54 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



While a decade ago only a few facts about the geology of the coast 

 province was known, it has been possible now to prepare a preliminary 

 map of the geologic features of over half the territory. The strati- 

 graphic studies are of still greater interest, for they have shown the 

 presence of many horizons in northwestern America that were previ- 

 ously unsuspected. 



The economic results have been touched upon in the previous pages. 

 The proof of their comprehensiveness lies in the fact that there is not 

 a single mining district in Alaska which has not been reported upon. 

 An inquiry in regard to the mineral resources of any part of Alaska, 

 coming to the office of the survey, is now met with a printed report 

 containing the latest and most authentic information. 



While much has been accomplished, much remains to be done. 

 Over half the territory has not been covered by even reconnaissance 

 maps. Even these will not suffice in regions of important mineral 

 production, where often hundreds of thousands of dollars are being 

 invested, and detailed surveys, comparable to those made in the states, 

 are demanded. Eailways are in construction, involving expenditures 

 of millions of dollars, and, though these are being built without any 

 direct governmental aid, such as is being extended in the Philippines, 

 the capitalists who are financing them have a right to expect that the 

 government will at least explore routes and furnish reliable informa- 

 tion regarding the resources of the region to be traversed. It was this 

 liberal policy which hurried the construction of the transcontinental 

 lines a generation ago. There are parts of the territory which have 

 considerable prospective agricultural value, and their settlement will be 

 hastened, if their topography and resources are made known. Roads 

 must be constructed, and this can only be properly done on the basis of 

 a full knowledge of the geology and topography. 



In its relation to the federal government, Alaska differs from any 

 other possession of the United States. Though heavily taxed, the 

 30,000 white residents have no voice in the making of their laws. 

 Porto Ricans and Hawaiians have territorial government, the Filipinos 

 have their commission, but Alaska must depend entirely on the benevo- 

 lent paternalism of a legislative body 5,000 miles away. In this north- 

 land there are thousands who have been struggling with adverse condi- 

 tions to open up a new land, who have thereby benefited the whole 

 country. These people have a right to expect that the people of the 

 United States will come to their aid in the development of Alaska. 



