THE PETROLEUM FIELDS OF THE PACIFIC COAST 
OF ALASKA, WITH AN ACCOUNT OF THE BERING 
RIVER COAL DEPOSITS." 
By George C. Martin. 
INTRODUCTION. 
For several years indications of petroleum have been observed at 
Cape Yaktag, 6 near Controller Bay, on the western shore of Cook 
Inlet, and at many points on the Alaska Peninsula; and high-grade 
coal has been known on Bering River. A large amount of capital 
has been invested in these fields, several wells having been drilled, 
many coal openings made, and other improvements undertaken and 
projected. The verbal and newspaper reports from the region have 
been varied and conflicting, while such statements as have been pub- 
lished by geologists have not been based upon their own observations. 
Some of the petroleum and coal properties have been carefully exam- 
ined by geologists or mining engineers in the interests of the owners, 
but their reports have not been made public. 
In response to a general demand for information a reconnaissance 
of the petroleum and coal fields in the vicinity of Controller Bay and 
Bering River and of the petroleum fields on the west shore of Cook 
Inlet and at Cold Bay was made by the writer during the months 
of June, July, and August, 1903, and during the summer of 1904. 
The following is a statement of the results of the former investigation 
supplemented by some of the more important results of the latter. 
These fields, though widely separated, are all on the southern coast 
of Alaska and, except the Bering River coal fields, on tide water. 
The Controller Bay petroleum fields are near the mouth of Copper 
River, and the Cape Yaktag fields are 75 miles farther east. The 
Cook Inlet fields are about 320 miles west of Controller Bay, in the 
a See preliminary report, Petroleum fields of Alaska and the Bering River coal fields: 
Bull. U. S. Geol. Survey No. 225, 1904, pp. 365-382. 
b Commonly spelled Yakatag or Yakataga. 
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