The Wrangell sentinel., 1923-02-22
New Map of Alaska
lesults of Thirty Years Exploration
 By US. Geological Survey

The United States Geological Sur. ey has just published a new map oi
 Alaska, measuring 50 by 33 inches which embodies the results of all ex- 1lorations made up to 1923. The Survey began its work in Alaska ir
 1889, when the late Professor I. C. Russell was sent to examine the Yu- Yukon Valley. The Yukon, fifth in size of North American rivers, was then unsurveyed. though its general course had been sketched by explor- CTS. Some of the other large rivers of Alaska had been traced by ex- plorers, but there were many other water courses hundreds of miles long. entirely unknown except for the hazardous journeys of a few prospectors and fur traders.
 Topographic surveys began in 1898 and have continued up to the present. A total area of over 200, 900 square miles, or about 35 per cent of Alaskas total area. has been ex- plored by the Geological Survey Adding to this the areas surveyed by the US. Coast and Geodetic Survey along the shore line, by the Interna- tional Boundary Commission along the Canadian frontier, and by other federal agencies, shows that over half of Alaska has been mapped. In addition to the results from the off cial Surveys, the Geological Survey has in it's possession a large amount of data relating to the physical feat ures of Alaska obtained from private sources, but resulting chiefly from journeys of the indefatigable pros pector.
 All this information has now been coordinated and compiled a new general map of Alaska under the di- rection of R. H. Sargent, whose 15 years experience in the surveying of Alaska has enabled him to make the best cartographic interpretation of material of such varying degrees of accuracy This work was begun be fore the war, and in 1915 a prelimi~ nary edition of the Alaska map was published. Since then it has been re- vised and is now issued as Map of Alaska (E)," on a scale of about 40 miles to the inch C1:2, 2,600,000). It can be purchased for 25 cents from the Director of the US Geo logical Survey, address Washington, DC. It is printed in four colors and shows the drainage, glaciers, rail roads and the principal settlements and wagon roads. The relief is not indicated on this map, except for the location of the higher peaks. An other map of Alaska on the same scale, now in print by the US. Geo logical Survey, will show the noun tain ranges and plateaus. AS less than half the territory is sufficiently we'll surveyed to permit of contour ing, the relief on this map will be shown by shading.
 The Geological Survey has issued over 400 different Alaska maps. Of these the standard map is published on a scale of four miles to the inch. These maps have been of great val mining industry as a whole, and routs for rail and wagon roads. Ma ny of the important mining districts are covered by maps on a larger scale and show the physical features in the same degree of detail as do those made in the States.
 The surveying of Alaska's area of 5S6,400 square miles, upon which the Geological Survey has been en- gagged for quarter of a century, has been difficult. Every means of trans port has been used by explorers, in cluding dog teams in winter boats, canoes, rafts, and pack horses in summer. A single seasons work has sometimes involved journeys of 1000 miles by dog team, 1 ,500 miles by canoe. or 800 miles by horses There is still much of Alaska that must be explored by the same meth ods, but the completion of the Alas ka railroad and the construction of many wagon roads and trails have greatly facilitated the work of the surveyors.
 
 Chris Anderson. a well known old