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placer mining. Some of those low-grade places are being worked by dredging today.

There is but little known about that area, and we are doing pioneer work there so as to bring information on it up to a point where they can be appraised and explored by mining companies.

Mr. LEAVY. Have your activities taken you up the San Poil River, the Kettle River, and the Colville River, and along the Columbia River?

Dr. LOUGHLIN. Some years ago we made a reconnaissance in the Colville Reservation. I think, if I should send you a list of the reports covering the State of Washington, you would find that we have done a great deal of work there.

MINERAL RESOURCES OF ALASKA

Mr. FITZPATRICK. We will next take up the item of Mineral Resources of Alaska, which is as follows:

Mineral resources of Alaska: For continuation of the investigation of the mineral resources of Alaska, $60,000, to be available immediately, of which amount not to exceed $34,000 may be expended for personal services in the District of Columbia;

Dr. MENDENHALL. The justification in support of this item is as follows:

INVESTIGATION OF THE MINERAL RESOURCES OF ALASKA

The estimate under this heading for the fiscal year 1938 is the same in amount, $60,000, as the appropriation for the current fiscal year 1937.

The funds requested are to be utilized in continuing the investigations of the mineral resources of Alaska that have been in progress for nearly twoscore years. More than half the Territory still remains entirely unsurveyed and even in those areas that have been surveyed on exploratory or reconnaissance standards there are many places that should be examined more thoroughly if adequate assistance and encouragement are to be given to the finding and development of the mineral deposits that are believed to lie undeveloped in the region. In fact, with the exhaustion of the more obvious and more easily minable deposits the need for more intensive and thorough unraveling of the secrets of Nature by skilled scientists and technicians becomes increasingly urgent if production is to be maintained and new deposits are to be discovered. Knowledge of the conditions under which mineral deposits are formed and of the conditions prevailing in different parts of the Territory is essential in directing intelligent concentration of effort by prospectors and others on the more likely areas and avoidance of those areas that are less promising. In this way wasteful and uneconomic endeavors are discouraged and guided into more profitable channels to the advanatge both of the Government and of the individual.

Although its direct efforts are focused on being of assistance to the mining industry, the Alaska work of the Geological Survey is utilized by a far larger body of American citizens than those interested solely in the mineral industry because its maps and reports are extensively referred to by all having to do with practically any phase of Alaska development. Thus, its topographic maps, based as they are on original field surveys, are the standard, and often the only maps of the country and are indispensable in the laying out of a road-building program, in the development of the forests and their products, in the establishment of airplane routes and transportation. In fact, these maps are the authoritative source of all geographic information as to where places are, what are their relations, to other natural features as to distance, elevation, accessibility, and a host of other pertinent facts, knowledge of which is requisite for thoughtful planning.

At times in the past the regular appropriations for the Alaska work have been supplemented by funds from other sources. In some years the supplementary sums available have been as much as $250,000, but during the current season, and in the forthcoming one, for which the estimate under this heading is made,

there is small likelihood of supplementary grants of any significant amount from other sources.

The scope of the investigations has been kept within modest limits not only because of the amount of funds granted but because it has been the established policy of the Geological Survey in its Alaska work to recognize the sparse settlement and less intensive development there as justifying less elaborate and detailed work than in the more developed areas in the States proper. To illustrate the results of this policy it may be pointed out that the usual scale adopted for topographic surveys in Alaska is such that that work has been performed on reconnaissance standards for an average cost of less than 2 cents an acre. The annual rate at which the work can be completed as provided for by the requested appropriation is also extremely low, as will be evident from the following facts: The area of Alaska that still remains entirely unsurveyed is more than 300,000 square miles; the ordinary field project for mapping 1,000 square miles either topographically or geologically costs about $12,000 to $15,000. Therefore, at the rate possible under the appropriation requested only about five such projects can be undertaken a season.

