New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-03-23

IN search Of seal and wslra aod - $500
ts the cebe strrfchrs from 0reepSnd 70
gen broken up s, Saas a. SPsn in there SshS
Ssh sSse p smith, Soq souSs PPSsoSsdy
bs Ind most Tte for sprsachi1e the eea
Polar sestrOng wbs advantages not e least the upper
ty o. IN sr% s experience Arctic Winter know
sg. S aDs ' eSss g the Snrsn 81 AZ
Perts object fsur capacity IN this .eiPss ssr SssS
dsa @ Ss ,o yoa
'nd'0 your ''''' 5BAYARD TAYLOR"
The Hon. Mr. FoLsoM then related some incidents
of the very interesting meeting of the Society," held
two weeks ago, at which an Esqdimaux was present,
and introduced amid applause DIR. HAYES, who said:
Mr.. president, LADIES, AND GENTLEMEN: IL
10 now a little more than four years since DR..
Kane returned from the North reporting the discovery
Of open Polar Physicists had long before been
generally agreed that such probably existed and
the northern of Europe, Aeis snd America hay-
ing been de termined with considerable accuracy 1t
assumed that the great body of water which they
invested was mainly free from land; and hence being
free from all ceuters of ice accumulation, must be
mainly open at least during the Summer. The first
substantial confirmation Of this theory was obtained
by the Russians, who under Hedensrom. in lSlO-li,
and again under Apjou and Urange In l820-24, dis
covered extensive Open area, or Polynsa, to the
nothward of the New. Siberian lslsnds. IL was left
to our eountryman Dr. Kane, 10 bring from an oppo-
ate meridian more conclusive proof, and hs re-
searches assume inc dignity OF u great ulbcONtly-
DR.. Kane whose first voyage as surgeon OF the expe-
dition under Lieut.. De Haven, in 1880 had given 70
him some important information upon the currents and
ice movements Of Batn Bay, fully collated such
accounts had been published Getting the various
efforts to penetrate the cebarer and he thus arrived
at the conclusion that the true route lay up the there
tofore unexplored Smith Strait which opens at the
head of the Bay To America is due the credit OF hav-
ing reduced the evidence TO practical results Inc seq
ond GTiDnel Expedition, begun in 1853, added new
proofs to those previously known in favor of the route
by Smith Strait and at the present time there is sniff
cent warrant for asserting that it is by this channel
that the pole is 10 be reached. Ii is true that in this
direction the eebelts broader than at any other point;
but 1hs fact gives 10 the route peculiar advantages,
since the polar current setting rapidly to the south
through fafin Bay, loosens the ice, and opens pas.
sages through it, such are not found to the sane
extent n other quarters where the direction of the
current is northeIy. Although ice is often met in the
line of Bafin Bay rs low the Banks Of Ne Wound
land, yet serious obstruction to navigation is pre-
fented un have reached the latitude Of Cpe:Davik,
10 40 and beyon this whale-shps penetrate annu-
ally, and with little risk, as far as latitude TO-, IN
order to get to their fishing grounds about
the mouth of Lancaster Sound. Between the highest
lattI de attained by the whaers add Smith Strait
the water s mainly free during the Sumner and the
distance, exceeding 100 miles is readily raverset.
DIR. Kanes efforts in this direction were expert
mental, and his Winter barbor was selected on the
eastern side of the channel in latitude 78o 81 His
subsequent explorations proved his position TO have
been an unfavorable one; for he was exposed
down from the north through the newly -dIscOv-
cred Channel OF Kennedy. The ice carried down
by this current not only prevented his release,
bnt in consequence OF the obstruction presented
by the land, it was broken into humDocks 10 the
north ard which rendered travelling in that direction
excessively laboIous. The which operates
10 free the ice upon the Greenland will free the
co ast of Grinne LsDd. Upon visiting tn shore in
the Spring of 1854, found smooth sheet of ice ex
tending slOpg the land az far up as LATITUDE 80. |
This ice of bet one Winters freezing, |
e III -
1884 there was open wger as far as that parallel
IL IS the knowledge Of this fact which leads me TO be.
leve that much higher latitude can be attained on |
the western side OF the strait than on the eastern Be-
yOnd Cape Frazer It, 79o 4g the coast trends almost
due NORTH and the euren flowing through the chan
mel without obstruction, will no doubs leave the ice
smooth and favorable for sedge operations. II il upon
the cCatt of GIinDsll Land thai | Will secure |
hs Dor; and, IS already observed, have every
fdense that vessel can be taken along this shore
with ease and safety nearly 10 the 8Oh parallel. The
fret Summer will be exhausted in making this locality,
and the Winter will close around early 10 Septen-
ber From this time until the LIST Of the following |
month We will remain inactive. Upon the earliest
return of sunlight the advance parties viii be sent for
ward, and by means of dog-sledges provissn-depots
will be esab ished at available points along the land
These psides will be followed by the main expedition
for the exploration of the Polar Sea. boat mounted
IN runners will be transported over the ice
Until have reached the object of Search when,
I such fortune awaits us, we will launch our little YES
el upon the unknown waters, and, bidding God speed
Hl push of directly for the Pole III the is back
wand its southern margin may not extend as far south
Is the point at which il discovered by DR.. Kane;
out do not anticipate that in any case sledge
ravel will be extended further north than lat. 82o
Beyond this latitude there are, already observed
elusive for wing that open sea exists
The land does not in all probability extend far beyond
ne parallel mentioned, and all experience elbows that
only near the land that we find the Arctic waters
completely closed. II is indeed, not too much to cay
ha 80 large surface OF water "a the Arctic Ocean
ahnot he frozen over, even daring tDe WINTER; and
WIN the sdyarce of Summer the ice rapidly fssolves
Toposed effort. Hsppily, on this head l am
pared any reflections Of my own. The sub
sc has been matnrey considered by the leading ,ci.
n.,fc societies of the United Ststes-by yer own
ody, by the American Association for tte Advance
lent OF Science by the American p o.onh,si Sci.
dee by the Phn4delS ysds 0I Art If Ana SaSTa
I;singv sgSd VIC boston Society of Nstaral
st ur.. ts Gnu " the New. York Lycsula OK
iarss n, ~yi and tsese CONCLUSIONS, expressed by
asct "~ter of our NEST eminent citizens are 10 the
-: uaat the objects contemplated are not only i'm
oi'alt to MANKIND bat such as TO warrant full
'neuOn and Learty encouragement to the prosc.. l
III merely state that, beside the and eXpora
on OF de Polar Sea and s adjacent lands, the pro-
's' Il line Of eXploi alton covers field IN which the
Ju'ion Of in Jortaut questions of magnetism and
and Of natural history Gel sanly be
lected. Indeed, there is department OF silence TO
which valuable results will not be contributed i am
uIy aware Of she peculiar causes which have tended
nislead TIE public mind, in relation 70 the dlngers
f Araic exploration These causes justify the heSi- |
alton which was felt in former years; but now tina.
he truth has been made known by 30 many reliable
'bseryeIs now that the means Of travel have been
o fully peT1ected, and tue IA .llies for pr0mot ng
ealtb and comfort have become we'll known, is II
90 sanQnine Opposition which leads me TO believe
bat sba zee gain the little flag which, in 1884, ! |
,anted upon the coast OF Grin1el Land or - hope