The Alaska daily empire., 1916-01-27

position in the rectangular survey
 ystem with reference to the Fair ,anks principal meridian and base
 he determined and the survey of thC .oal fields initiated therefrom.
 A topographic map of each field Is being made on a scale of inches to
 he mile with the township as the init. the public-land lines constitut ng the horizontal control and base
 or the topographic map. The verti al control in the Matanuska and Ne ana fields is carried by vertical an .les from the levels of the Alaskan
 nglneerlng Commission along tho preliminary lines of the railroad sur 1eys which traverse these fields, and the Boring River district from the bench marks of the United States Geological Survey. The contour inter 'al adopted in all three fields is 50 feet.
 Coal mining engineers of the Blu
 eau of Mines joined the Berlng Riv- ,r and Matanuska Survey camps dur ng the latter part of July and in co. operation with the General Land or ice parties are engaged in forming easing units of the newly created egal subdivisions.
 On account of the fact that the Al. ,ska field season prior to June 30 is ,ery limited and because of the nee. ,ssary preliminary work incident tc he fixation of the initial points of he surveys, the actual acreage Of 'oal land surveys executed during the ast weeks of the fiscal year is incon
 iderable and is not indicative of tho mount to be accomplished this field eason. However, @ conservative es- innate of the actual number of acres ,urveyed up to June 30. 1915. is as 'ollows: Bering River. 15.OOO acres; Nenana. 19.0OO acres; Metanuska, 60 100 acres. The field work in the Mat. 'nuska and Nenana fields will be com. oleted this season. and the field work n the Boring field will probably be completed. though unusual fogs and ,loudy weather in that section have nterferred considerably with the mak 'ng of necessary observations, result. '~g in some absolutely unavoidable delays.
 Considerable interest in the leasinp ,lan is being manifested by prospect I've applicants for leases. especially n the Matanuska field where early ,nd most favorable transportation ia. ,ilities are assured. Although it ir the ccal in the Nenana field will be mined largely for local con. -umption. it is apparent that with the ,oming of the railroad there will be many application for leases, and it would. therefore. appear desirable to designate leasing units in this field ,arly next summer.
 Other Surveys
 During the fiscal year, public land iurveys were extended over 9O0OO lcres in the Cook Inlet district north [ ,asterly of Knlk. The survey of the owrsite of Wrangell was completed l md the new townsite of Anchorage. It one of the two tidewater termin- is of the Government railroad, was aid out. Additions to the townsite f Anchorage and to Seward, the oth- r terminal of the railroad on Resur- ection Bay. are now under survey.
 Survey Recommendations
 No addition surveys under the Cop er River base and meridian will be in the near future. Per onal inspection indicates conclusive ? that existing public land surveys re sufficient to meet all reasonable of settlement in that istrict for several years, nor is there ny present demand for further ex-