As indicating the kind of work performed under this appropriation, the following summary of the specific projects undertaken and in progress during the present season may be of service because the work contemplated under the appropriation requested will be of the same general type though obviously it will be carried on in other areas. During the current season eight main projects are in progress; six of these involve mainly new field work and the other two, although based on field investigations, require mainly office and laboratory work. The six field projects were as follows: Topographic surveys, which form the initial step in the making of mineral resources examinations, (1) in the Admiralty Island and adjacent areas near Juneau in southeastern Alaska, and (2) on the northern slopes of the Alaska Range, including part of the Tanana River Valley eastward from the Richardson Highway; mineral resources surveys (1) in the Alaska Range at the head of the Copper River Valley and part of the watershed of the southern tribetaries of Tanana River; (2) in the mining camps near the eastern limits of the Yukon River Valley in Alaska, including the Circle, Eagle, and Fortymile districts, (3) in the area adjacent to the Alaska Railroad and south-central Alaska from Nuka Bay to Fairbanks; and (4) a general review of the recent mining developments throughout the Territory for the purpose of learning the progress made and formulating plans for the future work so that it may best meet current and anticipated needs. The two projects not directly involving new field work are (1) the maintenance of an assay laboratory at College, Alaska, for the testing of officially collected specimens and those received from prospectors and miners, and (2) the customary annual canvass of the mineral production of the Territory so as to present an authoritative and up-to-date report of current conditions and trends. In addition to the foregoing projects financed through direct appropriation to the Geological Survey, the Alaskan branch maintains a close cooperation with the Alaska Railroad so that its services may be available in an advisory capacity in such matters as have to do with those mineral resources that have or appear likely to have potential effect on the tonnage moved by the railroad or that mest be considered by the railroad in its plans for its own supplies of fuel or for future developments. In 1936 the principal advisory services of this sort, rendered by the Geological Survey, were in connection with the mineral investigations referred to above as in the area adjacent to the Alaska Railroad and in connection with the railroad's successful attempt to open up a stand-by emergency supply of eval for its own use.

It is not practicable at this time to state specifically the new projects that wil be undertaken with the funds requested in the estimates presented, as the firs selection must be determined largely by conditions that cannot be known lorg in advance because controlled by such uncertain factors as climate, transportation facilities, and current discoveries. The worthwhile projects that are under con sideration for inclusion in the program that will be undertaken far exceed the number that can possibly be undertaken with the funds requested. As a result the selection will necessitate drastic elimination of all except those that can be least well deferred. The nearly $722,000,000 in mineral products that has already been taken from the mines of the Territory amply proves that Alaska is indeed real source of wealth to the Nation. It would therefore seem a wise Government policy to support the Geological Survey's Alaska work looking toward the stinulation and assistance of the mineral industry to at least the amount of the appropriation requested.

It is proposed that the limitation on this item for services in the District of Columbia should be the same as for the current fiscal year-namely, $34,000. This amount is necessary to provide for the salaries of the permanent technical force while in Washington during the period when, because of climatic conditions, they cannot be engaged in field work; and for the clerical personnel to carry on their necessary duties. The establishment of offices and laboratories elsewhere than in Washington would add unduly to the expense of operation and would greatly impair efficiency in the conduct of the work.

REASON FOR HAVING ALASKAN MINERAL RESOURCES INVESTIGATIONS WORK DONE

IN WASHINGTON OFFICE

Mr. SCRUGHAM. I cannot understand why the investigation of mineral resources of Alaska should require more than half of the money being spent in the District of Columbia. I would like to have you elaborate somewhat on the reason for that.

Dr. MENDENHALL. Much of Alaska is north of the Artic Circle. The period during which field work can be done in the open is shortby and large, about 100 days out of the 365. The question then is where shall these engineers and geologists spend the closed season. Shall we establish offices in Alaska, or return them to the Washington headquarters, where every facility for their work exists. This latter is the plan that is followed because it is believed to be both more economical and more efficient. If Dr. Smith and his staff were now in Juneau or in Fairbanks, they would not be available to advise the Secretary or the Congress on such questions as those now arising relating to the resources of strategic minerals in the Territory. They would prepare their maps and their reports under the great handicaps of poor facilities, poor communications, lack of opportunity for direct consultation and direct settlement of the innumerable questions. constantly involved in the administration of a unit of Government. Just after our discussion of the "general administrative salaries" item, Mr. Fitzpatrick touched on this same question by pointing out A that of the whole survey appropriation $1,279,000 is available for personal services in the District of Columbia. Of that $1,279,000, about one-third is the type of services I started to describe that are, necessarily, here in the District of Columbia, at the headquarters office. The other two-thirds represent the type of problem that Governor Scrugham has just raised. It represents by and large, the return to Washington, at periods when field work is not possible, of the technical and scientific men who do that field work. Of course, it represents also the central administration of each of these offices, part of Mr. Staack's force, part of Dr. Loughlin's force, part of Dr. Smith's force, part of Mr. Stabler's force, and part of Mr. Grover's force. This procedure is the result of a plan by which our engineers and our geologists work in the field during the field season, and a great many of them return to the office to prepare their reports, or to compile their maps; return here for access to the scientific library that has been so appreciatively described, which is needed by the geologists when they prepare their reports, and to the permanent laboratories where our chemists are located, and where our physicists are available. By and large these men spend from 3 to 6 months in the field, and the remainder of their time is spent in the Washington office, and these items that are disturbing you perhaps, Mr. Fitzpatrick, are largely salaries for these men at such time.

139751-37-pt. 1-23

Mr. FITZPATRICK. They are not disturbing me. All I would like is an explanation of it for my own information.

