ALASKAN MINEKAL RESOURCES IN 1905. 
PROGRESS OF SURVEYS. 
As in 1904, nine parties were engaged in field work during the open season, which lasted 
from about May 15 to October 15. Several of these were subdivided after reaching Alaska, 
making in all fourteen parties at work for a whole or a part of the season. The technical 
force of these parties, including geologists, topographers, and assistants, aggregates 23 men, 
in addition to which 28 camp men, etc., were employed. Of the fourteen parties, eight 
were engaged in geologic investigations, five in topographic surveys, and one combined 
both classes of work. 
The geologic work included a continuation of the reconnaissances of southeastern Alaska 
and the Yukon-Tanana region, and examinations of the Yakutat Bay. Matanuska Valley, 
and Prince William Sound regions. Detailed surveys were made in the Controller Bay 
and Nome regions. Topographic reconnaissance surveys aggregating about 4,500 square 
miles were made in the Yukon-Tanana and Controller Bay regions. Detailed topographic 
surveys of areas aggregating OCX) square miles were made in the Seward Peninsula and 
Controller Bay regions. 
General. — A large portion of the time of the geologist in charge was given to adminis- 
trative work. With the aid of the members of the division, attempt was made to keep in 
close touch with the developments in the mining industry throughout the Territory. This 
task becomes increasingly difficult each year because of the rapid expansion of the mining 
interests As far as possible a member of the staff is sent to each district every year, but 
where this is impossible, information in regard to new developments is obtained by corre- 
spondence. 
The writer has devoted such time as could be spared from administrative work to a 
continuation of his report on the Mount McKinley region and also to the preparation of 
chapters on the economic geology and history of mining, to be included in a report by 
Arthur J. Collier on the gold placers of Sew T ard Peninsula. The months of June and July 
were devoted to field work in the Controller Bay region in company with Mr. Martin and 
to a reconnaissance of Portland Canal in company with Mr. Wright. 
Southeastern Alaska. — The work in southeastern Alaska was continued in charge of Fred 
E. AY right, assisted by C. W. Wright. E. M. Kindle spent about two months in this dis- 
trict in paleontologic work and rendered valuable aid in the deciphering of the stratig- 
raphy. The reconnaissance mapping was carried southward from the Juneau district and 
extended over the greater part of the Wrangell and Ketchikan mining districts. Special 
attention was given to a study of the gold and copper deposits of this field. The prelimi- 
nary results are embodied in the following pages and a more comprehensive statement 
of the economic geology of this field is in preparation. 
Yakutat Bay. — R. S. Tarr, assisted by B. S. Butler and Lawrence Martin, studied the 
geology of the Yakutat Bay field. He gave special attention to the question of the occur- 
rence of coal and also to the source of the gold now found in small quantities in the beach 
placers. The important conclusions are embodied in the following pages. 
Controller Bay. — A party under the leadership of G. C. Martin mapped the geology and 
topography of the Controller Bay petroleum- and coal-bearing rocks. E. G. Hamilton, 
assisted by W R Hill, carried a topographic survey on a scale of 1:45,000 over an area of 
430 square miles and made a reconnaissance survey of an additional area of about 200 square 
miles. Mr. Martin, assisted by A. G. Maddren, and for a part of the season by Sidney Paige, 
made an investigation of the geology and mineral resources of the same area. A report on 
the results of this work is in preparation, but an account of some of the more important 
conclusions is given in this volume. 
Prince William Sound. — U. S. Grant, assisted by Sidney Paige, spent about two months 
in studying the geology and mineral resources of the Prince William Sound region. Special 
attention was given to the copper deposits. Some preliminary notes on the results of their 
investigations accompany this report. The complete report is in preparation. 
