The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-04-06

lOOu anu supplies; W Keep us HlelHD6rS
informed of events occurring in the out
side world, and bear them news and let
tiers from anxious relatives; to bring back
news of progress made and of private
character to friends; also, if necessary,
to bring back invalided members of the
expedition, and carry out fresh colonies
to take their places. In this way it is
believed the morale of the colony will
be maintained and the physique of its
members kept constantly at the maxi
mum, and the knowledge that this an
nual visit would be made will do much
to alleviate the discomforts of the long
Arctic night and the feeling of isolation
so graphically described by Arctic ex-
plorers."
Would there not be danger of the
extinction of the colony from exposure
during a severe season, or from sud-
den Arctic storm between these annual
visits?''
Capt. Hall spent eight years among
the EsquimauX, and each year found
himself better fitted to withstand the Sc
verify of the Arctic Circle, and the col
ony would, it is believed, in like man
ner become acclimated and eventually
succeed in accomplishing the long
sought end. With few strong, sub
stantial buildings, such as can be easily
carried on shipboard, the members of
the colony can be made as comfortable
and as safe from atmospheric dangers
as are the men of the Signal Service
stationed on the summit of Pixies Peak
and Mount Washington, or the employ
es of the Hudson's Bay Company, sta
toned at Fort York, or elsewhere,
where the temperature of 60 deg. below
zero is not uncommon. good supply
of medicines, a skillful surgeon and
such fresh provisions as could be found
by hunting parties will enable them to
keep off scurvy and maintain as good
sanitary condition as the inhabitants
of Godhaven, in Greenland. Game was
found in fair quantities by the Polaris
party on the Greenland coast, and by
those from the Alert and Discovery on
the mainland to the west, especially in
the vicinity of the last-named vessel,
where fifty-four musk oxen were killed
| during the season, with quantities of
other and smaller game. The coal
found by the Discovery party will rem
der the question of fuel light one, and
| thus remove one of the greatest diff
culties hitherto encountered by Arctic
voyagers."
with the colony established, what is
your programme for the rest of the en-
terprise?'
There seems to be little doubt that
Lady Franklin Bay can be annually
reached by a steam vessel, as Capt. Hall
went as high as Cape Union, between
! 1af nd IL Al.
Polaris, and Capt. Mares still higher
with the Alert. 1t is possible that the
last-named point may be reached with
the vessel, i'll which case coal and pro-
visions could be deposited there to form
a secondary base of operations for the
exploring party. If this latter can be
done, the road to the Pole will be short
ened by about ninety miles in distance
and three weeks or more in time-two
very important items. 1t should be
| clearly understood that the only use to
be made of the vessel which it is hoped
to obtain from the Government is in the
transportation of the men and supplies
to the location of the colony When
this is done the vessel will return to the
United States and await further in
structions. To the eXpeditionary corps
taken from the United States will
be added Il number of EsquimauX
families to serve as hunters, guides,
ETC.. and also an ample number of Es-
quimaux dogs for sledging, and as food
when their capacity for work is gone.
The colony will be kept under the
strictest discipline, and this to end be
formally enrolled in the military serv-
ice, save, perhaps, the strictly scientific
members. By discipline only can such
control be exercised as will be indis-
| pensable to the successful prosecution
OF the work. Enthusiasm and energy
are desirable in the commander: but
GOODNESS of temper, firmness of rule,
persistency of purpose and a well-bal-
anced mind, fertile in resources and
expedients, are indispensable to sue
cess. The outfit of the expedition will
include, among other things, an ample
supply of copper telegraph wire to con-
meet the colony at Lady Franklin Bay
with the subsidiary depot at Cape
Union, and thence northward as far as
practicable. Copper wire is strong,
light, flexible and good conductor,
and can be worked while lying upon the
dry snow or ice without support. The
necessary battery material and instru-
ments will be taken to equip the line,
and the battery left permanently at the
bay station, where, fuel being album
dant, it could be kept from freezing.
A special form of instrument has been
devised for the expedition, by which
the use of battery is dispensed with
entirely, and it is possible that the
acknowledgements telephone may be
applied to advantage 1t should GER
tainly form part of the outfit. Much
attention has been given to the possible
use OF balloons as means of observa-
ton and, perhaps, of exploration
N. Y. Herald.