The New York herald., 1873-10-08


made. The hypothesis that Greenland Is prolonged
past the Pole has yet to be determined. but one
point there can be no mistake-that the route
adopted by Kane and Hayes is the correct one.
The dangers or Arctic exploration, moreover. have
been greatly exaggerated. Experience has taught
sound and wholesome lessons. The days OF navi-
eating ce-laden have passed. Haphazard
suggestions in the construction OF ships for battling
with the ice would not be listened to while the
severity of Arctic winter dwindles down to
nothing when counteracted by the scientific meas
ures known to explorers OF the present day. do
are less terrible than they were 200 years
ago, but they are harmless when prop
erly prepared for. Indeed, the occupants OF
many tenement house in the city OF New York
suffer lar more keenly the hardshps OF winter than
would band oflntrepld and experienced eXplor-
ers in the vast wilderness OF ice known as the
Polar regions The discovery of the North Pole
and It's mysterious surroundings Is only matter
OF time. The question Is who shall be nrst III the
race
HAIL COLUMBIA
II Kane and Hayes Understanding TO the uni
versally acknowledged opinion-dscovered the
true gateway to the Pole. let us Il pause moment
to inquire what the authorities at Washington are
going to do about lt--a phrase not more lamlllar
than lorcbe and to the point. have already IN
timated that the English government are deter
mined to finish what cost so much in 1853
ana 1850 TO commence. Kane was the first
shores OF Smiths Sound. Hayes followed with
greater success. Hal's heroic Efforts baf1led as
made the pathway easier still. Little remains TO-
be accomplished at this lats day. And what Is to
be the re ,ult OF tnelr coplned ianorsT we .t az
prior the arrival OF the Junata at that place two
whaiers had been tnere-the now famous Arctic
ana the Erie. On board OF one OF them was Com.
mlnder Markham OF the Royal Navy, specially
sent ont to make preliminary observations for an
English Polar expedition next season. He had
made arrangements, the Governor said, Tor seal
SKIN clothing and the expedition, he thought.
would arrive at upernavik some time in June.
GeOpraDnlcal
the route by Smiths Sound. The rest need not be
told.
1t is very clear that the time is last approaching
when the North Pofe Will no longer be mystery
There are those OF course who Will inquire what
benefit can accrue from poughing through. fields
Of ice in search OF an uncertainty Why run iur-
ther risks IN quest OF phantom2 But who can
tell what important results may flow from its dis
coyeryg So long as 1t remains secret 1t VIII pos
sess charm wholly irresistible. 1t will continue
TO arrest the attention OF the scientific world and
draw towards its magic circle the bold the brave
and the adventurous who love truth Tor It's own
sake. In the great and absorbing contest on be-
half OF science is America to be left behindi Is the
highway already marked out amid peril and suffer-
ing to be abandoned? True money has been lavlsnly
expended in the fitting Out OF the memorable ex-
pedtion of II, and again in the search expedition
OF the present year. But Ii that very expenditure
yet be turned to good account, would it not be
wise to adopt the means There Still remains
way by which, at least, part Of the sum so spent
may be utilized with credit and, perhaps, renoWn
to the government
Arctic Xpedition-especially one that leaves a
navy yard. | am under the mark when state
that quarter OF a million did not cover the eX-
penses OF the illstarred exploring steamer polaris.
And, although she reached the highest latitude
ted ae5 for the task now i'1e If il cost 0 that amount
or nearly SO TO equip the Polaris, it Will
be found on examination that the purchase ana
fitting out OF the IigresS were nots much less. In
the irst place, she was bought by the government
or 100000. The construction department. includ-
ing the alterations on deck, would not be less than
$35, 900; the equipment department., S20 0O0 nav1-
CATION instruments charts, &C., $4,000. Then
would come the alteration In the machinery, the
galley store, cooking utensils, furniture for state
rooms the extra supply oil clothing 0r b0th cifcers
ana crew and two Years provisions, which for the
vessel alone would make the sum total over
100000. The rgress vas completely overhauled
in every respect and prepared such as no other
vessel ever was before that ltlt on similar misi0n
Built expressly Tor ice navigation, and strength
ened Tor all emergencies, she had innumerabe
advantages over the Polaris. in fact no compari-
| son could be instituted between them. Besides
this, she was fast saller aud altogether as an eX
poring steamer the best choice that could
have been made. | may mention here that sne
went from Upernavlk to lltteton Island in three
the latitude attained by the Poiarls. / learn from
Captain Bartlett, OF the whaling steamer Hector,
who spoke The Tlgress ~ Niantlis, Cumberland
little or no ice in the search for the missing crew
of the POlaris. that 1t IS safe to assume she IS in
good condition. or nearly SO, as when she left
THE DUTY or THE GOVERNMENT
What is to be done with the ligress She will
be here perhaps within a week or q fortnight
With the excepton OF about three months provi-
sion her OUTFIT remains the same And now the
question arises. what is to become of herY If re-.
sold to the original owner her stores and spendid
appliances ior Arctic explorations will OF course
be sacrificed. Should the original owner refuse TO
take her back she may be put up at auction stores
and ALL and most assuredly they would not bring
cumstanccs and in view Of the facts already
cited, The duty Of the government is
Command com t tnat the most accomplished and exper
enced explorer could desire-never was vessel
better fitted for the Artic seas than the Tgress-
IL would seem pity to allow perhaps the last on
portunlty to pass without final eIort for the long
sought prize. Already have the two expeditions
cost enough, but the expense OF the third would
be comparatively nothing, everything being al
ready provided. In previous letters have alluded
to the fact that coal can De found in abundance at
DISCO Island, not twelve hours run from God
| haven, and less than thirty miles from Rheten-
| benk A small party from the Junata mined at
the very first attempt over twenty tons in a few
hours, that, Tar rs uel is concerned no appre
henson could be entertained.
THE EXPEDITION OF 1S74.~
| Rather than sacrifice vessel 50 admirably
adapted for Arctic exploration, it certainly seems
| more reasonable, as IL would be more profitable
| to employ her IN behalf OF science. II cannot be
denied that these adventurous explorations re-
reputc Every new discovery subserves the public
| good, and the public have right 10 expect some
| tnlng from the large expenditure OF money that
has already been made There IS nothing TO pre-
vent the Tigress remaining intact at the Navy Yard
| ali winter and starting north in the spring. Re-
garding the risk OF such expeditions the letter OF
the Royal Geographical Society OF London to
! the Chancellor OF the Exchequer truly states
that the expenses accrued during the last
thirty years mas proved that with the
! help OF steam and other modern appliances
and the knowledge gained concerning tie
proper organization OF travelling parties, Arctic
| exploration, under judcions leadership, is not un-
duly dangerous But our own American explorers
have, amid danger and death, already pointed out
| the true highway to the Pole. Or these two have
passed away, and only Hayes remains. Who Is
better fitted TO lead scientifically the expedition OF
1874? II the amcnted Hall brought his vessel
above 81 degrees it should not be forgotten that
| Hayes, when he carried his little schooner above
rs degrees. had no steam to aid him. it IL absurd
send.ne experienced parties north and OF all the
/ explorers of the present day know OF none
competent brave, SO persevering anu entnus-
astic as Dr. Hayes.
THE LESSON OF THE POLARIs.
| The discussions which occurred on board the III
| fated vessel are not a little suggestive IN their