The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-22
HYPERBOREA.
THE BRITISH ARCTIC EXPEDITION ITS IN
TENDED COST AND RESULT.

THE BRITISH ARCTIC EXPEDITION ITS IN
TENDED COST AND RESULT.
LONDON, Feb. 20, 1876.
Within the next three months an expedition
Will sail from these shores to eudeavor 10 reach
tine North Pole OF our EARTH This expedition, to
be undertaken and provided for by the govern
ment, Is the result OF an agitation which has been
carried on oy the geographers ard scientific men
OF Great Britain since the return or Sir Leopold
McCntock from his well known voyage OF dis
covery In the Fox. oh the 23d OF June, 1865, Cap
tain, now Admiral, Snerard osborn, read before
q large ana enthusiastic gathering OF the Geo.
graphical Society his first paper on the explora-
ton of the North Polar regions. 1t was. however,
no lault OF the gallant Captain that the general
public did not respond to the appeal. Himself an
Arctic explorer, he spoke with knowledge and
confidence. pointing out the reasons Tor under
taking Arctic discovery. explaining the direction
which a Polar expedition should take with the
least risk and the greatest probability of success,
the mode in which such an expedition should be
conducted and the scientific results likely to en-
sue The proposition met with but lukewarm en-
couragement ana IL was not until seven years
later, IN 1872 when the gallant officer made
second effort before the same society, that the
press and the public, which. during the interval,
mad been familiarZed with the Importance OF
Arctic exploration, came forward In his support.
population OF the Royal Geographical Society,
headed by Its President, Sir Henry Rawnson,
waited upon the government IN December and
were received by Mr.. Lowe and Mr.. Goschen,
to whom they explained their views. But
q Ministry which had MIR. Lowe for It's
Chancellor OF the Exchequer was not
likely to look with any favor upon project Tor
spending money for scientific purposes, and in the
next month Sir Henry Rawlinsoa was informed
that the government declined to send out an Arc.
tic expedition that year on the plea that "tne
public revenue had to bear the main burden Of the
expenses OF the operations Entrusted 10 the Chal-
lenger." the leading men among the learned and
scientific bodies were not, however. to be dlscour-
agec by this rebuff. They felt that they had &C.
cured hold upon pubic attention, which would
indorse their efforts and the Geographical Society
united with the Royal Society in drawing up
memorandum on the scientific results to be de-
rived from Arctic exploration and on the reasons
why such researches can best be successfully &C
complished by naval expedition despatched I'M
der government auspices and secured as far as
possible from failure and disaster by careful navl
cation and good discipline. This memorandum
was submitted to Mr.. Gladstone, with a request
that he would receive deputation on the subject.
But the Prime Minister wrote an unsatisfactory
reply. stating vaguely that survey operations had
discovery.
In February, 1874, the Gladstone Ministry re-
signed, and it being considered probable that
their SUCCESSORS, men OF larger views, would be
more readily approached. deputatton, consisting
OF Dr.. Hooker the President OF the Royal Society
Sir Henry RawllnsOn, President OF the Royal Geo.
graphical society," and Admiral Snerard Osborn,
on August l. 1874, had an interview with Mr.. Dis
raen on the subject Of despatching an Arctic ex-
spoken of was submitted TO the Premier. with
otner papers. setting forth the important scientific
and commercial results TO be obtained. The DE.
tals OF the expedition were fully gone into, and
Mr.. Disrae promised TO consider the subject care
fully ana to give an early decision. That decision
was commun lcated to Sir henry kawllnson IN a
personal letter rom the Prime Minister, dated
! November II, 1874. 1t stated That "havlng care.
fully weighed the reasons set IOrth In support Of
| the expedition aud the scientific advantage
success. as We'll as the importance Of
| encouraging that spirit OF maritime enterprise
which mas ever dstinguis aed tins English people,
! Her Majesty's government has determined to lose
no time In ing Suitable expedition ior the
purpose IN view" An Arctic committee, ap-
! pointed by the Lords oil the Admiralty to advise
| them on all subjects connected with the expedl-
tion, consisting o. Admiral Richards Admiral SIR
Leopold McCuntOck and Admiral Sherard osborn,
was at once organized, and under their super
vlsOn the work OF preparation has been zealously
has given TO captain George ). Mares. who was
mate on board the Resolute IN the Arctic expedl.
|
himself by taxing leading part IN slsdge travel.
ing. In lbe spring u 1858 ne travelled over 900
miles IN 81 Gays ana c Ia loa ne oyer IA ssS
miles in SO days. Besides his Polar service
captain Mares mas done valuable work IN sur
Challenger during ner important scientific expedi-
ton, The operations OF when nave made
! Of ocean currents and temperature and he was
recalled from thls command TO take charge OF the
new Arclic expeoItlon. The second ship to be en-
!
tam IA. f. Stephenson recently promoted out or
ADVANCE snip is Commander Albeit II. Markham
ollcer VINO, since he entered the navy, In 1856,
has done excellent service and nd ,,v VINO nm IN
to Prince Regents Inlet. In order to
acquire experience IN ice navigation, the result
Whaling cruise in Baiin's Bay" Lieutenant Pei
ham Aidrlcn, who sheen serving as first lieu
advance ship. The medical star Will consist Of
DR.. Uolan, VINO served with distinction during the
recently IN charge OF tne Esquimanx HOSPITAL IN
Vancouver's Island: Besides the medical
sa each sp VII the Of e ce
quartermasters, selected nom among the most ex-
perienced whaling seamen me crews VIII consist
| Interpreter, named Kari Petersen, who was up
smith sound with Dr. Hayes IL 1890 has , also
| been engaged. Tne complement VIII be about
sixty officers and men for eacn snip.
The exploring vessels nave already been Sc
lected Tne ADVANCE ship Is the Alert, steam
sioop OF l,Ol5 IONS ana ISL morse power. she is
now In Portsmouth dock yard being thoroughly
| strengthened lor ner encounters with the ice aud
ntted with new engines and boilers. The SECOND
snip is the Bloodhound, Dundee whaling steamer,
butt two years ago and purchased by the Adml-
raity. she is also at Portsmouth, being streng tn
| ened and fitted as an exploring ship.
An estimate memorandum OF the
COST OF THE EXPEDITION
has just been issued ny the Honorable Algernon
Egerton, secretary OF the Admiralty. 1t amour s
III total SOS, 620 or this fl7,0s0 Is
allotted for provisions, fl4,090 IL the pur.
chase money Tor the snip IL oodnound,
1850 Tor lights, fl,000 Tor victualling stores,
1850 Tor cnronometers, go 90 for the hydrograph-
zeal department, ana rs 900 the cost OF ntting up
the two ships Ia addition there are sums lh-
Guided IN the navy estimates for 1906, on behalf
OF tue expedition, amounting In the aggregate 10
fl5.943, and the above charges are "excluslve III
pay OF naturalists ana the value OF scientific
stores chargeaDlc 10 the civil service rates." The
total cos OF the expedition II, as IL expected, IL
three years absent viii not be less than ESQ., 600,
and may very possibly be much more.