Evening star., 1904-02-29
N0RTHFRoMTHE YUKON
EXPEDITION BY MEMBERS OF THE
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
Left Washington aff January, 1908,
Reached Point Barrow, on the Arctic
Ocean, in September Last.


the only expedition that ever crossed Cen
trail Alaska from the Yukon to the Arctic
ocean. This mafkable trip was made In
1901 by Messrs. F. c. Schrader and w. ].
Peters of the United States geological sur
vey. Other white men have reached the
northern shore of Alaska and the southern
shore of the Arctic ocean by means Of
whaling vessels and other sea craft, but
this overland journey is absolutely unique
In the history of arctic adventure. 1t will
be interesting to those who follow the de-
velopment of our frozen areas to read
Professional Paper No. 20 of the surveys
publication, which is report of this un-
usual experience, entitled "A Reconnois-
sance in Northern Alaska,
Left This City in January, 1908.
Messrs. Schrader and Peters left Wash
ington in January and sailed for Alaska
early in the spring.. An arduous prelim-
mary journey of 1,2o0 miles by dog sled
was made down the Yukon to "the Koyu-
kuk,' above the arctic circle, the most north
ern placer camp on the continent. Condi-
tions there were found to be prosperous,
SIS day being the average wage. From
there explorations were made by a dog sled
to discover a pass over the rugged noun
tains to the north Fortunately one was
found, and as soon as the ice of the rivers
broke up in June the dogs were abandoned
and the journey was continued northward
by canoe up the torrential waters of John
river. thence by portage across the pass
and by canoe down the Anaktuvuk and Col
vile to the arctic.coast
The journey was enlivened by trifling ac-
cidents, such as the occasional loss of pro-
visions in midstream,, but an abundance
of game happily made good such losses.
After weeks amid primeval solitudes- the
v-tIdo hnCy oil ENnlysv
the arctic coast seemed very acceptable.
Point Barrow Reached September 8.
Point Barrow was reached September 8,
but no vessel was in port or in sight, and
as the ocean was about to freeze up for the
winter the party put to sea in an open
wha1eboat and coasted southwark for 800
miles Near Cape Lisburne collier was
fortunately encountered, which landed the
party at Nome late in September. To make
Nome seem genuinely homelike one should
approach 1t from the north.
Rich Results Achieved.
Though the purpose of the survey was
essentially economic, it has yielded rich
geographic and geologic results. This re-
gion was found to consist of three WELL
marked geographic provinces-the mountain
or middle, the Koyukuk or southern and
tuc dICOc Slope OF nOTtneFn-Wnicn are
comparable to the Rocky mountains, the
great interior basin and the great plains in
the western United States. The middle
province consists of belt Of rugged noun
tains, 100 miles in width and 6O0o feet
high. They are a continuation of the
Rocky mountain system, but turn here and
run east and west at right angles to their
main trend. On either side is gently roll
Ing upland country. To the north it slopes
down to nearly fat coastal plain along
the arctic.
The geology Of the region is interesting.
Evidence is cited rto show that northern
Alaska has been tilted to the westward in
geologica1ly recent stfmes. The rocks are
sedimentary ranging from paleozoic to re-
cent in point of age. The paleozoic rocks
are of economic importance, since they
seem TO De the source iof the metalliferous
piacers found In the country.
The relations Of the various rock masses
are geographically shown in a geological
section nearly 400 miles In extent, which
in making future corrections with Asiatic
as well as Alaskan stratigraphy.
Minerals Found.
Occurrences of gold, silver, copper, lead,
antimony and coal are described. The most
important of these minerals is gold, which
has been produced there in commercial
quantities since 1899. 1t is found in the dis
trict above the 9th parallel, where it oc-
CulS ia Wiuciy uSilputcu pIdCcIS. Inc
production for 1901 was about $780, 600, and
that of 1903 about $4,000. Prospects are
also reported from the arctic side Of the
divide. Coal is widely distributed. 1t oc-
ours In the Koyukuk province, probably In
economic quantities, bituminous coal.
Some is also found on the arctic slope on
the Anaktuvuk river. Considerable guam
titles of Ignite are exposed along the bluffs
of the Colville A fair grade of bituminous
coal is mined at Cape Lisburne. In 1901 it
commanded $40 ton in the Nome market,
where 1t was used for domestic purposes
The report is Illustrated by maps, pho
tographs and text figures. including profles
and sections. showing the vegetation, the
types of topography and the character,
structure and relations of the rock forma-
ticns in the several geographic provinces.