Evening star., 1911-08-13

glacier and the copper delta on the eas'
and west.
Before delving into more cold facts and
figures a little of the early history OF
this section of Alaska will be Of interest
When Bering led the first exploratory
voyage across the north Pacific in l14l
Cape st. Elias was his first landfall, and
either Kayak or Wingham Island-in Con.
troller bay--his first landing place. The
first exploration of this province thus
dates back to the beginning of Alaskan
history. But this beginning. although OF
historical interest. was of little impor-
tance. for Bering merely sent boais
aashore for water. and then went back
across the Pacific without extending his
explorations or even touching on the
mainland.
The Russians probably made other
visits to Controller bay during the be
ginning of settlement and fur trade from
1862 to 17S3 but if so they left no records
which are accessible. Other explorers
Spaniards sailed past this coast. but
there is no record of their having landed
there
Vancouver and Puget, returning from
Cook Inlet in 1874, entered Controller bay
and the latter spent considerable time
there while attempting to sail out through
the channel between Kayak Island and
Okaee Spit. Puget's account of this work
and his descriptions of the region are
especially complete.
were visited in 1887 by Sir Edward Bel
cher. who wrote some rather elaborate
descriptions of Bering and Malaspina gla-
ciers. Lieut.. H. W. Seton-karr. after
attempting to climb Mount st. Elias in
1886, cruised westward in small boat,
spent some time at a settlement on the
north end Of Kayak Island and near Ka-
talla, and crossed the Copper delta.
All the charts Of Controller bay and the
neighboring coast published prior to 1893
were based on early surveys. probably by
Tebenkof The United States coast and
geodetic survey mapped the Copper delta
and katalla bays in 1903, 1905 and 1908.
The first white men who settled In the
Controller bay region were traders. who
We're attracted by the sea offers, which
the natives had for a long time been
catching around the rocks off Kayak and
Wingham Islands Trading posts were
established during the Russian occupa-
ton, and soon after the transfer to the
United States and the Alaska Commercial
Company is said to have had a station
there.
After the decline of the sea otter in
dustry attempts were made to estab-
lish salmon canneries. but they We're
not successful. although cannery on
Prince William sound still finds II
nrofta BILE to send steamers to Berlng
river for fish.
The existence of coal and petroleum
in this region was probably learned
from the natives. These materials be
gan to attract attention in 1896 ana
soon brought in large numbers of pros
pectors The first oil well was begun
IN 1901 and drilling has been in prog
rass ever since. A producing well was
obtained in 1902. and n oil boom Inn
nediately resulted.
Many of the oil companies never pro-
crossed beyond the sale Of stock, and
some possibly never intended to do so
Others began operations without OBJ
tanning competent advice and with no
idea of the problems before them. A
few started IN a conservative, intelli
gent way to thoroughly test the field.
Ii now appears that oil drilling in a
new field is very uncertain and at best
requires time and money and that
Alaska oil fields are at greater dis
advantage than more accessible local.
ties
coal was discovered in this region
about tho same time as the petroleum.
according 10 reports Of the geological
survey Probably all of the coal lands
within easy reach have now been To-
Gated. The lands have been for the
most part surveyed for patent appllca-
tons by deputy mineral surveyors. \
large number-probahly Severad hun
have been made. and about twenty tun-
nels have been begun. Complete title
has not, up to this time, been obtained
by any of the locatorS. either in this
region or elsewhere in Alaska.
The glaciers of Alaska and Of Con