Show kyoto ry la land nd Is 0 arv B n I 1 M L ff ILA government scientists are investigating vesti gating resources of vast stretch in alaska lV washington ashington tho the last mystery land under tho the american flug flag a vast stretch of mountain and plain in northwest alaska now Is under exploration by tho the federal government tho the tract comprises some square miles and was nas set aside last february by president as a naval oil reserve some traces of oil have been found on its borders but for tho the most part its qualities and resources aro are a ni matter nitter of speculation tho exploration recently begun la Is under tile tho direction of six scientists of the inferior department W whose hos e primary task will bo be to investigate oil mining possibilities but who in adal tion will ninko mako tho first maps of tile tho region overdrawn ever drawn on scientific lines four or five summers fire are to bebon be consumed bafo before re the th 0 exploration Is ii complete but during the present season kt t Is hoped to cO complete mOlete a preliminary reconnaissance and determine lie tile the location of the most moat promising oil fields for this purpose the geologists and to raphers and their camp hands have divided into three parties la in tile the hope that by this ileane most of the tract can bo be covered before winter begins land mainly barren the few facts known about the district are that it consists mainly ot of a flat and barren land near tho seacoast a narrow strip of oc which has hag been visited by white men and that in the south it includes it a high barren range of mountains itis it Is bounded on the north and west by the arctic ocean on the he south by tile the endacott Endl cott range rind find on tile the cast by the colville river chalers Vh alers and it 0 few other hardy adi ad have visited the coast and several small posts have been organized several oil companies have sent prospectors to look over the many oil seeps to bo be seen near the coast but no legal I 1 claims of permits permit haye have been granted in places tile surface oil Is sold said to have been collected la in small ponds and puddles and semisolid semi solid tar residues have been reported whether the federal government will undertake tire OW development of the territory will bo be determined later tile the worling wort aln season would be so short however and the of drilling storing all and transportation so im immense that U unless n less oil Is ii da discovered 1 rea in great quantity lenses leases will bo be granted to yate tate firms since tile the area Is situated entirely within tile the arctic circle not only would transportation distances bo be great but ha cold would it a working season or of more than a few months each year |