The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-05-08 00:00:00

Ely (Sitotttirib'ge Obsertur.

SATURDAY, MAY 8, 1875.
POLAR EXPLORATION.

The expedition which is so soon to sail foe
the Arctic regions is commanding a very largr
amount of public interest. The desire to pene-
trate the mysteries of the far- off northern regions,
has always been strong in the breasts of the
pcople of this country; "the thing is to be done
and England ought to do it, appears to have
been the prevailing sentiment. The Ships hav-
ing sailed, the first object to be accomplished
swill be to get through Melville By up into Smith
Sound and Kennedy Channel. This cannot be
attempted with any chance of success until Au-
gust; and the Alert and Discovery will then
have to push forward with all possible speed
before the young ice begins to form. A month
or six weeks at the outside is the extreme limit
of the period in these parts during which naviga-
tion is possible, and then the cold again sets in,
and binds the waters of those seas in fetters of
thick-ribbed ice. By the end of August, however
the expedition hopes to find itself in latitude 82
North, and this point once attained, there are
but 500 miles to the pole. This short s
shipsdistance
r
the commander hopes to cover by h
by his sledges in the early summer of next year.
A sledge will easily carry 45 men and their food
and the Esquimaus dogs will drag it at a rate
of over 20 miles a day, if the ice be in fairly
good condition for travelling. It must, however
be remembered that sea-ice is not like the ice
of English lakes, a solid even surface resembling
a great sheet of glass. It has been well compared
to India-rubber covered with snow, and getting
over it is tedious and tiresome work. It e'
is not
however, the cold that is feared in these extreme
latitudes so much as the deadly moisture pro-
inced by heat. The men sleep in their clothes
which if once taken off would freeze too hard
ever to be put on again. So each man envelopes
himself in a gigantic woollen sack or bag and it
has been found that a tent spread on the ice is
far warmer than one upon the land. Every pre-
caution, we may depend upon it, will be taken to
preserve the health of both officers and men in
passing over those terribly 600 miles, but there
is every reason to believe that it will be done,
and we may be sure that if it (roes fail, it will
not be for the lack of energy or perseverance.
Captain Nares, then, goes out to fly the Brit-
ish flag at the pole itself, and he has the best
wishes of his countrymen for his complete suc-
cess. Nearly fifty years ago. Captain Parry
reached a spot 435 miles from the North Pole
but it is almost unnecessary to say he did not
penetrate to anything like the depth to which
the present expedition aims. Hitherto an im-
penetrable mystery has surrounded the frozen
regions which has defied the efforts of man to
unveil. Nature has seemed to resent the en-
deavours which have been made to invade the
solitude of her domain. Her hitherto ste:n
decree has been—" So far shalt thou come, and
no further 1" The application of science, and
the discovery of invention have waged a long
battle with snow and ice, and hitherto the hitter
have won the victory. They are as potent now
so they were when first called into existence ;
they laugh at the marvels of electricity, and
defy the power of steam. However, this time it
is evident that the possibility of failure has not
been contemplated. The two ships which are
to be despatched to the Arctic Ocean are by far
the most powerful that have ever been sent to
these northern seas; they have been so strength-
ened, that, with proper management and hand-
ling, it is hard to believe that they could be
crushed, even in the heaviest ice; and they are
provided with the amplest stores of every kind
—fuel, food, tea and coffee. wine and spirits,
antt-scorbutic medicines, clothes—everything,
in a word, which past experience has shown to
be necessary or even useful for Arctic service.
More than this, the plan of the campaign has
been so admirably arranged, that, h
speaking, serious disaster seems to be out of the
question. As the sledging party proceeds Pole.
wards, depots of provisions will be established
from point to point, upon which it can fall back
If found necessary, and so make good its retreat
Geographers and scientific men believe, however
that the last 300 miles of the journey, and that
as the explorers get further north, they will find
the temperature become more and more genial
They contend that the Pole is washed by an
open sea, perfectly free from the ice which im-
pedes the approach to it. Should the leadera
of the present expeditionary force succeed in
getting over the ice between them and the Pole
and anchoring in deep calm water where no other
ship has ever been, what will be the sensations
of those on board? They will have reached a
spot where the sun's altitude is equal to its de-
clination, and where bearings must be obtained
by reference to time and not to the magnet.
They will have attained to a spot on the surface
Of the earth, the romance of which has always
exercised an extraordinary fascination. They
will be then, indeed, "fur from the busy haunts
of wen," and will have broken a solitude which
has remained undisturbed for centuries. They
will be floating upon sea whose surface has
never been disturbed by the paddle of the
steamer, or by the movement of the white-winged
sail. Their feelings of pride and exultation way
wai be imagined at Snell a triumph. SCieriCi
and the power of the human intellect would
have overcoale the forces of Nature— forces
which have conquered in the straggles of sue-
cesoive ages. Exph rers of all nations have en-
deavoured to salvo die Polar mystery, and there
is no uric ie our i.4iands who wonl.i not r- j,)iee
that the honour of such a scientific victory
had fallen to the flag of ti reat
The good wises of all w: I assuredly :tem..
pony Captain Nares and his enterprising
Imo jjn epid band of fellow - travellers.
He will he cheer,d as enthu,ias.icAlly- as Ciougii
his ships w,re going into action, when he sets
sail from Portsmouth to co it h the icy giants
of the Noz-th. H. dlerto the ill the shap,; of
01101'1110UB iCtiberl3, Wilt 11 an dby the fierce
teeueil ii j; ee.,t et the :1.01.1.-11.ett
have swept, doe.ii upon iiiisri-qice.ing ships, and
have crush: d tle in to pieees in a 'lament of
time. The unfol tureAte veseels have, thus far
always been worsted in the nut qual conflict ; let
us Lope that the time has come when the tide of
battle may be turned, aod that the vessels which
bear this force to the Arctic regi,ns will return
%WI e,•r!:titt :bough wadi% -won victory. If
this be 50, 110 CA/11(0(260g horo ever returned
from war amid such congratulations as will:await
Captain Nitres and his colleagues.

