The San Francisco call., 1908-03-15


YUKON BASIN
Nearly 90 per cent of the gold output
OF Alaska comes from the Yukon basin,
and IN view of this fact il is desirable
10 advance the geologic and topograph-
&c surveys in this region as rapidly as
means VIII permit. During the last 10
years the survey of the area lying be-
tween Yukon and Tanana rivers and
the international boundary line has
been practically completed. There still
remains, however, an unsurveyed area
aiong the Tanana above Fairbanks, and
tnis will be surveyed during the COM
ing season by j. w. Bagley. In addi-
ton to this work Bagley will extend
reconnaissance surveys south of the
Ianana and west of the Delta river.
AS q part of the general plan to in
vestigate the most important mining
districts in detail. the geologic survey
OF the Fairbanks district viii be under
taken during the coming season by L.
M Prindle assisted by F. J. Katz. With
this object in view detailed map of
the more important part of the Fair
banks district was made during the
past season. 1t will be Prindles pur-
pose to study the placer deposits and
the associated bed rock in detail and to
determine, as far as possible, the gen.
esis and distribution of the gold. 1t is
SAPSSASu lIdI p4 THIS means important
conciuSions may be reached regarding
the occurrence of gold throughout the
Yukon -Tanana region. Prindle and
Bagley win start inland as soon as the
Held season opens, probably about the
first of June, and will continue work
until the freeze up in the fall.
The growing Importance of investi-
eating the water resources of the
placer districts has been fully recog-
-fz NJ nf=
the Fairbanks district during 1907. 1t
is proposed this year to supplement
these Investigations by the observa-
I tions Of another season. and also to
extend similar work as far as possible
I in the Birch creek and Glenn creek
/ rgions. It is believed that important
data will be thus obtained on the
! water resources available for placer
mining operations throughout the Yu-
kon-Tanana belt. c. c. Covert, who
carried on the work last year at Fair
banks, viii continue it this year. He
will be assisted by C. E. Ellsworth.
AS it is important that observa-
/ tions should be made on the spring
run off. when the snow melts, Covert
! viii start into the interior about the
middle Of March, expecting to reach
Fairbanks at about the time of the
| breakup. This study OF the water
conditions during the spring foods
will be of Importance to the placer
miners, for it is then that the winter
/ dumps are sluiced.
During the summer of 1907 impor-
tant discoveries of placer gold were
! reported from Innoko river tribu-
tary of the lower Yukon The regions
in which the discoveries were made
are unsuryeyed and but little explored.
/ For the sake of obtaining more def
mite information in regard 10 this dis
! trict, A. G. Maddren has been detailed
TO make geologic and topographic
! reconnaissance Of it. It is hoped that.
as the result of Maddern's work a
4 fairly definite statement can be made
regarding the distribution of placer
/ gold in this field, and if the district
4 proves to be of Importance more sys-
tematic surveys viii be made at some
future time. Maddren will start for
this region as soon as the weather
permits, which viii be about the first
Of June.
SEWARD PENINSULA
The second largest gold producing
district of Alaska is Seward peninsula
/ and this has been the field of almost
continuous operations by the geelog-
/ ical survey since 1899. AS a result re-
connaissance surveys have been car
ried over the entire peninsula and de-
tailed topographic surveys have been
made in some OF the more important
mining districts The results of these
/ Investigations are now passing through
the press in the form of a report on
the placers of the Seward peninsula
1 There are many important questions
connected with the occurrence of the
gold and it's distribution which can be
solved only by extensive geologic in
yestigations of the geologic structure
The region is very complex and some
oTo
ment can be made regarding the oc-
curence of the gold in bed rock.
For the sake of obtaining basal in
formation in regard to the geology of
this province, two parties will be or
ganized to supplement the work of
the previous years P. S. Smith, who
+ has been engaged during two years in
detailed studies of Seward peninsula.
wiA carry on special Investigations of
the geologic and economic problems,
and Z. NJ. Kindle, who, for three years.
4 has been studying the paleozoic rocks
of Alaska, will investigate the terri
anes Of this period in the peninsula.
and in cooperation with Smith. will
/ attempt to determine the stratigraphic
sequence. Kindle will have one as
sistant and both parties will leave
Seattle about the first of June
The Investigations of the water re-
sources of Seward peninsula has occu-
pied the attention of the survey during
the last two years, and one report has
been issued and second one is now
in preparation. These observations
have yielded many valuable data. but
it seems desirable for the sake of com
pairing observations covering several
years. TO continue them through an
other season. The work viii be car
ried on by NJ NJ Henshaw, who has
/ been employed in it during 1906 and
1o7.