Seward daily gateway., 1925-11-17
TO MAP ALASKA COASTLINE BY
 USE AIRSHIPS

SAN PEDRO, Nov. IT, (P)-Comple- tion of plans for aerial mapping of more than two hundred thousand sq. miles of the Alaskan coast waterways by Aviators of the aircraft squadron of the navy battle fleet, was annOunc- ed by Ben H. Wyatt, in command of the expedition which will include four seaplanes, two naval tenders, twenty pilots, photogra phers. and airmen.
 The party will leave San Pedro in April, the task to cover a period of three years, providing for photo graphs for a gigantic map showing every feature of the Alaskan coast line, and nearly all the island groups.
 The navy, forestry department, coast guard service and geodetic surveys will get copies of the map and all aer- ological, geodetic and meteorological data gathered.
 For several months the secretary of the interior, through his associates has been in negotiation with other departments of the government that operate airplanes to have portions of Alaska photographed from the air. The reasons for these negotiations are set forth in letter from Secretary Work to the secretary of the navy in which he says:
 This department, in connection with it's investigations of the mineral resources of Alaska by the geological survey, finds that the lack of adequate maps of much of the region back from the coast in Alaska, is severe handi- cap. I believe that the investigation of the mineral resources of this area would be much facilitated and con- siderable saving to the government could be effected if this region were photographed from the air. so that knowledge of it's general features could be made available to the geolo- gists of the geological survey"
 Secretary Work has just received reply to this letter from Secretary Wilbur who assures him of the will ingness of the navy to undertake the survey as soon as possible and to fur nish the airplanes and personnel, and other necessary facilities, with the un- derstanding that the geological survey will pay a portion of the expesses.
 The area to be covered by airplane is approximately two hundred thous- and square miles. The project pre- sents many technical difficulties, as storms and low-lying clouds are ire quent in Alaska, and the relief of many of the islands along the coast is strong, some of them rising abruptly feet: Furthermore, there is in Alaska so little flat land that has been clear ed, along the coast, that is suitable for landing fields Consequently consid. erable special equipment and person nel will have to be assembled and a good deal of careful planning must be done to insure the economic conduct and successful completion of the work
 Although the work is to be done at the specific request of the interior de- partment, it is believed that the re- suits will be of material service to many If tha other government donart ments and bureaus, both in the civil development and in the military de- fense of the country. Members of several other bureaus, especially the coast and geodetic survey, the forest service, the general land office, and the federal power commission, have expressed keen interest in the project and have informally offered such as. sistance as their regular duties per. init. Indeed, the entire undertak ing appears to be one of close coop. eration by which duplication of effort is avoided, economy is practiced and the results are utilized by many. It is expected that the experience in aer. ial surveys derived from the mapping of this tract may furnish valuable in formation that will be of service in solving some of the difficulties that prevent the examination of certain coastal tracts in other parts of Alaska.