EAGLET WLAILLY STOCK SALs.—At this sale, on Mon-
day, there was not so large a collection of stock as on the
vrevious week, but a wore regular celiecti,n it choice
Vat BuDoan as never 3et •een in the sale
„rd. Fliers w
goo,i atterwd,thee, I,..,tier rat s ere r-sl-
iz •i r•si • • .!0.1,. It .01 be seen
'""'" vat ii e show of
tip and Whitsuntide Best takes p ACd I On Monday next
• luth. instant.

TNHE IRON TiIADE.
THE WAGES QUESTION
WOLVERHAMPTON, Wednesday.
Business was quiet this afternoon, many leading
ironn asters being absent in London at the meet-
ing of the Iron and Steel Institute. The tone was
quite equal to the slight improvement noticeable
last week, and in some easestherewaseven further
improvement. Best bar firms, in particular, re-
ported themselves better off, ned able to employ
their bands full time. Sheet-makers likewise are
doing well, and a few good boiler plates are in
demand ; but the finished iron trade of the district
genei.l,lly is in a languid state, and in only the
minority of instances profitable. The pig-makers
and pig-sellers are not (loin, less, but they are
not doing much more than blast reported. Coal
was very freely offered, but buyers held off, in the
expectation of a sensible reduction when the
summer weather has well set in.
The meeting on Wednesday, in London, of re-
presentative iromnasters and representative iron-
workers, to still further discuss the wages situa-
tion, was s leading topic this afternoon, and
satisfaction was expressed at the character of the
memorandum which, on behalf of the masters, was
submitted to the men. It was maintained that
the time has come to revert to past customs regu-
lating the payment of puddlers, in particular. It
I is impossible, it was contended, to meet the views
of the market, and bring down prices to the level
loudly demanded, unless ironworkers are prepared
to meet their employers by fairly sharing in the
required concessions. At no time during the past
twenty-one years, terminating with the close of
1871, were puddlers paid more than 10s. Eld. per
ton. They received this rate within that period
only during the year 1864. The payment was in
the proportion for is. for wages to £l. for marked
bars, plus is. per ton. Thus, whilst the puddlers
were securing half a guinea per ton as wages, £9.
10s. was the aszociation price for iron. Puddling
has gone down to as low as 7s. per ton. It stood
' at that figure during 1850, 1851, and the first three
quarters of 1852; during that time the official
price for bars was £6. They went up to £7. in
the last quarter of 1852, and puddlers' wages to
Bs. 64. The value of iron fluctuated very much
in 1853, inasmuch as in the first quarter bars were
.tll., the second quarterthey were£lo., and inthe
last two quarters £9. £lO. was the price during the
first three quarters of 1854, and £ll. during the
last quarter of that year and the first quarter of
1855. Throughout these two years and three
months puddlers were reciving 10s. The lowest
figure for puddling thereafter touched was 7s. 6d.
That rate began in the third quarter of 1861, and
it prevailed for two years, bars remaining during
that period at £7. per ton. Seven shillings and
sixpence was not again necessary until the second
quarter of 1868, when bars once more touched £7.
This was the standing price for eighteen months.
During the last quarter of 1869 bars were £B., and
£9. was the quotation for the next two years, but
wages were Bs. 6d. Xi. 10s. was the price of
bars in the last quarter of 1871, and wages ad-
vanced to Os. 6d. Hence it will be seen that the
Is per ton in wages in excess of shillingper pound
in price was not universal during all the twenty-
one years to which were refer ,because the excess,
though sometimes is., was sometimes also 6d. In
truth, there were times during which the wages
were level, shillings for level pounds. This was
so during 1856 and 1857, when bars were £9. and
wages 95.; and aho throughout the twenty-one
years was Bs. 6d. per ton; the average association
price of South Staffordshire bars dtiring the same
time was £7. 18s. 10d. The highest price of bars
was £ll., which prevailed three months, and the
lowest price was £6.-a figure which extended
over eleven months. If we should have to return
in future to the prices of the past then the wages
of the puddler willbeconsidera,blyless than hehas
hitherto received under the Derby scale. No anxiety
was displayed this afternoon as to the issue of the
negotiations, the general conviction being that an
amicable conclusion will ultimately be arrived at
between the representatives on either side.

