lll| i. c. RUSSELL — SURFACE GEOLOGY OF ALASKA. 



pack-train trails, and afford the most direct lines of c mmnication between 



the navigable waters of the coast and the lakes and rivers of the interior. 



Tli.' interior of Alaska is known to be of value on account of its deposits 

 of gold, copper, and coal, its fisheries and its furs. It is claimed also by 

 many uli<> are familiar with the region that it will ultimately be settled by 

 an agricultural people who are inured to the rigors of an arctic climate. It 

 ms, therefore, that the most practicable routes to the interior should be 

 made known at an early date, not only with the view of reducing the cost of 

 transportation, but also of decreasing the hardships and dangers attending 

 the crossing of the passes in their present condition. 



V>MI \, LATUBE (>F THE YUKON RlVEE AM) ITS TRIBUTARIES. 



In writing about the Yukon river and its tributaries, an unfortunate con- 

 fusion in nomenclature is met at the outset. 



'lie- early exploration of the Yukon by Europeans was made in part by 

 Russians, who came from the west and ascended it from the sea; and in 

 part by members of the Hudson Bay Company, who came from the east and 

 explored and named some of the principal streams forming its head-waters. 

 When the connection of these various fragmentary explorations was estab- 

 lished, a confusion of names resulted. 



Later travelers visiting the same region not only ignored the aboriginal 

 name- a- did their predeci — re, hut also refused in certain instances to 

 recognize well-established English and Russian names. 



The history of discovery in central Alaska and the adjacent part of the 

 North West Territory ha- been recorded by W. II. Dall in his great work, 

 •• Alaska and it- Resources", and has recently been judiciously discussed by 

 ( ;. M. I tawson. The thorough manner in which these writers have performed 

 their tasks render- ii unnecessary to discuss here the origin of the various 



Dames proposed for the river of Alaska. It does appear desirable, however, to 

 determine what name- .-hall he used in this paper for tin; streams traversed, 



and especially to decide to what stream the aame " Yukon " shall be applied. 

 Referring the reader to the writings of I>all and Dawson for a history of 

 the nomenclature of the great river of Alaska and its tributaries, attention 

 may he called to two authoritative examples of the present use of the name 

 Yukon. 



The last edition of the general map of Alaska published by the I . S. 

 Coast and Geodetic Survey may he considered as a leading authority <>n 

 the nomenclature a- well a- on the positions of Alaskan rivers, Bince it em- 

 bodies the results of all explorations available at the time of its publication. 



i. V w. I '., iiml adjacent northern portion "I 

 .iiimi ll I-;.. i v su : .iiu.i:i, Annual Report (new 



Pari B, pp. i Ik i-i . i iii 



