New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-11-30
GEOGRAPHICAL INTERESTS.

a SECOND RECEPTION AT The NEW ROOMS OF TIE
GEOGRAPHICAL soCIETY-PAPERs BY ALEXAN-
DER HUMBOLDT V. d. HORCK AND THE HON.
MANUEL NJ. PERALTA.
A second reception was given last evening
BIZ the American Geographical Society al s new rooms
at No II West Twenty -ninth-st Many prominent mem
bels OF tie society we're present and large number Of
ladies and gentlemen to whom special invitations had
been sent The meeting was in large degree informal
but carefully prepared paper read by Alexander
Humboldt V. Horck OF Berlin upon his recent journey
60 the sptzbergen seas After recountng the expe-
reuces and discoveries OF the voyage he discussed the
value of Arctic explorations It had been asserted since
the return Of the Alert and the Discovery that there
not enough Of Importance 70 science or commerce In the
Arctic regions TO warrant the vast expenditure Of an
expedition. Bat IL had been definitely proved that
amid the unexpOred mysteries Of these regions were
to be- the TO many questions OF science as
yet undecided. In anthrOpO.ogy important results might
be looked for from Arctic explorations. The ID
habitinc the extreme North becoming objects of the
highest interest, since it was debatabe question
whether they were OshOOts Of certain races living IN
the temperate zones who had degenerated under
climatic influences and the peculiar conditions which
surrounded them whether their physical and psychic
logical pecuiarites were typical of distinct The
geological results Of Polar exploration would thus be Of
the greatest value There the evidences OF life un
DERIVING glacial period the organic remains discOv
cred In the rocks revealing facts OF great
importance 10 geology, giving evidence that
there had existed in the past a highly developed
and luxuriant vegetation. In all the branches
OF the science OF physics experiments the Pole were
the most desirable because OF the intense activity Of
natures forces there In meteorOOgy precise knOwl
edge Of the distribution OF land and water within the
Polar areas essential in order to understand how far
the climate and atmospheric conditions OF the globe
Affected by it. Laying aside all these questions Of scen
tfc significance, the simple desire TO complete the
geographical knowledge of the earth would be a suf
Gent incentive 10 enter upon this unknown region And
with the experience gained by tue failures of the past
together With the improved methods for scientific in
VestgatOns, need b0 thought impossible pene
erate these sOtudes
The Hon. Manuel NJ. Peralta, Minister Resident of
Costa Rlca short paper upon the projected canal
across the Isthmus OF Daren he said that OF all the
public and private undertakings made toward the
plishment % this great enterprise the which the
scientific world had considered the most complete
those made 10y rider OF the United States Government
The Washington Commission after careful consideration,
was the most practicable With this determination
she project was removed from the sphere Of speeu-
latiOn and placed In that of practical action.
great public OF this kind ougt 20 be neutral and
this was stipulated by treaty between the United States
and Great Britain, and the other maritime Powers
disposed 90 recognize the neutrality OF the nef
Canal OF the countries most interested Ia this
neutrality and Ia thesgenera success OF the enterprise
were the States Of Costa Riea and Nicaragua through
Governments OF these two republics had always
shown their anxiety 20 promote w9rk OF such
Iecognized importance TO the commerce. o. she WOfd
The Republic OF Costa Rica extending along the border
of the canal would recognize its neutrality,
and would extend that privilege TO any territory lying
within the sovereignty Of the republic necessary 70 rs
use or protection. Any enterprise which obtained the
Uuppoyt OF the maritime Powers and Of Nicaragua would
Do accepted and supported BY Costa es, for the inter