Dr. MENDENHALL. These items represent their salaries during that period of the year when they are here.

Governor Scrugham, of course, knows our thought as to the relative advantages of keeping all of our Alaskan staff in Alaska all the timenot only during the open field season there, which, roughly speaking, is 100 days out of the year, but then having it in an office in Alaska during the remainder of the time or bringing it to Washington during that portion of the time when field work cannot be done.

As we see it, not only are the facilities very much better here, not only is the office work done very much better here, but the actual cost is less to bring them back, to pay $2,500 or $3,000, whatever the cost of transportation may be between Washington and Alaska. Whatever that cost is it is less than the cost would be of establishing an office or offices up there and supplying those offices with laboratories, library, and a minimum of working material. The engineers and geologists would have to have books, equipment for making maps, facilities for testing rocks and minerals and ores.

If you keep your men there the year round, away from the general map-preparing and laboratory facilities, you have to supply equipment for them. And that equipment would necessarily be far inferior to that now available to them in the central office in Washington.

So that the conclusion we have reached, Governor, is that it is more economical by far to have the offices where they are and return these men to Washington during the off-season; that it is more economical in dollars and cents, and it is infinitely better from the point of view of the efficiency of these men.

We now have two men in Alaska the year round. I say we have two men there, but one of them is assigned technically to the Alaskan Railroad. Colonel Ohlson and myself have discussed this arrange ment with you. It makes an adviser available to Colonel Ohlson on problems along the railroad.

Mr. SCRUGHAM. Is he paid from Geological Survey funds, or Alaska Railroad funds?

Dr. MENDENHALL. He is paid from Alaska Railroad funds now. Although he is a member of the Alaska Railroad staff, I think he is the type of man that could properly belong to either. He is a young well-trained geologist.

TESTING LABORATORY AT FAIRBANKS

We also have at Fairbanks a laboratory where some relatively simple rock tests are made, and where assays are made as a service to the ininers and prospectors tributary to that region. The long and short of it is that we have planned this matter the best we can, and we think we have planned it in the most efficient way.

NUMBER OF FIELD OFFICES

I should add, and I think that statement has not been made yet, that we have something like 60 field offices. The water resources branch, of which Mr. Grover is the head, has about 40 offices. The land classification and mineral leasing groups, of which Mr. Stabler is

1

head, have a little over 20. That makes 60 of them, and the topographic branch also has a few field offices. Wherever they are needed, wherever it seems to facilitate the work, and wherever it seems more economical, wherever the type of work is such that continuous touch must be kept with the field, we establish field offices.

INVESTIGATIONS OF MINERAL DEPOSITS

Mr. SCRUGHAM. I want to ask Mr. Smith, chief Alaskan geologist, a few more questions.

Mr. Smith, will you state very briefly and as concisely as possible the location of occurrences of nickel, tin, chromium, platinum, and any other of the so-called deficiency minerals that have been discovered in Alaska in promising quantities?

NICKEL DEPOSITS

Mr. SMITH. The nickel deposits of Alaska, so far as we now know them, are localized principally in southeastern Alaska, notably on Admirality Island and Chichagof Island. They are relatively unexploited. They have not been critically examined as yet by the Geological Survey. Cursory examinations have shown indications that make us feel warranted in believing that they are well worth thorough investigation to determine what their potential values are.

Mr. SCRUGHAM. How many months or weeks of the year are the weather conditions on these islands such that they permit field work? Mr. SMITH. I presume that you mean Geological Survey field work; that is, examination in the field?

Mr. SCRUGHAM. Yes.

Mr. SMITH. We have found by long experience that the general field season for effective work in this portion of Alaska is from May to the middle of September. After that date the loss of working time through storms and through the conditions of snow cover and other similar features that prevent active field work is such that we lose more time than is devoted to productive work.

Mr. SCRUGHAM. Between 4 and 5 months, then, is the period of field work?

Mr. SMITH. Yes. Of course, I am talking of surface field examinations, such as the Geological Survey makes.

As soon as one gets under cover; that is, in a shaft or into mining work underground, the season would be indefinitely continued. There is a mine in this same region, somewhat to the north, that works the 365 days of the year with no interruptions.

TIN DEPOSITS

Mr. SCRUGHAM. How about the tin deposits?

Mr. SMITH. The tin deposits lie in the extreme northwestern part of Alaska. There are three principal areas in which tin occurs in Alaska. One is in the extreme western part of the Seward Peninsula, another area is in the Hot Springs district of the Tanana region, and a prospective area is in the vicinity of Ruby, also in the Yukon Basin. Mr. SCRUGHAM. Is it lode tin or placer tin?

Mr. SMITH. At the present time the only operations are of placer tin. But in the past there have been tin lodes operated to some ex

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