Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-11-17
$4,000 MILES
OF New United States Territory Dis.
covered in a---Navigation of
Alaskan Waters.

Washington, D. c., November 49,
Assistant G. Fl. Pratt has submitted to
Supt. Prichett, Of the Coast and Geo.
detic Survey, report Of the coast sur
vey party'S operations during the past
summer in Alaska. The report notes
the discovery of $500 additional square
miles Of United States territory and
deals with the work accomplished in
the interest of Alaskan navigation.
Referring to the newly explored ter
ritory of the United States-which
hitherto has not been included as
part of this country-the report says:
THE Kusilvak channel extends very
nearly parallel with the shore until
about half way 70 the Kry pniak, when
it turns seward and when beyond the
sight of land spreads out into bar
low tide. On each side, the flats are
irregular with blind pockets, etc. The
shores in the vicinity CT Kusilvak
mouth are about twenty-five miles fur
ther out into Bering sea than indicated
on the published charts. In round
numbers this difference includes an
area of about $500 square miles. The
highlands Of Cape Dyer were almost
always obscured by clouds, but it
would seem that its present longitude
will not be much changed, whereas
there is possibility Of placing its
latitude more to the southwark.
There is about two feet OF water on
the bar at the Aphoon channel en-
trance at Mean low water, and inside
of it quite an intricate channel. The
proposed chart of this locality should
be sent to St. Michael by next seasons
coast survey party, whose very first
duties should be to re-eXamine for
changes and thoroughly buoy out this
channel as the ice will carry off buoys
left this year, to determine and then
plat the buoys on these charts and
then turn them over for general dis
tribution."
A chart is recommended covering
the stretch from Cape Dyer to Bes-
boro island to assist vessels trying
early in the season, as they usually do
to get through to ST. Michael by going
between the Boring sea ice, supposed
to be swept off shore somewhat by the
currents from the river mouths and
the Yukon bar or flats.
Continuing the report says:
THE up-river traffic for the coming
season will be as heretofore by deep
sea craft to st. Michael, transfer to
river steamers which will go via the
Aphoon channel. This entrance is the
worst they have to contend with and
has only about two feet on the bar at
mean low water and is rather intricate.
It's advantage is that river boats can
be in sight of land all the way from
ST. Michael to the entrance. the only
really dangerous position being in
rounding St. Michael's island, a dis
lance Of about twelve miles, in north
erly weather, whereas the Kusilyak,
although having sufficient water, has
the very serious disadvantage of being
so far off shore that no natural land
marks can be used for finding and en-
tering it. From the north shore of
Cape DYER to tho Knsiitak entrance is
about fifteen miles less than from St.
Michael to the Aphoon entrance, and
even if the klIsilv2% could be as easily
found. this small difference in distance
would not be sufficient to change the
routes of the older transportation COM
panies that have costly warehouse IA
cilities at St Michael.
1T is now a foregone conclusion
that the passenger business of the up
per Yukon country is and will remain
via the passes, while for a long time
the great bulk of the freight will go
via the rivers mouth There are now
between sixty and seventy regular
river steamers in the carrying bust
ness and still freight was left behind
at ST. Michael when the season closed
in. The ocean traffic has been proper
tional, there being as many as thirty
deep water vessels at anchor in st.
Michael anchorage at time, the aver
age during the season being twenty
The greatest stumbling block in the
ST. Michael freight business is the
transfer from ocean TO river craft in
an unprotected roadstesd, the water
depth being such that ocean vessels
do not anchor within abogt two miles
Of the nearest shoal water landings
Ocean vessels can be run on a eompar-
atiyely close schedule as to time,
whereas the uncertainty Of time ar