter'S party, Mr.. E1drldge viii proceed
with an assistant westward across rhe
divide between the Sushta and the
KuskOkuk to survey the headWaLefs OF
the KuskOkuk and to determine the
naVigability of that stream by de-
scending it to the usual portage to the
lower Yukon. All the parties viii rem
devious at St Michael by September
Is.
The routes traversed will be criticatly
inspected with view to ascertainlng
the most practical location for trails,
wa gOn roads, or railroad, the character
and extent of the timber will be noted
and the rivers, or streams viii be exam
ined as to the possibilities of navigation
and height of falls, or rapids, and the
rise and fall of tides will be recorded
The geological survey is to be so con-
Quoted as to ascertain the general dis
tribution of rock masses, their relations
and SO far as may be, the character and
origin of each. All occurrences Of valu-
able minerals will be noted and special
attention given to the presence or ab-
sence Of gold, whether in placers or
veins.