The New York herald., 1875-12-19
GEOGRAPHICAL AND BOTANICAL OBSERVATIONS.
A Scientists Struggles Against
Accumulated Difficulties.
Mr.. OSCAR DlCESOyS LETTER TO THE HERALD
The New Highway Between Europe and the
Russian ASiatie Empire.

NEW York HERALD
DEAR sIR--Durng the last twenty years a number Of
expeditions have been from Sweden to tie Arctic
for the purpose or Investigating the history
and geology Of the Polar BASIN and penetrating. II
possible, into region hitherto unknown.
THE DuPERENr EXPEDITIONS
The first two OF these expeditions despatched in
1858 and 1861, under the command of NJ Otto Toreu,
and equipped partly by him and partly by the
Swedish government Up TO that time the fora and
fauna and the geology of spitzbergeu almost
known; but through the researches or number Of
specialists (Blomstrand, Malmgren, NordensSold
Duner &c.l, who accompanied expedition
tho natural history OF spitzbergen, an island
which stretches from 76l TO 81 degrees north
latitude, at once became very we'll known. 1t
found that in this part OF the Polar region there
existed very rich and abundant fora and fauna Of the
very greatest importance for knowledge OF the disr
button and the migration or plants and animals tn
Europe, a well as in America A survey made for
the measurement OF OF meridian extending to
four degrees Of latitude t24o miles, the immediate
vicinity OF the Pole which will add important lnforma
lion to our knowledge OF the earth's form
IN 1854
As this survey could not be finished in that year
Qsol the Swedish government, tho instance Of the
Academy OF Sciences at Stockholm, out in 1864
another expedition under my command, which for that
purpose visited besides other places, the storhord
the side OF Sptzbergen. During this expedition
hotan
we're continued, and many important additions to the
knowledge the geology and geography or Spzbergen
were made. Among other things found in Icenord
latitude rs deg 70 minl remains Of r..
GIGANTIC sAURIASs,
showing that early geological periods the Polar
regions Inhabited by animals whose nearest rea-
tons are at present confined the tropics and King
Karls Land on the OF spitzbergen which for
nery known only through the reports OF walrus hunt
ers, was seen for the first time.
coSTISuANcE or THE WORK RESEARCH.
The success Of these expeditions and the importance
their researches for Scandinavia made IL very
desirable that they should be continued For this pur
pose an appeal made by Count Ehrensward to the
rich merchants Gothenburg who Immediately placed
nmy disposal the money necessary for equipping
new expedition with the aim not only OF carrying
our former scientific researches but also Of going dur
ing the autumn by ship far as possible toward the
Pole Thought probable that during that season the
ice would be very much destroyed by the heat or the
summer and the storms and that therefore the sea
would then be more open and navgable than at other
times and the result OF the expedition confirmed my
opinion.
THE HIGHEST NORTH.
on the 10th OF September succeeded in attaining
by ship almost the eighty degree OF latitude
that is farther north than any previous expeditions by
ships. Some years later, however we surpassed
10y your celebrated compatrot, Hall But at our turn
ing point there still remained about 500 miles the
Pole the hitherto unattained aim OF all the Polar
petitions; aud expecting stin later tho TO
ind the sea more open, renewed the attempt on the
4th or October in the same year From a barbor at
eighty degrees we started farther northward and in
few hours reached eighty one degrees But violent
storm soon came on. Our ship
THROWN BY AN IMMENSE WAVE
on an iceberg and had large hole knocked her side
Just on the water line. Thanks to the presence Of
mind OF the Captain the vessel Baron Won otter at
present Minister or the Marine or swcdenl and to the
excellent Swedish iron or which the vessel was con-
sructed we we're all saved and were able to reach an
anchorage coast Of spitzbergcn where the
damage was repaired. Later in the same autumn We
RETURNED TO swEDES
with geological botanical and especially geological
collections or great Importance, and with the fact that
even during the favorable Of the year Il
was impossible 10 reach the Pole in ship result
which, however, has not been recognized by the cee-
brated geographer Petermann who stl maintains with
great warmth the theory OF
AZ orES SEA
around the Pole. Tho geographical authorities Of
Sweden did not share this opinion and controversy
ensucd which induced me again to renew the attempt
30 60 70 the pole from spitzbergen but this time by
going over the ice with sedges by dogs
deer
who had largely contributed TO the expenses Of our
former expeditions again furnished or the money
for this new expedition, which, however, also
couraged by the government The Academy o
Sciences furnished the expedition with large number
Of all sorts OF instruments and rich collection o
centiac works Altogether the library Of our winter
station consisted or nearly 1000 volumes. Il was my
intention 70 winter
OK sKyEH ISLANDS,
At 40 deg 40 min north latitude, and 70 go thence OF
a lea northward But 70 be able from there TO pene
- .a..h + 80, that IA waa tndispe nsa