The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-03-13
Tl,e 8utland 9aily 6lohs
MONDAY, MARCH 10, 1876.
Geographical Studies in 1875.

Chief Justice DAILY, president of the
American geographical society, recently
delivered the annual address before that or
ganization. 1t consisted chiefly. of review
of the explorations, discoveries and geo.
graphical work of 1875. A superficial
thought of the matter would probably lead
one to suppose that as few regions of the
earth remained unexplored, the interest
once manifested in geographical expeditions
must have died away. But Judge Days
address shows that at no other time since
the fifteenth century has there been more
interest and activity in geographical dis
coveries than at present. To this end the
various geographical societies formed this
century at Paris. Berlin, London and els-
where, have greatly contributed.
In this country geographical explorations
and labors last year consisted chiefly of
those previously begun-the coast survey
of the United States corps of engineers, the
surveys of the Smithsonian institute, and
the explorations under the direction of the
navy department. and of the department of
the interior. William N. Hall, of the coast
surveying expedition, after careful meas
urements, determined the hight of Mount
st. Elias, in Alaska, to be $500 feet-the
highest mountain in the United States
Mount Fairweather, 1880, and Mount
Crillon, $4,000 Wheelers exploration and
surveys were confined to southern and
south western Colorado, and northwestern
New Mexico. That region is found to be
fertile, we'll timbered, and some parts now
abandoned are susceptible Of high cultiva-
t,p, ,,rOx;JoI 81 ba tad IN
Among the ancient remains Of an old civil
zation discovered was large town, sur
rounded by WALL in New Mexico In
Arizona several of these deserted villages
were seen, perched on high eminepcss, diff
ficult of approach. Pottery lies scattered
about in the vicinity in great abundance,
indicating that large population once in
habited that region. A striking peculiarly
of these ruined cities Is their distance from
water In some instances they are twelve
miles away. 1t is possible, however, that
the water system has greatly changed since
their decay. Prof. Jenny, who made a
careful examination of the Black Hills,
says there is no gold there worth going af-
ter. He describes the hills as rising like
islands out of an ocean of grass aud tree
covered palmer The thousands of miners
rushing to that region seem to think diff
ferently from the professor on the gold
question. Prof. Hsyden's party surveyed
$4,000 square miles in the southwestern
corner OF Colorado. Roads have been con-
structed to the widest districts, and 5000
gold and silver claims have been recorded
within three years. The main party, of
which Hayden's is the second division, ex
plored the southeastern corner of Utah and
region about 200 miles south OF Salt
Lake, having an area of about 5000 square
miles. Interesting relics OF past age have
also been found upon the banks of some of
the Florida rivers. These are mostly brok-
bone and shell. Some of the mounds dis
covered bear marks of extreme age.
Nothing has Of late been heard of Capt.
Mares expedition fitted out by the English
government for the north pole, but great
hopes are entertained of a successful voy-
age. The Russian government likewise
sent one to the arctic regions. as have sew
eral private associations and individuals in
Europe. A Swedish arctic expedition sail
ed along the coast of Siberia, and discover
ed that the mouth of the Obi and Yenessei
rivers are free from Ice in the summer; so
that the products of that country may find
exit by way of her rivers, provided Euro
pean nations take steps to establish com
merce with northern Asia. Little has been
done in Europe. Holland has begun the
work of draining the Zuyder Zee. In Asia
the British Palestine expedition has sur
veyed 4,430 square mids, having but 1900
square miles now to survey. The explora-
tions of Stanley and Cameron in Africa are
among the most remarkable events in the
years history Of geographical discovery.