Rcz'ictv of Recent Geological Literature. 195 
ing the study of the geographical development of North America at the 
beginning of the twcnticlli centurj-." 
The chapter on geology comprises 56 pages, treating very interest- 
ingly of the growth of the continent, noting briefly its rock foimations, 
and more at length its resources for quarrying and mining. A geologic 
map of three colors shows the igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic 
rocks. Another colored map delineates the Pleistocene yiacial deposits, 
but by transposition reverses the chronologic sequence of the Illinoian 
and lowan drift sheets. \\. u. 
Index to the Mineral Resources of Alabama. By Euci:.\e A. Smith 
and Henry McCalley. Published by the Geological Survey of Al- 
abama. Pages 79 ; with a geological map of the state, and six plates 
(views from photographs). 1504. 
This report briefly describes the numerous and varied geologic re- 
sources of the state, with references to further information in the pre- 
vious publications of the state survey. 
Alabama ranks as the third state of the Union in iron ore production, 
which during the year igo2 was 3,574,474 long tons, having a value at 
the mines of nearly $4,000,000. Practically all the ore is smelted in the 
state, by 42 coke furnaces and six charcoal furnaces. 
The state is also rich in bituminous coal, having an area of 8,800 
square miles of the southwestern end of the great Appalachian coal 
field. Twent}--five coal seams have been worked, ranging in thickness 
from 18 inches to 16 feet. Although during the first twenty-five or 
thirty years of coal mining in Alabama, previous to 1874. its total pro- 
duction was no more than 480,000 tons, this industry has increased in 
thirty years to 11,700,753 tons mined in 1903. valued at about $15,000,000, 
giving to the state the fifth place among the coal-prodncing states of 
the Union. w. u. 
The Glaciers of Alaska. George D.^vidsok, a.m., pI.d, sod., Honorary 
Professor Geodosy and Astronomy and Professor of Commercial 
Geography, University of California. (Transactions and Proceed- 
ings of the Gcograf^hical Society of the Pacific, Vol. HI, Series H, 
June, 1904.) 
The autlior of this paper has made an extended study of records and 
charts made by the earlier navigators of the Pacific coast and islands 
of northwest America, and has embodied the results of this study in 
the above named paper covering 98 pages and eleven charts. All ac- 
cessible maps of these regions prior to 1852 had been compiled by 
Tebenkof, to whose great atlas of thirty-eight charts David>on has 
access as well as to the English, Spanish and Russian originals from 
which Tebenkof quoted or compiled. Davidson's work commences with 
glaciers mapped on a volcano on Ackha island, Lat. 52 Vi. Long. 174J4 
W, and embraces the vast coast line and island shores to Stakhun river, 
Lst 56^, Long. 131^4 N., a coast line unrivaled in its grandeur, at- 
tractiveness and accessibility, and offering to the student of glacial ge- 
ology the largest and best fields for research outside po'ar regions. 