Birmingham Thursday.

Business continues very quiet in the local iron
trade, but the momentary tendency is favourable.
The re-opening of the Northern navigation season,
which is :announced for the end of next week, is
imparting a little more cheerfulness and animation
to the market for the better class of finished iron,
though the improvement as yet is slight, and the
mills and forges, as a rule, are not making half time.
Sheets and bars are principally in demand. Prices
of branded iron are consequently firm, at £lO. 10s.,
£ll., and £ll. 12s. 6d. for bars, and other kinds in
proportion. Common iron is weak and irregular,
sales of bars in considerable quantities being repor-
ted this week at £B. 10s., or ss. less than the mini-
mum quotation a fortnight ago. Sheets are com-
paratively strong, at £ll. 15s. to £l2. for singles.
The orders in course of distribution are nearly all to
satisfy current requirements, and merchants refuse to
believe in the permanency of prices in the face of a
declining coal market and an impending revision of
the wages scale. Ironmasters anticipate little relief
from the latter step, aslabour is too scarce to warrant
any material alteration of wages, but if the anomalies
and inequalities of the present scale are removed em-
ployers hope to be spared a good deal of annoyance.
A substantial fall in coal is the only thing that would
warrant a reduction in iron, but though the inferior
kinds of fuel are certainly more plentiful and cheaper,
and underselling is increasing with the progress of
the fine summer weather, best coal continues veiy
firm. There is little or nothing doing in pig-iron,
smelters look forward to a good autumn season, and
in anticipation of an improved demand are adding to
the productive powers by the blowingin of old or the
erection of new furnaces. Prices range from £3. to
£3. ss. for cinder pig to £6. for hot-blast, ar.d46. for
cold-blast, native all mine. For the Lilleshall cold
-
blast pig the quotation is £6. 10s.

