PcrstVHil and Scientific Neivs. 265 
be fully appreciated by those who personally visit the fields. 
In his more strictly geological work the constructional 
materials received most attention. While in Missouri he 
mapped, in conjunction with Dr. Haworth, large areas of the 
crystalline district in the southeastern part of the state ; located 
and took copious notes on a large number of iron deposits, 
being associated with Mr. Nason in this work; and collected 
.much information on the clays and building materials, which 
was intended finally to form an elaborate report on those sub- 
jects. In Iowa his main efforts were directed towards collect- 
ing data for an exhaustive report on the clays of the state. 
The vast amount of information attained regarding the de- 
posits, their character and properties, and the condition of the 
industry attest the vigor with which his work was prosecuted, 
and the enthusiasm which the work aroused in him. The 
work in connection with the U. S. Geological Survey was 
entirely topographical, the fields of operation being in Mis- 
souri, Minnesota and Indian Territory. 
Mr. Lonsdale contributed a number of articles of great 
value to the trade journals. His more strictly scientific papers 
have appeared in the proceedings of the learned societies and 
the reports of the geological surveys. The beautiful topo- 
graphic map of the Mine la Motte district and a part of that 
of the Iron Mountain area. Missouri, are his work. The 
"Geology of Montgomery County, Iowa" is the first detailed 
geological work ever undertaken in western Iowa. The main 
work of his life on the "Clays of Iowa," which would have 
occupied a large volume, was not finished at the time of his 
death. 
Mr. Lonsdale was a member of a number of scientific and 
engineering societies, and was usually in attendance at the 
meetings, in which he took an active part. c. u. k. 
Government Explorations in Alaska. — The work 
in Alaska during the coming summer, under the direction of 
the LTnited States Geological Survey, will be divided between 
four parties, each of which will conduct geological and topo- 
graphical investigations. The arrangements for the parties 
are in general charge of Mr. G. C. Eldridge. The parties are 
as follows: (i) Mr. G. C. Eldridge. geologist, in charge, and 
Mr. Muldow, topographer. They will explore the Sushitna 
drainage. (2) Mr. J. E. Spurr, geologist, in charge, and Mr. 
Post, topographer. They will explore theKuskokwim drain- 
age. (3) Mr. Peters, topographer, in charge, and Mr. A. H. 
Brooks, geologist. They will go up the White river and 
down the Tanana river. (4) A topographical party in charge 
of Mr. Barnard. This party will make a more detailed sur- 
