Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1875-03-11
Another Arctic Expedition.

Awashington dispatch says IL II pro-.
posed TO provide . small sum in the
Standby Civil Appropriation hill for an
Arctic expedition. Tho Secretary Of the
Navy favors IL also q number OF Soma
tors and members. The Navy Depart
msnt will DO authorized by tho bill to
provide and at a proper ship and ma
Il with officers and men already under
pay and awaiting sea duty. Tbs extra
expense will not Be moro than $4,000.
but Il 10 proposed TO take action by the
Government. contingent on private sub
sonptions 10 the amount OF vi. 000.
The President Of the Geographical So
ciety says Il will heartily cooperate In
any expedition. whether undertaken by
b. the Government or private enter
prise. Tho very bad luck OF tho
last Government expedition to the
Artic. when poor Hall met his
death. will probably prevent many
people from looking with favor on the
idea Of another expedition. On the other
hand, the success Of the Austrian party
last year II An incentive 10 the Govern.
ment 10 maintain an honorable position
In the history of Arctic research. Its
not In Keeping With the American CHAR
actsr 10 back cut because obstacles are
gresA. bot 70 sndsavor 70 overcome than.
An English expedition treasured by the
results accomplished by the Austrians,
has been formed; and altar tho United
States has spent % much money, and
lost 90 many valuable lives, the Govern
ment does not like 10 retire from the
neld and acknowledge itself defeated,
more especially. since IL now has Arctic
possessions - Alaska. There is one
thing, however. that va think should
bs inquired into. That Ia, the fsasibiii-
~ Of attempting to reach the much
talked OF ''open polar sea" by trying on
this side Of the continent. The obsta-
clcs on the other side are great
and difficult TO DO overcome. We
all know what and where they are.
A beaten path IL laid out, aud the only
difference in many OF the expeditions
wAs a. TO whore they were frozen in,
and how far north they got. No Al
tempt has been made on this side. Tho
young Frsnchman Pavy. who came here
. few years ago 70 start up ON this side.
never made the attempt; simply. how
ever, from lack Of means. A. the time
he was in this city the writer heard him
give, before the Academy OF Sciences,
bis reasons for believing that an cxpsdi-
ton would b moro successful which
made an attempt TO reach the open pelar
sea by going mp through Behring'S
Straits. His argument vas good. and
the plan wa looked upon rs very rsas-
enable BY those familiar with tho sub
iect. Il seems 70 rs. accordingly. but
proper that the Government should take
into consideration the fact that no at
tempts have ever boon made on this side
Of the continent 10 solve the questions
which Arctic expeditions are expected 10
solve. The majority Of people do not
500 the benefit Of such expeditions al
all, but scientific men and other
searehsrs after knowledge do not like 70
rest on hard earned but insufficient re-
suits. without solving the whole prob
lem. Accordingly expeditions will con-
tinue 10 Be- sent, in all probability. IN
Ill all questions concerning the North
Pole are at rest. We have perhaps
learned al We svsr shall Of Sir John
Franklin and his msn. But the ''North-
west passage" the open polar SEA. and
what lies beyond. must DO studied up.
Perhaps whom governments got tired OF
trying to nnd . passage through the icy
barriers Of The North on the other aide,
some one Of thsm will send an eIpe-
diton 70 tho North Pacific and attenpt
10 learn the mysteries Of the Arctic by
taking . new road. There 10 no ques-
but that the idea should be investiga-
ted by those In authority. and some
steps taken 10 sss What could DO accom-
=. Nisiae and Scientific
Pres, karcA l6n. q q l. |