PRELIMINARY STATEMENT ON THE MATANUSKA COAL 
FIELD. 
By G. C. Martin. 
INTRODUCTION. 
The region described in this paper extends in a northeasterly direction from the northern 
shore of Knik Arm, which is the northernmost branch of Cook Inlet, in approximately lati- 
tude 61° 30', longitude 149° 30', to latitude 01° 50', longitude 148°. (See map, PI. II.) It 
is thus a Unit SO miles long, from northeast to southwest , and from 5 to 10 miles wide. 
The writer spent about three weeks in this field in the summer of 1905 and visited the 
region immediately adjacent to Matanuska River from Knik Arm nearly to the month of 
I licks Creek. The following pages contain an absl racl of the economic results of this inves- 
tigation. A more complete report is in press.a 
The Matanuska rises in the southwest corner of the interior plateau known as the Copper 
River basin, in latitude 62° N., longitude 147° W. It flows in a westerly and southwest- 
erly direction for an air-line distance of about 100 miles, and empties into Knik Arm, the 
northernmost arm of Cook Inlet. The tributaries include Caribou, Hicks, Chickaloon 
Kings, Granite, and Tsadaka & creeks, on the north side, and Matanuska Glacier, a large 
number of small creeks (mostly unnamed), and Knik River on the south side. 
Matanuska River occupies a meandering gorge within a valley which is from 5 to 10 miles 
wide. The Talkeetna Mountains are on the north, and the western extension of the Chugacl 
Mountains is on the south. The fronts of both these mountain masses lie in fairly distinct 
lines parallel to the general course of the river. The Talkeetna Mountains seem to be made, 
up for the most part of ridges parallel to the river, while the Chugach Mountains consist 
chiefly of less regular masses. The general maximum elevation of each is, roughly, 5,000 to 
6,000 feet. The hills within the valley have elevations of from 1,000 to 3,000 feet and 
increase to the east. The Valley bottom rises at a gradually increasing rate and attains 
an elevation of about 3,000 feet at the source of the main stream. 
The flats at the head of Cook Inlet are densely timbered with a small but fairly uniform 
growth of cottonwood, spruce, quaking aspen, and birch (the latter predominating), with a 
sparse undergrowth of alder, willow, currant, and huckleberry bushes. Scattered through 
the forests arc broad meadows of excellent grass. A similar growth of timber extends 
throughout the valley of the Matanuska and its tributaries up to an elevation of 2,000 feet. 
From this point to an elevation of about 2, .100 feet the timber becomes thinner' and at a 
maximum elevation of about 2,800 feel it finally disappears. The spruce is considered of 
L'oo.l quality, though small. Some of it will square 12 inches, considerable of it 8 inches, 
and most of it (i inches. There will probably be abundant timber for mining and local 
building purposes, especially as the supply will not be drawn on for fuel. 
The post-office and shipping pari for the entire region is Knik, which is at the head of 
steamboal navigat ion on Knik Arm. Knik is reached by an ocean voyage of seven tot welve 
" Martin, (i. ('.. A reconnaissance <>f the Matanuska coal field: Bull, U, S, Geo!, Survej No, 
& Generally known as Moose Creek, 
m ■ 
