The Copper River, which is the largest river in Southeastern Alaska, is 300 miles in length. It takes its head near the Wrangell mountains, and flows in a southerly direction, discharging its waters into the sea about fifty miles east of Port Valdez. The main tributaries of the Copper are Slana, Chestochina, Gakona, Tazlina, Klutena, Tonsina, Konsina, Tasnuna, Katselena, Knetena, Tatena, Blackburn, Katselena and Chittena rivers, and the Cleave, Bowlder, Dry, Davis, Klawasena and Chestastena creeks. Both gold and copper are widely distributed throughout this region. "The Copper River Natives are distinct from the Aleut tribes on the coast, and seem to be more closely allied to the North American Indians; their total number is probably less than 300. The country is apportioned off politically, each clan adhering closely to its own district in hunting and fishing. Until recently those best known to the whites were the Taral or Chittena natives, whose chief, Nicolai, has been mentioned. by Lieutenant Allen, Lieutenant Schwatka and Dr. Hayes. Nicolai, however, has now lost his influence among his people, who, with unanimous praise, refer to Hanegetta as the most wealthy, powerful and capable leader of their tribe. The Tazlinas and Gakonas, constituting the Upper Copper River natives, are commonly known as the Kulchanes. They are said to number about 200, the Tazlinas about 125, and the Gakonas about 70. The Tazlinas occupy the country from the Copper River westward along the Tazlina River and Lake to Knik River. The country from above Lake Klutena down the Copper to near Taral is occupied by the 'Stick' natives, headed by the sturdy chief, Stiphan.

The Copper River natives on the whole seem to be honest. Though poor, they are hospitable and obliging

people, and on several occasions last summer they saved the lives and property of whites who had gone astray. The Sushitna is another large river which flows into Cook's Inlet.,

Gold is found in

the bars on the

Sushitna and out

croppings of coal

can be seen along

its banks.

Fish River

drains

an im

mense area of

country in the

Nome region. It

Sushitna River

has its source in the mountains back of Grantley Harbor and flows in a general southeast course, emptying into Golovin Bay. It has numerous tributaries, some of which are very rich in placer gold.

The three large rivers north of the Arctic Circle are the Kowak, Selawik and Noatak, the former being 600 miles long and the latter 500. The Selawik is about 300 miles in length and empties into Selawik Lake, situated near the head of Hotham Inlet; the Kowak and Noatak discharge their waters into Hotham Inlet at Kotzebue Sound.

The Cordilleran Mountain System extends to Alaska, and some of the highest peaks in the world are to be found here. Mount St. Elias, discovered by Bering in 1741, is 19,500 feet high and marks the international boundary line on the one hundred and fortyfirst meridian. Mount Logan, a little to the eastward of the boundary line, is 19,539 feet high. In the Cop

*F. C. Schrader--Government Report.

per River region a number of rugged peaks tower heavenward for thousands of feet. Mount Wrangell rises to a height of 17,500 feet; Mount Sanford to a height of 14,000 feet; the altitude of Mount Drum is 13,700 feet; Mount Tillman, 13,300 feet, and Mount Blackburn 12,500 feet. Mount McKinley, discovered in 1898, stands between the Sushitna and the East Fork

of the Kuskokwim rivers, in the vicinity of Cook's Inlet, and towers 22,500 feet above the level of the sea. It is the highest mountain on the North American continent, nearly as high as the famous Deodhunga of the Himalayas.

These lofty peaks are snowcapped the entire year, and are visited by hundreds of tourists during each

summer season.

into the Bering Sea on the Alaskan Peninsula, and it is here the great living volcanoes of Alaska are to be

seen.

Alaska has had a great glacial epoch, but it is now slowly drawing to a close. Her glaciers are receding, dying out as it were, like her aborigines and her beasts of prey. There are yet many living glaciers in southeastern Alaska, which creep silently toward the sea;

but many of former years have entirely disappeared, and others are in the last stages of extinction.

The Mineral Wealth of Alaska is very great. What is needed is capital, brain and sinew for its development. A rich mineral belt appears to extend the whole length of the territory, from the picturesque glacier-fed shores and fishing banks of Southeastern Alaska to the rugged icy cliffs and whaling nursery of Point Barrow. Gold has been mined in Southeastern

Alaska for years, and a rich placer deposit has but recently been discovered in the vicinity of Point Barrow, which is the most northerly point of land on the American continent..

Bituminous coal of good quality is known to exist in different portions of the territory. The croppings are numerous and well distributed, but little development work has been done. As far north as Cape Lisburn, 200 miles beyond the Arctic Circle, coal exists in abundance. On the Kowak River, 200 miles inland

from the coast, some coal lands have been located. There are numerous outcroppings of coal on the Alaska Peninsula. Coal seams have been found on the Kuskokwim, Tanana and Sushitna rivers, on Cook's Inlet and many other places. It is only a question of time, in the opinion of the writer, when Alaska will produce her own coal supply.

An immense deposit of sulphur has been recently discovered at Unalaska. Graphite, antimony, bismuth, platinum, plumbago, mica, asbestos, cinnabar and iron have been found. Silver and copper ores have been