The New York herald., 1875-03-01

when tnere Is necessarily Q large amount OF ices
and possibly, ON the American side. great
archipelago which Will render navigation dltncult
and precanOus with respect to the currents.
THE POLAR CLIMATE.
doubt whether the currents beyond the region
already known have any influence in the modilca-
tion oil the temperature OF the air or upon the
formation OF ice. ana, from what Is known. find
nothing TO support the theory that the Gulf Stream
OF the Atlartlc and the Kuro silva, warm
Japanese current OF the Pacific, are continued to
the Pole, where they have been supposed to meet,
and by the mingling and diffusion OF their warmth
produce an open Polar sea. 1t Is, however, l
think. true, whatever may be the cause. AS
to the north oeyond-say latitude rs deg
tho climate ts somewhat modified, ana the
probability is that the belt OF extreme cold lies
be met with which, although not by any
means temperate. is not SO severe but
that open water may exist at times,
to greater or less extent. l have confess, lit
tie latin IN vessel being able to reach the Pole,
bur believe that 1t may be reached by dog sledRes
or IN boats. This impression, however. IS founded
simply upon what Is known, for 1t may be, under
favorable circumstances, that the Pole can be
reached by vesSel.
GOVERNMENT EXPEDITION URGED
1t u to be regretted, after SO much was achieved
by the Polaris-or the scientific results alone jus.
THY the expedltion-that our government should
be 90 inert In the matter of Polar exploration.
The route now conceded as Offering the greatest
advantages IS the one opened up by
the successive explorations OF our country
men, Kane, Hayes and Hail. 1t has Deen
especially the American route, and as q nation we
stand high before the world from what we have ac-
complshed In this direction. THIS has not been
chlen5 due to the government. 1t has sent out
but one expedition, that OF Hail. The various ex-
petitions Of Kane and Hayes were due to the
public spirit and pecuniary means OF private cit
izens the aid given TO them by the government
being comparatively little, and even in the Hall
expedition Congress did not avail itself OF the
services OF our own distinguished Arctic ex-
plorers. nor even secure the requisite discipline
by placing It under q naval officer, but in.
trusted the command to Captain Hail.
who had never been in the Arctic
had never been farther than Frobisher's
Straits and, not being seaman, was unacquainted
with navigation. 1t is gratifying to find that an
ofacer Aolding the nigh official position Of Ad-
mirai Porter thinks favorably OF an American ex-
pedtion and II Congress would before Its adjourn.
ment make the necessary appropriation, there
would yet be time to despatch an expedition by
next June to reach the Greenland coast, and
avail itself Of the very earliest opportunity to PEN
citrate the Ice in the upper region of Bafdns Bay,
and reach Smith Sound by the middle OF August,
when, according to previous experience. there Ii
the least obstruction from the ice.
NATIONAL PRIDE OF ACHIEVEMENT.
The world Is interested only In the tact that the
Pole should be discovered, and 1t is immaterlal
BY what nation. The nation. however by which
this the great geographical undertaking OF age
shall be achieved will be honored in all future time
and, after having done so much In the exploration
OF what s now believed 10 be the nearest route to
the Pole, think 1t Will be Q matter OF regret to
our whole people that our government from in.
difference should leave to another nation what
was nearly within our grasp. No complaint has
been made that our government. like England, Ger.
many and AUSTRIA having interested itself In Polar
explorations; but l think. on the contrary, that
our people have given mnch attention to this sub.
jeot and are In favor of following up what we have
already attained.
DISCIPLINE.
It Is desirable that the expedition should be sent
by the government provided 1t Is sent under the
direction Of the Navy Department. in such man
ner a. 70 secure the proper discipline; II not then
by q private enterprise. The expedition OF Dr.
Hayes In $780, which. under great obstacles. ac-
complished very important results, was by private
enterprsH4, and one on which the most effective
discipline was preserved. Not Q single instance
Of characterization occurred, and It was peril.
nenty said after the return OF tie Polars that If
Congress had given the command Of the
weasel to him the conduct OF officers
and men, instead OF being investigated
as q matter OF necessity at Washington, would
have been disposed OF under the lee OF an eberg.
SO far as the Navy Department was concerned,
everything was done to secure the success Of the
Polaris to which ana the existence OF o favorable
season, 1t owed all that 1t achieved, for 1t was
practically at an end as soon as 1t encountered
an obstruction. conversed last summer In Lon
don with some OF the most distinguished Of the
Arctic explorers, who after fully considering the
facts, were Of the opinion that the expedition
could have got further north ir proper effort had
been made, and 1t Is under that conviction tnaS
the present English expedition Is 10 be sent out
REAoHIN0 THE POLE ON sLEIGHs.
Isee by the letter oil DR.. Hayes in the HERALD
on the 25th inst, who has had very great expert
ence sedge travelling, that he believes, even If
the North Pole cannot be reached by ship, that
1t can be by sleds or boats, provided there Is o
sufficient force OF men-an opinion entitled to
very great weight, as well as his opinion that q
base OF operations should be provided by estab-
fishing permanent depot OF supplies. TO be an.
nually kept mp.
As respects the Geographical Society, / am sure
It will heartily cooperate in any expedition,
whether undertaken by the government or pri-
vate enterprise. am not prepared to say that IL
will be Ia Its power to give any pscuniary assist
ance 1t has not, like some OF the chief geo.
graphical societies OF Europe, received any pc.
cuniary aid from government, nor has II, Ike
many of the European societies. been the re.
cipient of liberal assistance from pubnc spirited
citizens, spprecating its objects and contributing
means to enable them to be carried out.
With these views, rather hastily expressed, I
am, &c. CHAS. p. DAILY
President OF the American Geographical Society.
THE NEWARK SUICIDE.