The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-07-15

Arctic Bircle. 1t is a subject that has oc-
cupied fair share of attention lately. Re-
quest for Congressional aid to found sys-
tenn of Arctic colonies. the departure of
another franklin search expedition and the
projected voyage Of the steamer Jeanette,
are SO many indications that the indifferent
achievements of the past in Arctic discovery
are not accepted as final defeat; and the
views Of one who, in virtue OF his studies,
may fairly declare opinions with authority,
cannot but prove of interest on topic OF
some Importance in all civilized countries
DR.. Petermann's opinions on Arctic ex-
ploration and discovery, and the theories OF
various schools of Arctic study, have the
same value as his views on any other properly
geographical problem. They approach
nearer to ripe judgments, based on an am
pie and unprejudiced examination OF all
the facts, than do the opinions of any other
problems are discussed with Arctic naviga-
tors-men who have made voyage or more
in the frozen Polar world--they add to our
knowledge from the ample stores of expert
ence acquired on one or another route; they
know the shores of this or that channel,
and in all that they have not seen they have
a misty faith. With the learned men Of
geographical societies we find that they
sympathize with the achievements of the
navigators of their respective countries,
and have commonly constructed theories on
the partial results of single voyages, and are
ever ready to darken counsel with knowl-
edge-that is, with minute acquaintance of
some detail, protruded on all occasions,
they obstruct the endeavor to reach view
based on a complete comparison Of all that
is actually known. fi
1t seems to us that in the interview we
print the liberal and enthusiastic scholar
of Gotha proves himself superior to the
common causes of disagreement in regard
to Arctic exploration by the fact that all his
enthusiasm is for discovery and not for one
or another route thereto. He can see the
actual additions that have been made in
our knowledge of the Polar world by every
effort to reach the Pole, no matter by whom
or when or where the effort was made and
cannot lay upon any expedition that has
cause, while none has reached the Pole,
and they are all equal in that respect. there
has not been one but has increased the
store Of knowledge that must be accumu-
lated before success will be gained at last.
This is generous view Of the case toward
many efforts that have not excited great adj
miration. but no one who considers the SUBJ
al
that it is strictly just. Unfortunately views
of this large and scientific nature can never
prevail in regard to any investigation
until they are too late to affect the
action they might direct. 1t cannot be
doubted that the science of chemistry
as it stands arose out of the strange
mass OF facts accumulated by the old
alchemists in their insane search for the
philosophers stone As the result OF their
labors the world possesses what is worth
infinitely more than the treasure they
sought but if they could have believed in
their experiments that each was to fail in
his grand search for that stone and only
contribute his guess to the founda-
ton OF o science, they would have
crushed their crucibles and retorts
with one consent. So the instigators
of Arctic expeditions have believed that
each was to grasp the prize of the one great
discovery, and it needed that stimulus to
move them Had they thought that each
was but to add the knowledge of some cur
rent the latitude Of some headland, the
whereabouts Of bay, that modest achieve
ment would not have tempted their en-
deavors; yet from all these scraps of knowl-
edge generalized We shall have at last q
science of Polar geography worth far more
than any single achievement, however
splendid.
Dr. Petermann has no doubt that the Pole
Will some day be found to use his own
words--'No more doubt than that we have
found the Congo" He further holds that
snow that the Congo and the Nile sources
have been settled this is the one great
thing that remains to be DONE Here is
the case distinctly presented as the prize
for ambition. II any explorer proposes in
these times to reach for the highest honors
that remain to be gained in enlarging
the commou hho"ieuSo Va sHo Suii"oo
of the earth, it is the opinion of
the best informed of scientific geogra-
pliers that he must direct his labors
to the Arctic Circle. But this scholar is
moreover as distinct in his declaration Of
the way to do what remains as in his faith
that it will be done He has his preference
for certain routes above others; but it is not
preference founded on prejudices that re-
late to personal experience. but preference
derived from consid eration of the geo.
graphical result worked out on charts OF all
that has been done. Certainly if any
preference may be said to have scientific
claims TO regard it is q preference of this
nature. Had scholar acquainted
with what we now know of the