The San Francisco call., 1908-03-15
Government to Send Experts to Seek
Out AIaSka'S Riches
New Areas Of Placer Diggings to Be
Mapped by Scientists From Washington
SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE CALL

Of the mineral resources Of Alaska We're
begun 10 years ago Since then topo-
graphic reconnaissance surveys have
been carried over about $4,000 square
miles and geologic reconnaissance over
$4,000 square miles Of the total area Of
Alaska-5Se.o0o square miles. In addi-
Ion, detailed topographic surveys of
$500 square miles and geologic surveys
Of 17Q0> square miles have been made,
and the Investigations Of the water re-
sources have covered an area Of about
500 square miles.
The mere figures representing the
sreal mapping do not tell the story.
Much Of the money appropriated for
the nvestigation of the mineral re-
sources has been devoted 10 special
studies in mining districts. Though
the time has not yet come when any
given mining district can be investi-
gated eXhaustiyely, yet every produc-
ing camp throughout the territory has
received at least a preliminary exam
ination by the expertssof the geological
survey, and the most important have
been studied in detail For example,
the two most important coal fields Of
the Controller bay and Matanuska ter
ritory have been mapped and described
in reports, as has the Juneau gold belt.
Similar work has been done in the
Nome and Fairbanks placer districts.
tinuation Of these surveys and investi-
cations during 1908. the personnel Of
the parties has been determined and
many OF the preparations have been
completed. Field operations will be
begun as soon as the weather will per-
init Two of the parties viii leave
. Washington about the first of March,
and the others viii follow during the
next two months.
Thirteen parties in all viii be en-
gagged in this work. OF these six will
give their time TO igations OF
geology and mineral resources. two
viii combine this class Of work with
some topographic surveys, three will
be engaged in Topographic mapping,
and two viii be employed in the in
vestigation Of the water resources of
some Of the important mining districts.
WORK IN SOUTHEAST
In southeastern Alaska, c. W. Wright
will continue his detailed studies of
some of the important districts of
Prince Of Wales island. including the
ksssan peninsula and Copper mountain
regions. Time permitting, he will also
do some work in the northern exten-
81 sion Of the Juneau gold belt. Wright
VIII leave Washington about the mid
die OF May and viii spend about four
months in the field.
The completion OF the detailed topo-
graphic mapping OF Kassan peninsula
and the mapping Of Copper mountain
mining district on Prince of Wales
Island viii be undertaken by R. H.
Sargent, with one assistant. This work
viii be done on the scale of one mile
to the inch, with contour intervals CT
IS feet. If sufficient time is available
Sargent viii also undertake similar
work in the Eagle river district north
p Of Juneau He viii begin his field
work about the first of May and con-
tinue il as late in the fall as the
weather viii permit.
COPPER RIVER REGION
In view Of the large amount of cap
itsl that is being invested in railway
construction and mining developments
in the Copper river region it is de-
sirsble that the surveys and investi ga
tions in this region should be actively
pushed during the coming field season.
z. r Moffit and Adolph Knopf, as
sisted by s. r Capps, win undertake a
study and survey Of the northern cop
per belt. which extends along the in
lspd front OF the Wrangell mountains
non White river to the Nabesna. II is
proposed 10 make as detailed a study
Of the ore deposits Of this district as
may be possible during the season. The
existing topographic maps viii be sup
plemented by additional surveys of the
upper White river region.
This investigation viii be an exten-
sion Of the work of F. h Mofht and
A. @. Maddren, who studied the south
ern copper belt last season and whose
report is now in preparation. It is
hoped that with the completion of the
. coming seasons field work fairly
,. complete account Of these copper de-
PQsits. covering both the northern and
southern belts. may be prepared.
"a. 49,
region it has been necessary to send
supplies IN during the winter. These
We're started from Valdez about the
first Of February and were sledded in
10 the Nabesna. Mofit and his party
VIII leave Valdez as soon as the route
into the interior is open, which will
probably be about the first Of June
making a rapid journey 10 the scene OF
the summers work.
The above described operations will
be in the nature Of reconnaissance
work and are intended to outline the
broader features OF the economic geol-
ogy. For the purpose Of making de-
tailed studies OF some OF the less de-
veiopec copper deposits it Is proposed
TO extend a topographic survey, on a
scale Of one mile TO the inch, over an
area Of four or five square miles in the
upper Chitina region This area has
been chosen both because the most ex-
tensive mining developments have been
made IN ii and because it affords q
typical section Of the geology Of this
district The investigation Of the geol-
Dgy Of this area. which viii be under
taken during another field season, viii
no doubt throw much light on the oc-
vurrence Of the copper ores through
the entire belt.
D. c. Witherspoon has been charged
with the execution OF these surveys and
VIII be assisted by r. II. LaFollet Pro-
visions have already been sent to the
interior over the ice and Wtherspoon
with his party Of five men, will follow,
leaving Valdez about the middle OF
March It is hoped by this plan the
party may reach the field of operations
as soon as the snow is off the ground,
50 as TO begin the surveys at the ear
lest possible moment. The journey
into the interior involves a shedding
trip OF about 200 miles
PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND
The large amount Of prospecting that
has been done in the Prince William
sound region renders it desirable that
the geologic investig cations in this field
made three years ago should be sup