HAOLEY STOCK SALES.—With reference to the
above, the auctioneers have received the follow-
ing communication:—" Messrs. Oates, Perrens and
Wooldridge.—Dear sirs,—lt has always been ad-
mitted that Hagley Stock Sales stand pre-eminent
as a mart for the disposal of live stock. That it
still holds its supremacy will be seen by the fol-
lowing facts: that on Monday last Mr. Wooldridge
sold two fat bullocks, bred and reared by John
Ilarward, Eiquire, Winterfold, one of which was
but 23 months old, the other only 21 months, the
selling price being .255 the pair. Gentlemen, if
you wish to insert this in any of the local news-
papers you are quite at liberty to do so.—l am,
dear sirs, yours faithfully, JOHN HA.RWARD, per J.
D. Law.—Winterfold, 4th May, 1875."
PROKERTY SALE.—At the Talbot Hotel, last
night, Mr. Wooldridge offered for sale, The Up-
lands, Hagley-road, The Talbot Hotel, and other
Property. There was a very large attendance.
The first lot was The Uplands, Hagley Road,
which started at £2,000, and was knocked down
for .£3,200, to Mr. F. J. Mills. The only bid for
the Talbot Hotel, was -£2OOO. It was not !sold.
Lot 3. A Residence in Market Street, was knocked
down to Mr. J. Walker, for £515. Several slips of
landwere :sold at 3s 6d, 3s sd, and 3s 3d, per
yard. The Talbot Hotel shares were bought by
Mr. Thomas, at £5 per share.
Good value fur money is desired by all, with artii lea
that c moot be judged of by appearance. cereal par-
chasers rely on the high standing of those with whoa
they deal. For 30 years, Horilim in's Pure Teas in
packets have v,iven general satisfaction, being exceedingy
strong, of unifiirm good quality, and ruly ch-ap Agents :
Stonrbridge—Clarke,lsl, High street; Baker, 124, High.
rest; Hewit, Market Place; Morris, 136, High-street,
Briefly llill—Rawlings chemist ; Kidderminster, But.
Ring ; Halesowen, Adam, ebonies; Lye, Jones, chemist.
Wordsley, Turner. chenii4; Kingswinford, Pearson,
Brettel Lane, Collings, chemist; Birmingham, Basks,
Bull Ring.
TIMOAT IRRITATION.—The throat and windpipe are
especially liable to inflammation causing soreness and
dryness, tickling and irritation, imluoing cough and a-
ft-chug the voice. For the.se symptoms use Glycerine in
the form of jnjubes. Glycerine in these agreeable cen-
rs-etwtis, being in prnxiinit) to the glands at the moment
they are excited by the I,et of ,is-king becomes activly
beitling. W. and is. pseketa (by pest Bor 15 stamps)
labelled ‘• Jains.s Epps ,t• Ifsmue spathic Chemist, 48,
The—elnetelle Street, and t 7,1. Londo
11.11;Y:,'Y's O'n'yteot an Pills.—Rheutnatisin, Neu-
ra ia —lt is oonletimi•s sl.:licult to determine which of
these ii 5.151 a is afflicting the sufferisr but site!, tnicer-
-I,iny will be Orlin:der:ll if Holloway's reins.!is he used.
They alleviate and cure all tonscular and nervous pains,
In liered.tare rheumatism. ;titer bathing the affected
p trt with warm salt water. Holloways Ointment should
,t well ruble d upon the stot that it niay penetrate and
exert its :oothing and neol:a.ing eroperties on the deep-
er VIe:N and netvea wen-it being enduly exited, cause
eoth pails said svicll;ng. II itloway's treatment has tthe
ehit lit reei 'yin the dis-case wiiiioqt debilitating the-
crtstittition which was the inevitalde r,sult of the bleed-
on Tuvrenry. and colchicum pri.eice fornerly 11,topts,i
111 irilic,r complaint,.

A Il.ti.n HEAD may not inaptly be compared to A hens
%%ithout a thatching. It is exposed to the cold, and is alto-
gether unsightly in aspect. Resort may be had to a wig,
a scalp, or an assemblage of foreign hairs intermingled
with the scanty material of original vrowth still vouch-
saf,l to the berc c:rprit; or but the effect is prior and the
disguise too apparent. Let those whose mirror assures
them of the approach of baldness or the stealthy march
Of grey hairs assail the eacmy in time. Let them
employ the infalable restorative known as Mrs. S. A.
ALLEN'S WORLD's HAIR RESTORER, and laugh to acorn
the impotency of years and their attenii.t to rob and
disfigure humanity. To be obtained of all Cit.n.ists and
Perfumers throughout the world. Price 6s. Lepctl :41
and 116, Southampton-row, London.

Bryant and Slay beg to direct special attention to their
New Oval Pocket Vesta Boxes, with Patent Spring Coy-
du's, 'oh :ore ebtirely free from all Pou4ll Edges and
Sharp ,octl adir ito Iby v‘, t.;‘ L.) he the Be-t
and ‘,:aeal)est ,oketit....c ever produced.. Retailed every
where at One Penny. Patentees and a^:r manufacturers
Bryant and May, London. B.