GEOLOGICAL RECONNAISSANCE ALONG THE
AIASKA HIGHWAY FROM FORT NELSON,
BRITISH COLUMBIA, TO WATSON IAKE, YUKON

INTRODUCTION
Field Work and Acknowledgments

The field season began on June 1 and closed on September 25.
Of this period, June 17 to September 17 was spent in the field of in-
vestigation, the remainder of the time being occupied with preparations
in Edmonton and in travelling. Long delays occurred during periods
when sections of road were closed to traffic.

The writer was ably assisted in the field by John L- DeLeen
of Vancouver and F. 0. Norman of Winnipeg. A. Ls Rand, zoologist of
the National Museum, Ottawa, was attached to the ue Heres party from
July 19 until the end of the season. His report! on the zoology along

1 Rand, A.Le: The Southern Half of the Alaska Highway and its Mammals;
Nat. Mus. of Canada, Bull. No. 98.

the route travelled has been published.

The writer wishes to express warm appreciation for the cordial
assistance rendered by the United States military and civil authorities,
and by the various American and Canadian construction companies operating
along the road. The R. Melville Smith Construction Company took efficient
charge of the party's mail in both collection, and peeeyerl The” Dufferin

Cf hfe St fn

during and after the flood of July 10 when supplies Sal tents.were lost.
The following construction companies also assisted in various ways: Emil
Anderson, Storm's, Jupp's, Harvey's, Campbell, Bond, McNamara, Curran,
and Briggs. It was only through such kind assistance that the work was
earried on.

Previous Geological Work

Reports* by G. M. Dawson and R. G. McConnell, based upon their

24 bibliography of references is given at the end of this report.

historic trip of. 1887, describe the general geology along Dease River, —
and down Liard Valley from Watson lake. In 1922 the writer made a
reconnaissance from Fort St. John northward to Sikanni Chief River at
"Whipsaw Camp" (established in the winter of 1921-22 near the mouth of
Buckinghorse River) and down the Sikanni and Fort Nelson to Liard River.
His report and those by Dawson and McConnell are the only ones dealing
directly with the geology of the region. Their conclusions as embodied
in this report are duly acknowledged.

Farming, Ranching, and Gardening

Conditions are favourable near the Liard hot springs for garden-
ing, berry raising, and small farming. Liard Valley all the way upstream
to Watson Lake includes considerable areas of promising land for these
purposes. Most of the land is light and sandy, but precipitation appears
to be adequate for fair growth. Winters are reported to be severe and