field-surveying and topographic mapping in alaska: 1947-83

106 Pages·2011·22.9 MB·English

c 991
U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 991
FIELD-SURVEYING AND TOPOGRAPHIC
MAPPING IN ALASKA: 1947-83

FIELD SURVEYING AND TOPOGRAPHIC
MAPPING IN ALASKA: 1947-83
By Robert C. Foley
U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 991
A chronological review of surveying
activities in Alaska from 194 7 to
1983, including a brief description
of camp life and some of the hardships
and unusual experiences encountered
1987
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
DONALD PAUL HODEL, Secretary
U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
Dallas L. Peck, Director
Free on application to the Books and Open-File Reports Section,
U.S. Geological Survey, Federal Center, Box 25425, Denver, CO 80225
Foreword
Field surveying and mapping in Alaska over the years have provided a
unique opportunity for many not-so-ordinary experiences worthy of being
recorded before they are lost forever. The author, Robert C. Foley, has pro
vided a historical recounting of the Geological Survey's Alaska field map
ping activities and related experiences during the period 194 7-83. Robert
retired from the Rocky Mountain Mapping Center in 1980 after 36 years of
Federal service, including 16 field seasons spent in Alaska. He was hired
as a reemployed annuitant until 1983. Robert is unquestionably this map
ping center's foremost Alaska mapping authority and was awarded the De
partment of the Interior's Superior Service Award in 1983 in recognition of
his contributions.
Although some editorial changes have been made to improve the organi
zation and flow of this publication, we have purposely avoided major
changes in wording to preserve the author's style in recounting these
events.
Merle E. Southern
Chief, Rocky Mountain Mapping Center
U.S. Geological Survey
Denver, Colorado
iii

