A HR? MAP OF'ALASKA.-"
Results of 30 years* exploration by
.U.S. Geological Survey. -- _
The United States Geological Survey has just published a new _
Alaska,measuring 50 by 33 inches, which embodies the results of - P
ationd made up to 1923. The Survey began its work in Alaska in lc_ ^ . 9 ~
late Professor I,C.Russell was sent to examine the Yukon /alley. " e ’
fifth in size of North‘American rivers, was then unsurveyed though 1._ 6
eral course had been sketched by explorers. S ome of the other large
Alaska had also been traced by explorers,but there were many other »aser
courses hundreds of miles long, entirely unknown except for the .iha^ardous J
journeys of a few porspectors and fur traders. . rp8.
Topographic surveys began in 1898 and have been continue up o viaskA'
ent, A total reaa of over 200,000 square miles, a about 35 “
total area, has been aplored by the Geological-Survey, Adding to- oliis the ar^_
surveyed by the U.S.Coast anl Geodetic Survey along the s.lure line,by
ernational Boundary Commission along the Canadian frontier, am by 0 t
eral agencies, hows that over half of A laska-has been mapped. In addition ^
the results from theoofficial surveys,the Geologiaal Survey has in * P d
ion a large amount of data relating to the physical features of alaska obtaine
from private sources,but resulting chiefly from journeys of Jie indefatigable
oorsoector»
All this information hss now beer coordinated and complied m a new gen
eral map of Alaska under the direction ->f R.H.Sargent,whose 15 yeurs ,
ience in the surveying of Alaska has enabled him to make the best cartographic
interpretation of material such varying degrees of accuracy* HHiis
begun before the war, and in 1915 a preliminary edition of the Alaska m.p
was published. Since then it has been revised and is ndr issued ‘
Alaska (E),u on a scale af about 40 mile3 to Che inch (l. ,o , '*,*
be purchased for 25 centc from the Director of the U.S.Geologica ^urv ?'
address Washington,D.C. It is printed in foru colors and snov^s the dreainage,
glaciers, railroads, and the principal settlements anl i,?agon ro.v s. x ,
is not indicated on this map, except for the location of the ^ 9,
Another map of Alaska on the same scale, now in print by the * • ® A J
Survey,wili show themountain uanges and plateaus, Ac less than hall o
Territory is sufficiently well surveyed to pernit of contouring,t ie re
on this map will be shown by shading. f
The Geological Survey has issued over 400 lifferent Alaska maps,
these, the standard map is published on a seal 3 of four mi^es o ® ind
These maps have been of great value to the prospector and to U waning »
ustry as a whole, and ha^e served to indicate i-ha bes . ou »es or^ on
wagon roads. Many of the important mining diet ric s are C<JV eA
a larger scale and show trie physical features ir. the sane degree o
as do those made in the States. ..
The surveying of Alaska's area of 586,400 square miles, upon wfcch the
Geological Survey has beer, engaged for a quarter of a centry,has be
icult, Every means of transport has been used by the explorers, xa ®
dog teams in winter, bo ats, c anoe:.*, pafts, and paou he p^n. 1 team
season's work has sometimes involved journeys >i 1,000 miles by do ’
1,500 miles by canoe, of 800 miles by horses. -Uiere is still much of Alaska
that must be explored by the Same methods,but the^omp •-*ion
Railroad and the ©nstruction of many wagon roudit and trails have gre y
facilitated the work of the surveyors.
Usually a horse does neft care whether his Bleils are served a la car
or table d'oaft, just so he gct3 ois baled hay cX l*1 mowed .