The Nome nugget., 1901-10-04
Return. to Nome After tonq and Arduous Trips.
THE ROUTE ThKEN
The Work Included Both Topc- graphical and GeolO2ica -- One Party Travelled From the riouth of kOyukuk to the Arctic Ocean.

United States government geological and typographical survey parties have recently o upleted surveys of great t ..uch | country embracing the sec tion between the headwaters of the koyukuk and the Arctic ocean, with numerous minor surveys.
 Three distinct par ies have cen in ohe field since early last spring. They reached Nome q few days ago, having completed their work, the complete re- suits of which will not be known until the maps and reports have been pub- ished.
 The first Alaska survey party left Washington on February last, w. J. Peters being the topographer in charge. The geologic work was done by F. C. Shrader, both of whom have spent years in Alaska. The immediate destination of the party was Bergman, on the kOyukuk, where supplies had been shipped the previous season.
 
 Koyukuk to Johns river, one of the forks of that stream, and thence by a comparatively low portage to the Col vile river and down that stream to tie Arctic and thence to oint Barrow. Between the head of Johns river and the headwaters of the Colville, there is a wide mass of mountains 50 or more mi es in length, sa d w. (. Sc ad cn ef geologiat oI the first survey party. ''Ihere are gold bearing mica shists in that stretch of country. but as to how extensive they are cannot say. The people now on the Koyukuk will un- doubtedly push up to the John's river country and exploit that section, where the gold bearing indications are at aims between Johns river and the Arctic slope rises to a height of GOO0 feet or more. The timber ceases about 30 miles on the south side of the sum- init; from thence there is no timber, except willows. From the mouth of Johns river to the portage across to the Colvllle the district is l30 miles; from the portage to the Arctic ocean it is about 160 miles or 200 by river.'
 Mir. Schrader's party came down the AnaAtOvuk. d tributary of the COlville, which enters that stream about 50 H. Jes from it's mouth. No white man. says Mir. Schrader, ever before pene- trated that region. There are no lndi. cations that such has ever l.een the case, and the natives say that white men never before were in that section. The Colville heads up in a mountainous country, but 5O miles from the coast it's course is through a rolling plateau, which develops into a veritable tundra. The mountainous country referred to abounds in caribou and mountain sheep, which are hunted by the ma tives. In MT. Schradcr's party were eight men. From the mouth of the Colville they made their way to Point Barrow, from whence they made their way in native skin boats to Cape Lis- burne, where they wee fortunate enough to catch the steamer Arctic for Nome.
 A second party was under tho direc- tion of w. C. Mendenhall as chief ef the geological survey. MT. Menden- halls party left Washington City last A May, and reached the Yuk9 -. Of y., ,kagway. Typographical work began < o.af aaf;,9s o9ss.. Yukon. D L. Reaburn teing tho ;, '-;4r ,o Jog .4pher. Former sur- veys of the Yukon were tested as far down as Fort Hamlin. From tha. place the party proceeded up Dall river. and thence to Bergnan on the Kuyukuk. Going up that river and its tributaries 10 the Arcti: divide. they crossed over onto the Kobuk river and descended that river, studying the geo. Ioe i, al formations aS they came.
 "Our mapping work is still in a crude form," said Mir. Mendenhall, but it will be completed upon o'~ re- turn to N ashington, and will be pu . lished pr bably some time next win ter."
 A third party have been work ing all sunnne principally in the Agiapux, c.L:o.>.,aH iv,lot uud VOrk 0l1t rictc