Contents
Page Page
Foreword ......................................... . iii Mapping activities, 1947-83-Continued
Abstract .......................................... . 1 1969 ........................................... . 25
Introduction ...................................... . 1970 ........................................... . 25
Mapping activities before 1947 .................... . 1971 26
Mapping activities, 1947-83 ....................... . 2 1972 26
1947 ........................................... . 2 1973 27
1948 3 1974 28
1949 5 1975 28
1950 7 1976 28
1951 8 1977 28
1952 9 1978 29
1953 10 1979 30
1954 11 1980 31
1955 13 1981 31
1956 15 1982 32
1957 18 1983 32
1958 19 Summary ......................................... . 34
1959 20 Selected references ............................... . 36
1960 21 Appendix A-Alaska project campsites ............. . 38
1961 22 Appendix B-Alaska field crews ................... . 39
1962 22 Appendix C-Alaska geographic features named for
1963 22 U.S. Geological Survey employees ............. . 43
1964 23 Appendix D-History of explorations and surveys, by
1965 24 Alfred H. Brooks (1906) ....................... . 45
1966 24 Appendix E-Surveying and mapping in Alaska, by
1967 24 Gerald FitzGerald (1951) ...................... . 75
1968 25
Plate
Page
Map showing the location of project campsites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . In pocket
Figures
Page
First helicopter used in Alaska, near Big Delta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Author in small boat at Pelican Camp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Crew at Glader Bay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
''Hair stylist' on the Gulkana-Tok project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Triangulation station near Taku Harbor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Fieldman going to work at Clarence Lake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Typical Survey camp in Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
All of the comforts of home-shower at Tanana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Inserting glass plate in phototheodolite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Bell Model476 helicopter after a bad landing near Northway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Changing damaged helicopter blades onsite, Gardiner Creek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
v
Figures-Continued
Page
Widgeon after breaking through the ice at Schrader Lake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Preparing to haul fuel off Schrader Lake to designated areas for helicopter caches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Dog team hauling fuel off the ice at Old John Lake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Camp on Black River during the flood caused by heavy rains in Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Driving the Alcan Highway to Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
First electronic distance-measuring equipment in use at Bering Glacier......................................... 20
Camp at Chisana, Wrangell Mountains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
R. E. Isto, the Survey's first Alaska Resident Engineer, on the Juneau Ice Cap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Damage from the Good Friday earthquake near Turnagain Slide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Amchitka Island showing quonset huts left from World War II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Geological Survey office in Fairbanks before the 1967 flood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Hiller 12-E helicopter, electrotape, and signal light on a map control point south of Bettles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Survey convoy on the Alcan Highway en route to Anchorage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Satellite tracking instrument used for establishing geodetic positions from satellites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Field classification of mapworthy features in Alaska suburbia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Mount McKinley as seen through the clouds from north of Talkeetna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Walter Cronkite inspecting equipment during filming of Survey operations for "Universe"
TV series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Satellite tracking receiver set up near pumping station as part of 1983 control tie work along
the Alaska Pipeline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Readying the Tiloma for a day's work near Juneau............................................................ 34
vi
Field Surveying and Topographic Mapping in
Alaska: 194 7-83
By Robert C. Foley
Abstract cal Survey's presence in Alaska, other Federal
and State agencies were engaged in surveying,
The U.S. Geological Survey's earliest presence in Alaska
mapping, and charting activities in Alaska. The
dates back to 1889. A decade later, topographic mapping
cooperative spirit and support that existed
became an integral part of the Geological Survey's Alaska
program, mostly as reconnaissance-type mapping and among these agencies made a difficult map
special-purpose mapping of specific sites. It was not until ping task somewhat easier.
after World War II that the Survey's Alaska topographic Much of the early exploration work and map
mapping efforts began to bear fruit.
ping effort in Alaska has been ably docu
This circular retraces surveying and topographic mapping
mented by Alfred H. Brooks in The Geography
by the Geological Survey in Alaska from 1947 to 1983 and
describes camp life and some of the unusual happenings and Geology of Alaska (p. 104-132 are repro
involved in working in virtually uninhabited country, ad duced as Appendix D in this circular) and by
verse weather, and difficult terrain. A year-by-year recap of Gerald FitzGerald in Surveying and Mapping
activities documents the transition from early small-scale
in Alaska (reproduced as Appendix E).
mapping efforts to more accurate and detailed 1:63,360-
The intent of this circular is not only to docu
scale mapping for Alaska except the Aleutian Islands and
isolated islands in the Bering Sea. Recent 1 :25,000-scale ment Alaska field activities during the period
metric mapping and the preparation of orthophotographs from 1947 to 1983, but to preserve something of
and special mapping efforts for other Government agencies the past before all personal contact with the
also are recounted.
fieldmen involved is lost. The Geological Sur
vey workforce has gone through a transition of
Introduction sorts, where most of the older contingent of
Alaska field personnel have assumed other
As early as 1889, U.S. Geological Survey per
duties or retired. This circular presents a
sonnel were sent to Alaska as members of vari
chronological recap of the work of this sea
ous scientific expeditions. It was not until 1898
soned group of fieldmen and something of their
that an organized and systematic topographic
Alaska experiences-the favorite stories and
mapping effort became an integral part of the
anecdotes that could conceivably be lost
Geological Survey's Alaska program. This cir
forever.
cular describes the field efforts expended by
Photographs are from the Survey's collection
the Geological Survey from 1947 to 1983 in sur
and from private sources. Listings of project
veying and topographic mapping in Alaska,
campsites, crew members, and Alaska geo
with emphasis on Alaska camp life and some of
graphic features named for Survey employees
the hardships and unusual happenings not nor
are included as appendixes to provide addi
mally encountered in field mapping activities in
tional background information.
the lower 48 States.
Although attention is focused on the Geologi-
Mapping Activities Before 194 7
Any use of trade names and trademarks in this publication is for descriptive
Mapping in Alaska from 1890 to 1941 con
purposes only and does not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Geological
Survey. sisted of reconnaissance and special maps. Re-
1
connaissance maps were made along the trans Mapping Activities, 1947-83
portation corridors and main rivers. Special
maps were made for mining areas, townsites
1947
and powersites, and for geologic studies. Many
of these mapping expeditions were carried out In 1947, the first field crews from the Denver
using packhorses, dog teams, and river boats. It office were sent to Alaska. Seven men were se
was not until the 1920's that airplanes were lected to work on small one-man projects.
used to any extent. Three projects were in southeastern Alaska at
Panoramic photography was first available in Heceta Island, Chichagof Island, and Stikine
the early 1900's to aid in mapping. In 1926, the River near Wrangell (see map in pocket), and
U.S. Navy began acquiring aerial photography three were at Homer, Healy, and Cantwell.
with a three-lens camera. Eventually all of One man was detailed to Fairbanks to act as li
southeastern Alaska was covered with this type aison to the Air Force, which was obtaining
of photography.
vertical photography in priority areas.
During the 1930's, considerable photographic
Planimetric bases were made for the three
coverage was obtained over the territory. Most
projects in southeastern Alaska using old 1926
of this photography was taken with hand-held
and 1929 Navy three-lens rectified photo
cameras, and the resulting photographs were
graphs. Sufficient National Geodetic Survey
oblique. During the 1940's, the U.S. Air Force
horizontal shore control existed to make the
covered most of the territory with trimetrogon
planimetric bases with metal templet laydown.
photography. The military also obtained verti
The existing control was identified on the pho
cal photography over the Aleutian Islands and
tographs in the office from the field descrip
compiled 1 :25,000-scale maps of the strategic
tions. The Navy photographs were annotated in
areas in the Aleutians by photogrammetric
the office delineating the ridges, roads,
methods. During World War II, the Air Force
drainage, and any other information that might
established astronomic positions around the ter
be useful to the fieldman. This information was
ritory. Most of these positions were at villages
transferred to the base made from the templet
that had landing strips. By using the astronomic
laydown using vertical and oblique sketchmas
positions and existing National Geodetic Sur
ters. After the planimetric information was
vey horizontal control, the templet laydowns
transferred from the photographs to the bases,
were controlled to make the planimetric bases
the bases were reduced to scale and mounted
for the 1:250,000-scale reconnaissance map
on metal sheets to fit an 18- by 24-inch plane
series.
table board. The fieldman used these metal
The Survey had only a few field parties in
mounted planimetric sheets for planetable in
Alaska during World War II. However, in 1945
tersection work to establish elevations by
and 1946, several field parties were sent to
vertical angles using a high-standard alidade.
Alaska to work on special maps and to estab
lish horizontal control around Umiat for the After the fieldwork was completed and eleva
Naval Petroleum Reserve No.4. tions were established on ridges, drains, peaks,
The field season of 1946 was the last year saddles, and anything else that could be identi
that Geological Survey crews were sent to fied, the contours were hand sketched. How
Alaska from the national headquarters offices ever, because of the availability of new photo
in Washington, D.C. The Rocky Mountain Re graphs and stereoplotting equipment that
gion office was established in Denver, Colo changed mapping methods over the next 2
rado, at the Federal Center in July 1946, and years, very little of this planetable work was
the Alaska Branch was transferred from Wash published.
ington, D.C., to Denver. The four field parties The fieldwork at Cantwell, Healy, and
in Alaska during the 1946 season reported to Homer was accomplished by establishing ele
the new Rocky Mountain Region office in fall vations on photoimages on existing vertical
1946. During fall and winter 1946 and spring photographs. Utilizing this field control, the
1947, Alaska materials were shipped to Denver maps were compiled in the office by using the
from Washington, D.C. Mahan plotter and photoalidade. The fieldwork
2