13+ The National Geographic Magazine 



Witherspoon. It is hoped that by the 

 time the sledding breaks up all of the 

 provisions and supplies will have been 

 carried in as far as Copper Center, or 

 possibly as far as the mouth of the 

 Chistochina River. Both parties will 

 then have their base of supplies com- 

 paratively accessible to the areas which 

 they propose to map. The rest of the 

 part}' will start inland from Valdes in 

 the early part of April. 



It is hoped that these two parties will 

 give us a topographic map of the entire 

 Copper River Basin and a geologic re- 

 connaissance of the greater part of it ; 

 also that definite statements can be 

 made, after the completion of the work, 

 in regard to the identity of occurrence 

 of copper in the two belts running north 

 and south of the Wrangell group. Mr. 

 Schrader's party will also gain impor- 

 tant geographic data concerning the 

 rugged mountain mass known as the 

 Wrangell group, which has been but 

 little explored. 



In making plans for Alaskan surveys 

 two objects are kept in view: the one 

 to investigate areas of known impor- 

 tance as to their mineral resources; the 

 other to extend the general exploration 

 work over the entire territory, toward 

 the end of obtaining complete geo- 

 graphic and geologic knowledge, and 

 possibly of finding new mineral produc- 

 ing areas. The Copper River work 

 is planned for investigating a region 

 which is now producing mineral wealth. 



Another part}', which will explore the 

 northern slope of the Alaskan Range, 

 will have for its more special purpose 

 a topographic and geologic reconnais- 

 sance. It is proposed that this party 

 shall leave Seattle about May 15, going 

 by steamer to Tyonok, on Cook Inlet. 

 From that point it will go westward 

 toward the head of the Beluga River 

 until it strikes the base of the mountain 

 range; then, turning northward, it will 

 cross through the mountains by the 

 pass at the head of Skwentna River, 



explored in 1898 by'Mr. J. E. Spurr. 

 From the Skwentna Pass the route will 

 lie along the northern slope of the Alas- 

 kan Range. As far as possible the range 

 itself will be penetrated and topographic 

 and geologic data gathered. If the plan 

 is carried out as contemplated, impor- 

 tant information should be obtained 

 concerning Mount McKinley, whose al- 

 titude, 20,464 feet, was determined by 

 Mr. Robert Muldrow in 1898. 



Mount McKinley, which is the highest 

 mountain on the continent, lies in the 

 heart of the Alaskan Range, and no 

 one has yet reached its base. Proceed- 

 ing in a northeasterly direction, the 

 party will cross the Tanana near the 

 mouth of the Cantwell. If when this 

 point is reached the season should be 

 far advanced, the party will be under 

 the necessity of shooting the horses and 

 proceeding down the Tanana by raft. 

 From the mouth of the Tanana the re- 

 turn to the coast can be made by way 

 of Dawson and the White Horse. 

 Should time permit, however, the party 

 will cross the Tanana at the mouth of 

 the Cantwell, and, heading in a north- 

 easterly direction, will cross the Tanana 

 and Birch Creek gold districts and reach 

 the Yukon at Circle City. This latter 

 route would give a chance of investi- 

 gating the important and little known 

 gold fields on the lower Tanana. The 

 party will be under the leadership of 

 the writer, with Mr. D. L. Raeburn as to- 

 pographer, and five camp hands. It is 

 proposed to use twenty pack horses to 

 carry the outfit and supplies. 



As the accessible timber along the 

 Yukon is being exhausted, the matter 

 of fuel supply in the interior is of grow- 

 ing importance. Coal is known to exist 

 in many localities, and has been mined 

 at some profit. Much is of an inferior 

 quality, but some fairly good lignite 

 has been found. With a view to inves- 

 tigating this coal supply, a party will 

 be sent down the Yukon during the 

 coming season. Mr. Arthur J. Collier, 



