Letter from Robert H. Alvis to Truett Latimer describing life for himself stationed at an Air Force base in Alaska and inquiring about Truett's political career back in Texas.

From abstract: The Homer district of the Kenai coal field is about 100 miles southwest of Anchorage, in south-central Alaska. It covers an area of about 1,100 square miles on the west side of the Kenai Peninsula, between Tustumena Lake and Kachemak Bay. The principal settlement is Homer, at the southern end of the district, which is connected by the gravel-surfaced Sterling Highway with the Alaska highway system and The Alaska Railroad, and is also served by ocean transportation and one airline.

From introduction: This report is based on preliminary surface mapping in the summer of 1952 and on subsurface exploration with a bulldozer powerauger unit in the summers of 1953 and 1954. In 1952 F. F. Barnes was assisted by Alfred Oestreich, geologist, and Lewis Ladwig and Richard Pack, field assistants. From July 2 to August 31, 1953, F. F. Barnes and Daniel Sokol were assisted by W.T. Ashlock and R. E. Rowland, field assistants, and by a bulldozer operator-mechanic. From June 23 to July 27, 1954, Barnes and Sokol were assisted by A. E. Burford and W. S. Hopkins, geologists, and an operator-mechanic.

From introduction: Since 1945 the Alaskan Trace Elements Unit of the U. S. Geological. Survey has been engaged in reconnaissance for radioactive deposits in Alaska, first on behalf of the Manhattan Engineer District, later on behalf of the Atomic Energy Commission. During the period January 1945 through December 1952, 42 reports in the Survey's Trace Elements Investigations series and 18 reports in the Trace Elements Memorandum series, a totaJ of 60 reports, have been completed or are in preparation Of these 60 reports 44 have been completed and transmitted to the Commission as of December 31, 1952.

A report regarding preliminary summary review of thorium-bearing mineral occurrences in Alaska. Concerns work done on behalf of the division of Raw Materials of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.

Monthly publication of the Boy Scouts of America, written for Boy Scout leaders, officials, and others interested in the work of the Scouts. It includes articles about events and activities, updates from the national headquarters, topical columns and essays, and news from various chapters nationwide. A table of contents appears on page 1.

Introduction: Thorium and rare-earth metals have come into strategic importance in this country in the last few years with the potential use of thorium in the production of atomic power and the development of new uses for the rare earths in the aircraft industry.

Including a list of all known volcanoes and a summary of activity betwen 1760 and 1948.

From Introduction and Summary: "This report gives results of an investigation of the carbonizing properties of 18 coals, including 2 from Alaska, 12 from British Columbia, 3 from Washington, and 1 from Utah. Each coal was carbonized in the standard 13-inch Bureau of Mines-American Gas Association (BM-AGA) retort at 900 degrees C."

From abstract: Gypsum-bearing rocks crop out in Gypsum and Yellow Jacket Gulches, on Sheep Mountain, which is about 90 miles northeast of Anchorage, Alaska. The gypsiferous rock occurs in deposits of irregular shape in the greenstone. Both the gypsiferous rock and the greenstone are hydrothermal alteration products of the volcanic rocks of Jurassic age which comprise the bulk of the mountain. Near-surface samples of the gypsiferous rock contained an average of 25 to 30 percent gypsum ; some contained as much as 50 percent. Quartz, alunite, clay, sericite, and pyrite are contaminating constituents of the ore. Six of the largest and most accessible of the gypsum deposits were mapped and calculations show that three of the deposits contain an aggregate of approximately 311,000 short tons of indicated gypsiferous rock and four of the deposits contain 348,000 short tons of inferred gypsiferous rock.

From abstract: Two deposits of high-grade gypsum are located near tidewater at Iyoukeen Cove, on the northeastern part of Chichagof Island, southeastern Alaska. A group of claims, formerly operated by the Pacific Coast Gypsum Co., was acquired by the Kaiser Gypsum Division of Kaiser Industries, Inc., during World War II. Claims at the other deposit are held by Dave Housel of Juneau and Seattle, Washington, in the name of the Gypsum-Camel group.

