The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1877-01-24

found a temporary colony at Discovery
harbor in Lady Franklin bay, and to make
this the base of operation from which ex-
ploring parties should be sent out toward
the pole whenever the weather and other
conditions are most favorable. Should these
parties have succeeded in advancing some
distance, other places of shelter could be
erected and maintained until from these
still further progress could be made. The
VOYAGES of Captain Hall and others have
proved that Discovery harbOr can be reached
with hardly any more difficulty to vessels
than is frequently incurred by whalers
cruising in these waters Suitable buildings
for shelter provisions clothing and other
necessary supplies for the main
tenance OF the colony could be
brought out on the vessel selected for the
expedition. and an annual visit could and
should be made to the colony 10 provide
fresh supplies and afford encouragement
and relief. Captain HOwgate suggests that
the officers commanding should be expert
enced in arctic navigation and travel, ener-
getic and competent 20 maintain proper
discipline, and prevent the recurrence of
such dissensions and quarrels that brought
disaster and failure to the POlariS party
after Captain Halls death. The men EN-
ployed should be physically sound. so that
they may better withstand the rigor OF an
arctic climate Esquimaux should be added
taken from the southern part Of Greenland.
The severity of the extreme northern eli
mate is generally very much exaggerated.
To parties sheltered, it is no more trying
than that experienced by the signal service
observer on Mount Washington and Pixies
Peak, or people on the northwestern plains,
where temperature of 40 TO 30 degrees is
of not so very rare occurrence. Whalemen,
who DIV circumstances were forced to winter
in the arctic region, assured me that the
life during their involuntary confinement
there was far less disagreeable and trying
than anticipated. October 20, 1871, Captain
Hall wrote from latitude 50 degr. 3 min.
north as follows
We find this much warmer country than
We expected. From Cape Alexander the
mountains on either side of the Kennedy
channel and Robson strait we find entirely
bare of snow and ice, with the exception OF
a glacier that we saw covering about latitude
500 30 east side of the strait, and extending
east northeast as far as can be seen from the
mountain by POlaris bay. We have found
that the country abounds with life; and
seals, game ducks, musk cattle rabbits,
wolves, foxes bears, partridges. Our sailors
have shot two seals in open water, while at
this encampment."
To further this plan of polar colonization,
q clause has been entered in the sundry civil
appropriation bill which appropriates $4,000
for the purpose of sending one or more ex-
petitions to the north pole, and to establish
a temporary colony. for the purposes OF ex-
ploration; to detail officers or persons of the
public service to take part in the expedition,
and the use of any suitable public vessel and
the scientific operations are to be prosecuted
in accordance with the advice of the nation
al academy of science.
Should the necessary means be procured
by public assistance, and as a great interest
is taken in the subject, especially in the
east a great probability exists that private
purses will be opened, and expeditions will
be organized and sent off during the coming
spring. WAP