The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-26
GEOGRAPHICAL.
Address Of Judge DAILY on the Geographical
Work Of 1874.
PHYSICAL PHENOMENA OF THE YEAR.
Or. Hayes on the Projected Expedition to the
North Pole.

president, Chief Justice DAILY. In point OF new
and valuable Information It was lar superior
10 any heretofore delivered before the society,"
On connection with his description OF the explora-
lions IN the Arctic regions, stereoptc0n views
were introduced oil photographs taken by the
Austrian expedition ana o. sections OF the map
of the Arctic circle, published In the HERALD yes
terday morning. which the Judge pronounced ex'
cellent. At eight O'Clock he meeting was called
30 order by Colonel p. A. ConEln, and the usual
routine business OF the soclet y quickly trans
acted.
CHIEF JUSTICE DALY's ADDRESS.
Judge Daily then proceeded to the delivery OF
the annual address, his subject being "The Geo.
grapnical WORK Of the world in 1874" Commence
sng by reference to the physical phenomena OF the
year, he said
past year have been atmospheric disturbances,
such as typhoons. cyclones am hurricanes, un-
eAampled Tor many years III ther violence and de-
etructive enects. Great ra,ntslis IN certain parts
OF the earth, followed by enormous and damaging
cedenteo masses OF snow. Extreme cold during
the past and present winter and earthquake
triouted, but with one exception, not
as violent In their en- racter, nor injurious In
their effects, as the Ike phenomena IN the past
Jew years. OF these may mention the preat ty-
puoon which on The night and morn ng OF toe 22d
tnvolvlng she loss more than 900 hves and
lue destruct on O vast amount Of property.
Gouniry rom the Gull states TO the lakes and
along the Atantic coast from virginia to Nova
n nd torm ae 1owh Ne N Ne
cOast IN May; the q olms, tornadOes and eXtraor-
binary raln-alls throughout The Sou'nern and MID.
ole States III June and July, attended by the great
Moods at Pittsourg and Allegheny CITY, by
~ len 200 lives were los, ana by the lorna
docs which destroyed the town Of Tampco, IN
Illinois, and produced the loss o.! lie and properly
An the valley Of the Juniata. The hurricane In
pamaca. The disastrous storm on the coast OF
Nova Scotia ana the terrific gales on the coast OF
Great Britain ana scotland. Tue damage done by
nne rise OF the thames III March and the destrnc-
zion OF plantations IN Aprn Oy the rise and over
nov oil the Mississippi Destructive floods In
India III August, and IN the same month the great
hood at Lerlia. IN Spain, which swept away 200
naoltations. The immense snowfall In Persia,
= nich extended over the whole country accom-.
panied Nv winter OF EXTRAORDINARY severity,
the rainIaa reached tue unparailelsd HEIGHT
Seldom EXCEEDING iws inches WHICH was roowed
by the overflow OF the rleris and the great food
and 5y tie hoods 1nat destroyed o1e-,S,rd Of
bhiraz and injured other towns. The great
whole OF Northern Asia; the falling OF great
masses OF snow during the present WINTER In the
lumber OF lcebergs seen in the Atlantic; the hall
storm In Southern France, extending over 200
1niles WI oreaata oi Two niles when which was
haiistones oeIng as oR as marbles; slignt erup-
zion Of Mount Etna. continuation OF The eruption
Di Mamma Loa IN Hawan; the Destruction by an
earthquake OIL Antigua ana some smaller tow MS
A. Guatemala, aud shocks or disturbances from
earthquake IN Vera Cruz, ST. Thomas Ecuador.
Porto Rico, Mexico Titan, North carolina, Scot
bano, Inspruck IN switzerland, smyrna, Constantt
DOpOle and CeyiOn.
Alusion then was made to the observations
npon tue transit OF Venus, when show tnat the
distance rom the earth TO the sun Is less tnan
heretoiure computed, and Is now placed at
81 900, 900 OF miles, TO the discoveries made con-
corning the sea and the oceau currents and to
the various theories OF scientific men concerning
1Dem.