Report documenting the suitability of Alaska for plant locations to produce synthetic liquid fuels, based on raw materials such as coal and natural gas.

Clipping from Galveston Tribune describing the 15 billionth pound of sugar that was milled.

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From abstract: Radiometric reconnaissance during the summer of 1951 of 47 abandoned lode mines and prospects in the predominantly mesothermal mineral belt in the central and southern parts of southeastern Alaska revealed radioactivity in excess of 0.005 percent equivalent uranium at only one locality.

Report discussing an investigation of radioactivity occurrences, mostly caused by thorium in thorite and monazite, in various parts of southeastern Alaska. The geology and structural qualities of these radioactive areas are discussed.

From abstract: In the vicinity of Salmon Bay near the northeastern end of Prince of Wales Island, southeastern Alaska, samples obtained in 1951 from narrow, steeply dipping, carbonate-hematite veins contain as much as ,O.07 percent equivalent uranium. The average grade of these veins cannot be reliably stated because no systematic sampling has been done. No uranium or thorium minerals have been identified. Several chemical analyses indicate only a few thousandths percent uranium. Most of the radioactivity is apparently caused by thorium, which seems to be in or closely associated with red hematite.

From abstract: Reconnaissance for radioactive deposits in southeastern Alaska in 1952 was centered in three localities: the northern part of Prince of Wales Island and parts of adjacent islands, the Taku Harbor-Point Astley district, and the Hyder area. Significant concentrations of radioactive minerals were found only in the vicinity of Salmon Bay on the northeastern shore of Prince of Wales Island. In this area radioactive carbonate-hematite veins occur along the coast for about 8 miles. The veins are generally short, irregular, and lenticular, but a few can be traced for more than 300 feet between the low-tide line and the forest cover. The width of the veins normally ranges from less than 1 inch to 2.5 feet; several, however, are 5 to 10 feet wide.

A report regarding a reconnaissance for radioactive deposits in southeastern Alaska, 1952. Concerns work done on behalf of the Division of Raw Materials of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.

Report of investigations issued by the U.S. Bureau of Mines on the estimated recoverable reserves of bituminous coal found in the Matanuska Valley Coal Field. The investigation includes studies of the area, and methods of mining which include diamond and churn drilling. This report includes maps, photographs, and illustrations.

From introduction: This report details the harbor site selection along the Gulf of Alaska for a nuclear detonation.

From introduction: A project to use the immense energy concentrated in a nuclear device to construct an experimental deep-water harbor has been proposed by the Atomic Energy Commission and is referred to as Project Chariot; it is one phase of AEC Project Plowshare...During the field conference, Mr. Gerald Johnson of U. C. R. L. requested that the U. S. Geological Survey submit a report on the summer's investigation around the first of November 1958. This preliminary report is in response to Mr. Johnson's request.

From abstract: The Mount Katmai area is on the Alaska Peninsula and comprises the Mount Katmai quadrangle, the Cape Douglas area of the adjoining Afognak quadrangle, and parts of the Karluk and Naknek quadrangles. The area, which includes nearly all the Katmai National Monument, is one of high relief and is drained by streams of preglacial origin. At least two ice advances are indicated by the moraine configuration. Present-day glaciation is restricted to numerous alpine glaciers in the mountain areas. Fifteen recently active volcanoes roughly form a line from Mount Douglas to Martin Mountain.

From abstract: Radioactive material in apparently significant amounts was recognized in heavy-mineral concentrates from the gravels of four streams that head in Ear Mountain, Alaska, when collections of the United States Geological Survey were examined for radioactivity in the winter of 1944-45. This area, on the north side of the Seward Peninsula, attracted attention in 1901-02 when cassiterite was discovered in the streams. Subsequent attempts were made to develop copper- and tin-bearing lode deposits.