PLANS AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. 13 



Alaska, as already noted. It was believed that by this means, even though the 

 actual survey was of a reconnaissance character and embraced only a narrow 

 strip, the general physiographic features of the region would be determined and 

 important contributions would be made to geographic and geologic knowledge. It 

 was planned to carry on the work in as much detail as the adverse conditions 

 would permit. It was believed by the writer that the metamorphic rocks of 

 Paleozoic age or older, which are the source of the placer gold in the Koyukuk 

 Basin, extended to the west, and probably formed important members of the forma- 

 tions which make up the Rocky Mountains, and hence valuable economic results 

 of the investigations were to be expected. In short, the expedition was planned to 

 collect information of all kinds relating to the geography, geology, and resources 

 of the region; and data bearing on the preparation of the proposed general map a 

 of Alaska for public use were particularly desired. 



Owing to the shortness of the Arctic summer it was important that progress 

 should be as rapid as possible, regardless of the character of the weather, and as 

 much of the energy of the party was expended in contending against the swift 

 currents of John and Anaktuvuk rivers, the accompanying report is necessarily 

 incomplete. For want of opportunity to make more extended observations many 

 important problems had to be left unsolved. This is especially true with reference 

 to the structural relations of the Paleozoic rocks in the northern part of the range, 

 and to the relation of these Paleozoics to the Mesozoic rocks forming the Anaktu- 

 vuk Plateau or "Great Plains'' on the north. The time devoted to actual field 

 work in carrying the line from Bergman, on the Arctic Circle, to Pitt Point, on 

 the Arctic coast, a distance of 513 miles, was sixty-five days. 



For courtesies, information, and material assistance rendered on our long winter 

 trip necessary to reach the field of work, thanks are due the Canadian Development 

 Company and other leading trading and transportation companies, as well as 

 numerous individuals at various points along the route of travel down the 

 Yukon, and to the United States army officers at Eagle. In the Koyukuk region 

 the ever hospitable hand of the prospector and miner was generously extended. 

 Special thanks are due, also, to the Alaska Commercial Company for the excellent 

 condition in which our supplies were delivered and wintered at Bergman, and to 

 Mr. Gordon C. Bettles, Pickarts Brothers, and other pioneers, for valuable informa- 

 tion concerning the people, geography, routes, trails, resources, and conditions of 

 the country. 



On the Arctic coast, where the larder and foot gear of the party had become 

 reduced to inadequacy, the generosity of the Eskimos, manifested in their gifts of 

 fresh fish, the loan of their mukluks, the use of their skin boats for transportation, 

 and their aid as guides to Point Barrow, was of material value and too greatlv 



"Topographic map of Alaska, compiled by the U. S. Geol. Survey, 1902. 



