The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1878-04-24
A Popular ProiecI.

For many years the hope of finding CONNER
cially useful northwest passage was enough to
justify to the masses the cost and risk OF polar
exploration Before that hope was dissipated
the humane desire to fad SIR John Franklin or
the remnant Of his lost crew kept public interest
alive to the need if not the value of Arctic ex-
petitions. Both these objects failing, there re-
mained only the possibility of glory to be won or
some indefinite promise of, advantage to science
to be gained through polar observations. For
the first the public cared little for the second it
was st best very doubtful whether the profit
would justify the cost. And to the pertinent
question, What IS the use OF spending more
money and risking more lives iu that direction I?
the advocates of Arctic exploration had little TO
answer that the unseientIfc could appreciate.
But now. thanks TO weather warnings, signi-
dcaut change has come over public feeling 90 this
point. The most popular project IN Congress
and out, at this time, Is Howgate's scheme for
the scientific exploration Of the regions abOut the
North Pole. Committees of both Houses Of
Congress have made reports decidedly faSoring
the project while prominent commercial and
scientific men everywhere have expressed their
appreciation OF the undertaking.
Formerly when scientific men insisted that
polar observations might be helpful to the science
OF meteorologyr the quick retort was, - What Of
that1r MsteoroIogy was then the science that
showed tbs least promise Of usefulness. The idea
that Il could ever be serviceabie through weather
forecasting bad nos been preached, or, If it had
been timidly suggested, was received With de-
rision- The very Scriptures pronounced against
it. Wherefore, then. should human life and
public treasure be sacrificed to no good purposei
Bat once again in the history Of science the
Incredible has come 10 pass The seemingly use
less has proved to be of the utmost value.
Weather prophecy has risen almost to the dig
nifty OF 8 governmental bareau, and Affairs OF
national mpOrtanee-sgriealture and Commerce,
social and political moEeneats-are largely regu-
lated with reference TO the daily report Of
probabilities" Ard as fast a. men come TO
understand that Arctic observations are neces-
sary for the perfection Of our already enormously
useful weather service, they cease TO look upon
Polar explorations a. something akin TO fool
hard Eentares0msness or scientific folly. The
advancement Of meteorological science IS now
something that appeals 10 every mans everyday
interests and when the exDoueuts Of the science
say that the great weather factory OF the north
ern hemisphere may lie around the Pole, and that
the causes Of many Of oar most destructive
storms may be there a. work. the reply L. - Go
and see, and good luck 60 With you II yoa
want money for the work you shall have IT." 1t
il yet-thOugh it may not always be-inPossible
10 prevent disastrous storms bat the damage
they do can be largely prevented through timely
Saraing Of their approach. And it Is possible
that Ho=gzts'= colonies may be converted into
permanent international meteorological stations,
reporting daily BY telegraph, aud 50 be euor-
mO1sly beneficial TO commerce, agriculture, and
Other Industries, even if they should utterly fail
on the score Of mere geographical exploration |
At any rite the scheme meets the hearty eppro-
baton OF al thosghtfaI people. and It Is TO Be |
hoped that the proposed appropriation for it, |
fartherancs viii be sufficiently liberal.