Notes on the Surface Geology of Alaska

Abstract

Introduction In the spring of 1889, the U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey organized and equipped two parties in San Francisco, Cal., for the purpose of establishing the position of the boundary between Alaska and the North West Territory of Canada. These parties were in charge of J. E. McGrath and J. H. Turner, officers of that survey, and had for their destination localities on the Yukon and Porcupine rivers respectively, where those streams cross the 141st meridian. Through the courtesy of the Superintendent of the U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, the Director of the U. S. Geological Survey was invited to send a representative with the boundary survey parties for the purpose of making geological observations in Alaska. This duty was assigned to me, and a record of such observations as the character of the journey undertaken enabled me to make is presented in the following pages. The . . .