The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-03-09

THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

or THE UNITED STATES GIVES
Z 2; SOME VERY INTERESTING.
PoINTs-rIIE VALLEY OF THE
YUKON IS OF MORE IMMEDIATE
INTEREST, AT PREsENT-A
BIRDS EYE VIEW OF THE
WHOLE SITUATION IN THE FAR
NORTH BLDoRADo.
WASHINGTON. March s.--Two
papers containing important contrlbu-
tlonsto the gold bearing regions of Alas
4 ka. papers. the publication of which las
been awaiting with great interest for
nearly a, year, have Just issued from the
government printing Office. They are
both advance chapters from part ! II OF
the eighteenth. annual report of the, Dr.
rector OF the United States geographic
cal eurvey, not yet issued. The papers
give the results of reconnaissance exnmi-
nation by survey experts, made re.
sspectiyelytin the summers OF 1895 and
1896, or shortly before the outbreak OF
the Klcndlke gold excitement. n
The paper entitled reconnolsance OF the
Z gold fields OF southern Alaska. q pamph-
let OF elghty-slx pages OF text and q
number OF mars and other Illustrations,
va IA ha ~ han h.yN f,.
George j. Becker. In 1896, Its publication
/ having been delayed until this time
mainly by reason Of Dr. Beckers alb
sence during part OF 1896, making
study OF the gold deposits OF the trans
wall
e The principal Developments Of the
coastal region OF Alaska have been made
among the Islands OF the Alexander
archipelago and on the adjoining shore
of the pan handle strip OF southeastern
Alaska. In this region are the famous
Alaska -Treadwell and the Alaska Mex
lean mines. on Douglas Island. and a
series of!mportant deposits on the main
land opposite and not far from Juneau.
and the .Funters bay mines, on Admiral
ty1sland: TO the northwest are the Ber-
ners Bay mines, on the eastern shore of.
Lynn canal, and, to the southwest the
Sundum mines on Sundum bay, all of
which are in the same general belt of
metamorphosed states and Intrusive
rocks tina resemble In a general way the
country rocks OF the mother lode Ii: CAL
ffornia, and are supposed to be OF tine
same general formation. A second mu.e
westerly belt Is shown In the mines near
Sltka. which presents similar geological!
features. Prospecting In this region Is,
rendered most difficult by the dense COW
ering OF fallen timber and moss. which
everywhere covers the rock surface The
pIacers and beach sands OF Cooks In
let and the mines OF Kadiac islands are
also described and appear TO occur In
similar rocks to those OF the Alexander
Archipelago. On Unga Island is the APP
olio mine. the largest In the territory
next to the Treadwell, which is eruptive
rock.
=; The report OF Mr.. J. E. Spur, (3s2
pages of text with maps and other Illus
trations) which treats mainly OF the val
ley OF the Yukon. is OF more immediate
interest at the present time. since al
though the Klondike region did not come
within the limits OF his official work, he
recognized the probable Importance OF
that region. as result Of his studies OF
the district OF Forty-mile and Arctic
/ City. within American boundaries. The
report is entitled Geology Of the Yukon
gold district OF Alaska. by J. Edward
Spur. with an Introductory chapter on
tfle history and condition OF the district
70 1891. by Harold B. Goodrich
In spite of the difficulties OF travel and
short season OF work. Mr.. Spur was en-
abled to get a birds eye view Of the
broad general features Of geographical
structure of this immense interior, and
to determine the position and character
3stic features of the Gold-bearing rock
formations from the wearing down OF
witch the unusually rich placer deposits
not only Of the already discovered dis
2tricts In American territory. but also OF
those which have, since created so great
an excitement within Canadian borders,
were derived. These rock formations,
which, he designated as the birch creek
Forty-mile. and SRampart series, are OF
immersc thickness and very old, dating
back OF the paleozoic era and resting on
I fundamental granite or gnelss The
richer placers are all found among the
smaller sulches heading In hills formed
. olftIleSetTOCkS, WHICH are very lull OF
goldJbearing quartz veins. There are
3 also gold bearing conglnmerates. formed
I in a former geologic period by the wear
ing down of thin rocks along an ancient
sea beach and since consolidated Into
I hard rock, lifted up and folded, where
abrasion has furnished gold to some OF
che placers, and which may prove them
selves to be sources OF wealth In the fu-.
ature.
Mr.. Spurs report is accompanied by
geological maps of the mining districts
visited, and contains q. full discussion OF
the manner In which placer deposits are
formed. He effectually dIsposcs OF the
statement made by the late director OF
the coast survey. General Duftield. that
the placers are Of glacier origin, by
showing that the region where they are
( found In great richness was never COW
cred by the continental ice sheet. The
paper will undoubtedly prove OF great
value In affording TO those who may
visit In the future, more correct un-
Outstanding OF the geological conditions
prevailing in the region and will be In
greattdemand.
e Ofseach of these papers the geological
+ survey has about ZOO copies for general
distribution.
LIVE STOCK BULLETIN.
~ 49, 10 80 n .ggFr