New-York tribune., 1873-02-18
GEOGRAPHICAL ACHIEHEMENTS.

isTq" The hall was web alled. and the audience
v1.e Judge W. i. Curtis the Rev. DIR. Bellows Dr For
syth OF West Point Gen, Culum, and Col Conkng The
essential parts Of the address will be found below;
The physical OF geographical and general char
acter which have marked the past year have been the
widespread disturbances Of rhe earhs crust as cxhib
ited by volcanic eruptions and earthquakes atmo
sphec disturbances, and great irruptons OF the sea-
noticeable for the destruction OF life and property which
have attended them; remarkable extremes OF heat ana
cold in several parts OF the world OF great DURATION ana
observations upon the rising and sinking OF
the land as indicated by marks upon our coast
lines The earthquake in California extended over an
area Of 1900 miles BY the earthquake IN Antioch AoO
lives were lost The eruption of Mount Nesuvius IN Apl
was the terrible known for centuries Among other
phenomena were the terrible storm In the Northwest
the accumulation oflmmense snow-drfts in Nova Scotia
the passage Of large fields Of ice sOuthward TO the Gun
Stream the great gale on Western lakes the great rain
fall In Bombay the tornado at Madras; the inundauon
of the River PO rendering 60000 persons homeess ana
at of the the great ten days storm III I'm
gland and the extraordinary whrlwind in Ireland Ihe
Of physical events OF this character seems 10
show that the theory Of Lye and others is correct that
causes now in operation which may have been acting
over long periods OF time enough To account Tor
these disturbances.
WESTERN EXPLORATIONS.
In the general survey Of the geographical work OF the
past year, attention is first called to what has been
/
the valley Of the Yellowstone, during 1871 created such
an interest that Congress passed law Teserying 376
square miles for the benefit and instruction OF mankind
| To complete this exploration, second expedllOn
was started last Summer route was surveyed
from ogden. Utah to Fort Han, Idaho the great Teton
Mountains were explored and the valleys of the Yellow
stone were carefully examined. Upon the summit Of
the grand Teton mines of great were found at an
elevation Of 62 feet above the The examination
remarkable passes at the head OF Henry's
Fork another important result Of this expedition
This region to form the apex OF the continent
From IL flow the waters Of the Missouri, Columbia and
Colorado. geyser basin was found and the lati-
tude and longitude of several points were accu-
ratey fixed Explorations have been made In the
region OF the Upper Yellowstone, aud among the noun
taius Of the Wintaw The last named region was
found emnenty adapted for grazing. 1t had no i'm
pOrtant mineral deposits and remarkable for the
absence OF birds and insects The survey OF the Colo
RADIO has been continued developing the existence OF
COAL salt and metals and the remains OF prehistoric
houses The Attention Islands have been explored under
the auspices Coast Survey Traces were found Of
race prior to the present inhabitants Their dead were
buried the positions of active fe man in the act of
rowing boat woman dressing etc.
An expedition has been exploring the sea between our
coast and Japan the interests Of commerce. The op
eraons of the Signal Service have been extended INTO
Canada and Nova-Scotia and have proved OF great im
portance in giving warnings of approaching storms and
Of those great which have covered the country
with The Hassler expedition has resulted in
great of scientific knowledge in the detection
Of past glacial action and existing glaciers and in
storing an immense geological collection. Much pro
gross made in the survey Of the canal routes
for the connection Of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans
An expedition for geographical and archaeological la
bOr has lately been dispatched TO Syria and the Jordan
The census Of the United States has been finished and
for the there record of slaves. There is
little reason to talk about foreign influence, the for
ofar ulQtio n a
whole. In NewYOrk City there $4,000 natives and
$4,000 foreign inhabitants. OF the foreign population
2O 900 are Irish and $4,000 German. The Dutch, the
original settlers, least in number now, numbering
only 1887. -
In the beginning Of the great interest was mani
tested in the subject Of Arctic exploration 1t has now
become apparent that this is Of the highest Importance
in scientific point OF view, and 1t was hoped that the
last year would be specially prOpous, but the expecta
tons have not been realized. The Russian expedition
did nothing. Several expeditions have started. Lay
smith, in yacht went toward the east coast Of Green
land. The Norwegian expedition Of two vessels at
tempted the decentralization Of Spitzbergen. The
Swedish expedition Of three vessels, under Prof. Nor
denskOld was Of great Importance They intended,
il possible, TO reach the Pole on sledges, after
winterng in some accessible harbor, and they
in Messy Bay. Another expedition was TO sail 10 estab
lish q mercantile colony on the coast Of SptsDergen.
The object of the AusroHungaran party is TO explore
the land lying north Of Nova Zembla II no land is
found they intend try TO reach Behrng Straits The
unfavOrable result of these expeditions gave rise to some
anxiety concerning Capt. Halls expedition, but the
latest adyces show the party in perfect safety
he will probably attempt to reach the pole by Of
Smiths Sound When he sailed, in the Summer of 1871
the weather very favorable but the severity OF the
present Winter has naturally given rise to some anxiety
Surveys Of various kinds gong in the different
countries of Europe and ASIA Observations upon
cha in he leVp
Africa and depresslons in South America, being
taken. The theory that terrestrial magnetism forms a
basis for the measurement of the diameter Of the earth
under discussion Questions have arisen as to oceanic
movements, some claiming that they are due to the
action Of the winds and others giving the difference in
equatorial and polar temperature as the cause.
SpecuatiOns occupy the minds OF scientific |
men as TO whether the center OF
the earth solid uid The bed Of the is being
explored and the inhabitants and qualities Of the water
defined The lake dwellings Of Europe have been exam
ned skeleton Of a Of great antiquity has been
found in France. The ruins Of pOpulous city has been
discovered in desOlate part OF Arizona, covering an
area OF three nes IN when t9e houses were an OF sald
material. Near the HeespOnt, explorations have been
carried on resulting in the discovery of the remains of
city supposed to be the ancient Troy In the island OF
Cyprus has been found in the old tom6s large coec
WORK IN THE EAST.
great deal has done to increase knowledge
Of Asia The advance of the Russians has been followed
by geographical and other explorations The Egyptian
movement into Asia has resulted in like researches The
Russians expect TO build canal connecting the Black
and Caspian Seas. Although only German mile in |
length. the accomplishment OF the work will take the
labor OF 81 900 for six The African results OF
the have been the OF Dr. Livingstone and his
discOyeries extensive preparations in the island OF
Madagascar beside other explorations. DR.. Schwum-
furth has been exploring the region Of the White Nile
ruined city has been found some distance toward the in
terror from the last coast 1t is divided into two parts
of the ruins 80 feet high built OF hewn granite
without mortar looking like some great fortress. 1t is
cOniectured that IL built by the PhRnicans, and
90 tbe of no In