Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1906-06-07

The work which members of the
Alaskan division of the United States
geological survey expect to take ND
during the coming field season prom
ises to be more than usually arduous
and hazardous.
Professor Eliot Blackwelder of the
University of Wisconsin, who will
have assistance, will explore the lower
course of the Alsek river as far as
the international boundary The AL
SEX is glacier-fed, turbulent stream.
It will be Professor Blackwelder's
special purpose to study the geology
of the st. Elias range ard determine,
if possible, the relation OF the rocks
of this field with the gold-bearing
rocks of southeastern Alaska.
In that region also c. w. and F. E.
Wright, assisted by r. w. Pumpelly.
will continue their geologic work
north and west of Lynn canal, includ-
ing the Glacier bay region and Chi
chagof island. AS in previous years.
the work will be carried on with the
aid of a gasoline launch. The glaciers
on Glacier bay, which always interest
the tourist, will be specially studied
These were very much shaken by the
earthquake in 1899. and an attempt
will be made to determine how much
the ice has retreated since Professor
H. F. Reds survey in 1891.
Lawrence Martin, will continue his
work in the Yakutat bay region. He
proposes to cross the upper reaches
of the Malaspina glacier and make
his way westward to cross about 100
miles of ice by sled. 1t is Professor
Tarr's general purpose to carry the
geologic reconnaissance work west
ward and, if possible, establish the
relation to the coal and oil-bearing
Srocks of Controller bay. He will also
examine the beach placers and the
oil seepages at Yaktag.
AS rapidly as means at hand will
permit, the coal fields of Alaska are
being Systematically surveyed. Dur
ing the coming field season George c.
Martin, assisted by G. e. Weaver, will
complete the detailed mapping of the
Controller bay region. AS this field
carries high grade bituminous and
semi-anthracite Goals and is now the
objective point of railroad from
Orca, it is evident that the results of
this work will be of great CONNER
cial Importance.
Great interest has been felt in the
Sushitna basin, which contains not
only important coal fields, but also
some placer beds, and embraces the
largest areas of agricultural land in
Alaska. In response to the demand
for further explorations and topo-
graphic surveys in this field, T. G.
Gerdine sailed on May 16 with a
party of II men and Is horses from
Seattle for Knik at the head of Cook
inlet He will be accompanied by R.
H. Sargent, who will take charge OF a
section of the party. Sidney Paige
will be with the expedition as geolo-
gist, and with him will be associated
Adolph Knopf. The general purpose
of the investigation will be to carry
reconnaissance surveys up to the head
of Matanuska river and thence west
ward to the Sushitna. The biologists
will pay special attention to the Mat
anuska coal fields.
AS a thorough investigation of the
mineral resources can not be made
without geologic maps, stratigraphic
studies are very essential for the de-
termination of the succession of geo
logic horizons. E. M. Kindle, who last
year investigated the stratigraphy OF
southeastern Alaska, will this year do
similar work in the Yukon basin. He
will go down the Yukon in canoe,
ascend the Porcupine to the boundary,
and make such stratigraphic studies