Nni.r1 Illhf wnrln IA Vtnn q %
given an account, has been, curing the early part
o. the year, IN the Antarctic Circle, winch sne
amInlng many Islands she has. during the Residue
ri TIE year. been exp.0rlng in the Eastern seas
end the Malay Archipelago with most satisfactory
GEOGRAPHICAL WORK IN THE UNITED STATES.
Hhe mOst Important, the coast survey, has been
continuen. The Smithsonian Institute has during
hhe last, as in every year, prosecuted those In
p national institution It's hgh Character, and the
Hydrographic once. together with It 0tner gen
eial work, has continued the publications for the
preservation An difusiOn OF knowledge respect
nDg tue ocean and It's nav1auon wnlch are SO
rreditaole to our government.
The laoors OF the Engineer corps during the
past year I'LL two bulky volumes, comprising the
report Of It's distinguished chief General A. A.
1ne Improvement Of naroors and rivers, the
survey vi transportation routes to the sea board,
River WITH a view OF obtaining a sulilclent depth
OF water Tor the construction or ship canal
from the river to the Gull OF nexico, or deepen.
outlets being wholly insu1lcienG 10 meet the
wants Of the Increasing comnerce Of the
for the reclamation OF toe alluvlal basin
OF the Mississippi River now subject to
1nundation: the continuation OF the survey OF the
nortnern and northwestern lakes; surveys Tor
military maps; surveys Ior tue irrigation OF some
O the great valleys In California geological recon-
noissance in parts OF Western Nevada and adjacent
California, and geographical explorations Ia the
ea sss G. NJ Whse stDu Major - W. BarIow,
Captain ". A. Jones, Lieutenant +. h. Rnflner and
Captain LuGow Tnese we're noIo o N s Gsta
geological and geographical survey Of the Territor-
les under Professor +. I. HAYDEN, and the various
discoveries made indicating tnat much OF what Is
NOW little batter than desert waste Was formerly
she nome OF an agricultural people. acquainted
with many OF the arts II peace, were el0quently
and graphically described. In speaking OF the
ARCTIC EXPLORATIONS.
The arctic events OF the year has heen there
turn OF the ofncers and crew OF tue Tegetnof OF
the Austrian expedition. and the important dis-
cnes II eneountered the dis
played, the discipline maintained and the success
achieved, IS about as heroic as any thing that has
occurred 10 the history o! arctic exploration.
tTneir furtheet northern journey was on the l2th
Iof last April when they followed the coast to 81
comparatively free from ice. They saw land In
the distance, which seemed to stretch beyond the
1and. the farthest known upon the gooe, they
most appropriately called after Petermann, the as
finguished and interchangeable German geograpner.
On the goth OF May tney mad to abandon the ves-
Sell leaving In her Their journals, and with sledges
and Doats they undertook the return journey,
which lasted over three MONTHS the trials and
hardships Of which were exceedingly great; until
1t last in the mouth OF the PuhOva river, they fell
In on the path OF August last, with q Russian
schooner, py which they we're conveyed TO varsoe
IN Norway.
1t is impossible to speak In terms too landa tory
OF the discipline, the hgn purpose, Inc calm cour-
age and unyielding perseverance, that disttn-
gushed this expedition on the part OF both ON
GERS and men. Not q single instance OF insubor-
dination occurred, and the intelligence, patience
and unity OF action That were displayed con trasts
at v WI
ineffective discipline on board the Polarn In our
own expedition.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL DISCOVERIES
Judge DAILY referred to the dispute now going ON
In reference TO The ancient site OF Troy, and ex-
pressed his opinion that the value OF the dis.
COverIos made In the excavations on the reputed
site are found In the 2O O00 objects discovered in
which We have records which carry US back to tno
childhood OF the world. Alluson was also maze
to the excavations made during the year In
France, In Pompeu and elsewhere and the results
described.
Tue e xnlaras iana In ALA reoeiYed largo atten {.