The Alaska citizen., 1910-09-05

and explorations in the interior or Alaska the problems which con . tronted il were not easy. Between i 1898 and 1902 the following officers | of the Geological Survey took part | in the Alaska work; F. C. Barnard l Alfred II. Brooks. Arthur J. Collier, | George H Eldridge. T. c. Gerdine. 1 W C. Mendenhall. Robert Muldrow, w. J. Peters, w. s. Post, D. l.. Reaburn. c. R. Richardson, F. C. Schrader. Arthur C. Spencer, J. F.. Spur. and D. c Witherspoon.
 The public demanded the immedi- ate publication of maps of unexplored or only partially explored regions. Such maps would have far greater value if they could be furnished while the excitement was at it's height. so there was not opportunity for extensive areal mapping. The problem was to make surveys of the main routes of travel, which were chiefly confined to the larger rivers, and to include with these as wide areas as possible.
 The first seasons work resulted in about 5000 miles of instrumental trayerses, with reconnaissance maps of an area of nearly 3O,O0O square miles. besides more accurate sur vey of about 2O00 square miles. These traverses were largely con- fined to the more important rivers. The work had to be planned with very incomplete knowledge of the geography and of the climate and other conditions of travel of the re zion. and all supplies and equipment had to be transported from Puget Sound ports.
 After landing Tn Alaska the parties were entirely dependent on their own resources for transport ation. The first year they made their way by following the waterways in canoes which were carried on the backs of the men at portages. but after some knowledge of the coun- try was gained it was found that horses could be used to advantage for the transportation of supplies.
 The general scheme of operations for the first year included explora- tions of the Kuskokwim, the Sus'tna. and the Copper rivers, as all three of these streams offered possible routes into the interior The Copper river work was carried on by mem bers of the Geological Survey under the auspices of the War Department, which organi ed two expeditions for the purpose, one under Capt. Edwin F. Glenn and the other under Capt. William R. Abercrombie.
 Glenn, with small detachment provided with pack horses, left the coast at Cook Inlet and made his way northward along the Matanuska, crossed the Copper river plateau, and descended the Delta river to the
 
 coast by the same route. No surveys whatever were made by Glenn, but, fortunately, Mendenhall's map and report formed valuable contribu tion to the knowledge of the geo. graphy of Alaska. At the Panama Lieut. J. c. Castner was detached n exploration to Circle, on the Yukon. With two men he crossed the Tanana and attempted to make his way up Volkmar river, but the lateness of the season made the plan impracti cable. After losing both their horses the three attempted to return to the Panama on raft Their raft was wrecked and everything lost, in- cluding their shoes; they reached the Panama half dead with hunger and exposure, and were fortunate enough to find some friendly Indians. The journey which had cost them so much suffering and privation yielded practically nothing of value. Some minor explorations were carried on by Lieut. H. G. Learnard and Ser geant Yanert, also of Glenn's party
 The second army expedition, under Captain Abercrombie, landed at Val deZ, on Prince William Sound. The heavy snowfall prevented an early start, but eventually the entire party, including horses, made its way in- land by the Valdez Glacier route, which that year was used by hun dreds of prospectors. After reach ing the Copper, Captain Abercrombie left the party for hurried trip to the Mentasta Pass along the trail es- tablished by prospectors. Lieut. P G. Lowe, following a similar route made his way to Fortymile, and re- turned to the coast by way of the Lewes river, and the White Pass railway. The rest of the party, under the leadership of F. c. Schrader, of the Geological Survey, did some very creditable work in making surveys and investigations in the lower part of the Copper river basin.
 The exploration of the Susitna was undertaken by Eldridge and Muldrow