The Chitina leader., 1914-05-12
WASHINGTON. May s.-The Geo.

WASHINGTON, May 8.-The Geo. logical Survey has just completed its preparations for the annual cam paign of Investigating the mineral resources of Alaska, the field plans for the year having been approved by Secretary Lane. The parties have been made up, and some of the horses and other equipment pug chased. Prosecuting surveys in the isolated parts of the territory re- quires preparation long in advance, and part of the supplies are shipped in over the winter trails on account of the difficulties of summer trans portation. For this seasons work supplies were started inland from | the coast early last January and are now cached at convenient points To- cated 200 to 300 miles inland for use of the parties during the work ing season, which lasts from June through September. Eleven parties will be put in the field this year, and as in the past special heed will be given to the investigation of the resources of those districts which are tributary to the several routes that have been advocated for the proposed government railways.
 Exploration of New Routes
 A party under the leadership of J. w. Bagley and Theodore Chapin will undertake the exploration of the region tributary to Talkeetna River and will connect with the surveys of the Broad Pass region made last year. This party, consisting of seven men with 15 horses, will go up Matanuska River early in June and start work near the scene of the new gold discovery on Albert Creek it will penetrate a region now but little known, lying in the headwater country of Talkeetna River. On returning, the party will survey the region between the headwaters of Matanuska and Copper rivers that has been advocated as a railway route.
 An exploration of the region lying the Iditarod district on the west will be undertaken by R. H Sargent and Philip S. Smith. Here there is belt of country over 100 miles n width which is almost an entire blank on the map. The party, made up of seven men, with 20 horses, will follow route that has been suggested for a railway into the great Kuskokwim basin.
 A. G. Maddren will investigate the gold placer districts tributary to the lower Kuskokwim. He will ascend Iditarod River, by canoe, portage across the divide to reach the Kuskokwim, and visit the Anniak, Tuluksak, and Goodnews Bay placer districts.
 Stephen R. Capps and c. E. Giftin will carry geologic and topographic surveys across Skolai Pass into the White River basin and thence to the international boundary. This is also a region where railway building has been considered. MT. Capps Will give special attention to the investi- gation of the newly discovered gold district in the Chisana basin. This work is an extension of previous reconnaissance surveys in this field. Surveys of Gold and Copper Districts
 A detailed base map will be made of part of the Juneau district, now the most imp .rtant gold lode camp in Alaska and promising to become one of the most important on the continent. The purpose of the base map is to make possible an ey- haustive study of the occurrence of the gold ores. D. c. Witherspoon will undertake the making of the base map, which will be on scale of 3 inches to the mile.
 A detailed survey of the Kotsina copper bearing area, north of Chitina, was undertaken in 1912, but unfortunately, the delay in the appropriation during the last two years has prevented it's completion. It is planned that F. H. Moffit and J. B. Mertie now complete this work. B. l.. Johnson, with one assistant, will. undertake the detailed geologic survey of the Port Valdez gold and copper district. The base map neces- sary for this work was completed in 1913. ,e,~-. -- s-~ 1T
 General Investigations
 To coordinate and correlate the various geologic surveys in Alaska it is necessary to continue the studies of the general geology and mineral resources. Three geologists will be engaged in this work during 1914. George c Martin. assisted