The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-27
ADMIRAL PORTER'S VIEWS.

COMPREHENSIVE AND PRACTICAL REVIEW OF
THE NEEDS OF ARCTIC EXPLoRERs-THE
NECESSITY OF DISCIPLINE AND SPECIAL
EQUIPMENT.
WASHINGTON, Feb. "a. 1878.
To rHE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
/ beg leave 10 acknowledge the receipt OF your
communication asking my views in relation to
the expediency OF fitting out another expedition
from the United states TO the North Pole-whether
Congress should provide for it, now 1t should be
conducted, &c.
Ny views on this subject are OF no greater i'm
portance than those OF any other person. and I
cannot suppose that their expression will be OF
the least benefit sucn an enterprise, as am not
in a position where / could assist II In any way.
These expeditions have generally originated with
private individuals, the government seldom taking
the lead.
Congress has, however ALWAYS been liberal In
aiding such explorations, and, 1 presume viii
continue TO be so until the North Pole is nnaly
reached therefore the friends OF these enterprises
need feel no anxiety on that account.
! have always supposed that after the success Of
Captain Hall in alta ming high a latitude that
smother expedition would soon follow. The errors
committed IN HaPs expedition would naturally
be avoided By his successor, and the leader OF
party following in Captain Halls route would be
likely to get much farther north than he did.
I do not think any expedition Will succeed where
the vessels are not Quilt on purpose for the SER
vice. Hi nerto wnen we have undertaken any ex-
petitions 1t has been IN vessels unsuitable Tor
Arctic explorations. We nave had llqntships,
pilot boats clipper barks and tugboats, all essen
TALLY different in construction, and none Of them
quilt 10 encounter ice or endure the strain when
suipped" ana thrown out OF water on to the ice.
Some OF the vessels must Fave been very i'm
proper Tor such service, and II is my decided
Impression that they all were. From the iact
however, that or vessels so unsuitable nearly ell
returned without serious injury, 1 am satisfied
that the dangers OF Arctic explor alton are much
less than commonly supposed.
Captain Hairs vessel was the best for the pur.
pose ever fitted out In this country. as she mad
steam power, which ] consider indispensable Tor
IN exploring vessel In the Arctic regions, but the
form OF her null was altogether unsuitable.
All such vessels should be built so that the Ice
instead OF closing in upon them ana crushing
their SIDES should Wedge under aud hit them
from the water without straiuing. Their BOWS
should be so constructed as TO go up partially on
the ice instead OF striking II with straight deep
stem.
THIS is the plan adopted In ,he construction OF
iceboats and the same principle holds good for the
Arctic regions. especially at the time when a YES
sci encounters 'noes' when such construction
could pass through by breaking the ice down, but
on which a straight stem would have no effect.
am OF opinion mat no expedition will be sue
cessul unless the sTictest naval discipline Il
maintained and, therefore, ia future explorations
a naval onicer should command, with officers and
seamen taken rom ne navy.
40 not mean TO reflect on the energy and intel
usence OF any other class but 1t is only necessary
60 rene Der the trouble on board tue Polaris ol
want OF strict discipline TO Justify me in thus
opinion.
Arctic exploration is mucn easier now than u
was twenty years ago; we know more OF the DIM
culties TO be encountered and the means by winch
they may be overcome. Provisions are now pre-
pared OF such good quality that the explorers need
sever taste salted food during The whoie cruise.
Hence that terrible scourge, the scufvy, need not
De spprenended.
The proper way for attaining the North Pole Is
~ tAe expeditions from tue different countries to