The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1924-03-25
TO STUDY MINERAL
WEALTH IN ALASKA
Survey of $4,000 Miles of
Wilderness Planned.

WashingtOn.-In its latest search
for valuable mineral wealth the gov
eminent Is sending a party OF expert
biologists and topographic engineers
on midwlnter expedition to the tip
OF Alaska on the Arctic. TO survey
b some $4,000 square miles OF uncharted
wilderness. rugged mountain chains
and large stretches OF undulating tree
less plains.
A few days ago the geological sur
vey told OF the plans to send. at the
expense Of the Navy department. a
small party of government technlcians
10 northern Alaska TO survey lands
embraced in the navy's largest petro-
leum preserve. but little could be gath
cred fron the brief announcement as
10 the hazards and hardshlps this lit
tie band Of men probably will face.
Southern Portions Surveyed.
Much OF the region south of the
reserve already has been surveyed by
a party under direction OF DIR. Philip
s. Smith. leader OF the party now on
its way TO the Far North. and por
lions east OF II also have been exam
ined by j. NJ. Mertie. another member
Of this winters expedition.
The present party. in addition to
Doctor Smith and Mertie, viii consist
OF William T. Foran. geologist; Gerald
Fitzgerald and r. X. Lynt. topograph-
ic engineers. and several assistants
II will apfar tho ragfon Prom, tho oouth
starting In mldwinter when some of
the transportation problems are least
difficult. II will be left on its own
resources for at least six months, and
tons of supplies will have to be trans
ported. mainly by dog-sled. for 400
miles. even before reaching the re-
serve.
At Tanana. dog teams will be pur-
chased and packers. camp hands and
dog-team drivers will be employed
From Tanana the technical members
OF the party Will go forth with four
teams. comprising 30 dogs. followed
by slower freight teams. From
Nenana the route leads down the
Tanana river to Tanana. thence along
the mail trail overland nearly $50
miles TO the little mission Of st. Johns
n-the-Wlderness. From here the
route Will follow the Alatna river. q
tributary of the Koyukuk. which rises
In the high. rugged mountains that
form the southern border Of the naval
reserve.
About $50 miles up the Alatna. the
northern limit OF timber lands, the
party will establish headquarters
camp. from which II Will explore the
adjacent regions.
viii XIII Own Food.
From here on for distance OF TOO
miles. over n vast stretch OF tundra,
the expedition Will have to use kero-
sene for cooking food. which will con-
slst Of moose. mountain sheep. carl
bou, ptarmigan, fish and the small
black bears Of northern Alaska. the
latter to contribute materially to the
provisioning OF the dog teams.
These explorations will determine
he most feasible pass across the
and when found the party
Will move northward to the drainage
basin Of some tributary Of the Col
Vile river. Here two canoes will be
,ached with enough supplies to last
'our men a period of three months
The expedition Will then push along to
he west.
BY this time the summer season will
'e near at hand and shedding no long
II will be possible. One party Of four
will then return to the cache on the
leadwater stream of the Colville,
While the other remains on the tribu-
airy OF the Meade. each awaiting Qhe
'reak-up Of the streams, after which
he rest of the journey will be made
" canoe.
After the Ice breaks, the parties Will
descend the streams, mapping them
nd the surrounding country In addi-
ion to making geological researches.
he Colville party later will make
ortage across country to the Chip
r Ikpikpung river and descend It TO
lease inlet. bay lying about twenty
We miles east of Point Barrow. Meade
liver also enters this inlet and when
he two parties meet here the survey
the region will have been prac-
cally completed. Return will be by
'ay Of Point Barrow, Nome and
cattle.