270 EXPLORA TIONS IN A LASKA 



frozen ; but to do this the expedition would have to leave Wash- 

 ington, D. C, in February. 



Another district carefully considered in the preparation of 

 plans is the general region of northwestern Alaska tributary to 

 Kotzebue sound. It is well known that many prospectors have 

 penetrated into the interior from the eastern shore of Berino- sea, 

 and that geologic investigation would probably reveal the west- 

 ern extension of the Alaskan gold belt. But all information 

 available as to modes of travel and native routes prove to be of 

 so vague a character as to render it advisable to obtain more def- 

 inite information through exploration this summer. before plan- 

 ning for the development of that region. 



Still other plans were proposed and considered, but the final 

 selection determined that two parties should be sent out by the 

 U. S. Geological Survey, one into the region north of the St Elias 

 range, and to proceed westward between the Tanana and Yukon 

 rivers; the other to the headwaters of the Koyukuk river, 

 within the Arctic circle. The object of both of these expeditions 

 is the exploration of little known areas for the purpose of adding 

 to geographic knowledge, but they differ in the scope of the 

 work proposed, as our present knowledge of the two districts is 

 very unequal. 



The first mentioned party under Mr W. T. Peters, topogra- 

 pher, accompanied by Mr Alfred H. Brooks, geologist, pro- 

 vided with a pack-train of horses, will cross Chilkoot pass and 

 pursue the Dalton trail for some distance. At a convenient 

 point they will diverge to the west along the northern flanks of 

 the St Elias range. It is expected that in their westward route 

 they will determine the northern limits of ancient and modern 

 glaciation from the range; that they will ascertain the position 

 of theheadwaters of the White and Tanana and Copperrivers and 

 bring out a fairly accurate recognizance map of this unknown 

 region. On striking the divide between the Tanana and White 

 rivers, at the point where these same explorers last year crossed 

 from one to the other, they will proceed northwestward into a 

 comparatively well-known area, lying between the Tanana and 

 Yukon. In this locality gold-bearing rocks are extensively de- 

 veloped and have been generally prospected. Maps of the 

 area are, however, lacking, and it is the purpose of this ex- 

 pedition to prepare as thorough a map as the limits of the sea- 

 son will permit. Throughout the route careful geologic as well 

 as topographic observations will be made, and it is expected 

 that our knowledge of Alaskan geology will be greatly extended. 



