The Leavenworth weekly times., 1879-06-26
TIMELY TOPICS.

With tempersture such az We bave had
in Leavenworth about noon yesterday, it if
pleasant TO read that the Bennett Arctic
Expedition will sail from San Francisco in
the course of a few days. This is an expe,
dition fitted out by the enterprising pro-
prie.or OF the New York Herald, and its
mission, as of similar expeditions which
have preceded it, is to find out something
about the unknown region-eight hundred
miles across at its nsrrowest point-which
surrounds the north pole.
One Of the most satisfactory Of all recent
Polar expeditions has been that sent out
by the SRedish Government, in charge OF
Professor Nordenskjold. The steamship
Yea, in which the expedition sailed, was a
few days ago reported to have finished the
voyage along the northern shores of Europe
and Asia; and she is now plowing her way
through the China seas homeward bound,
to complete the circumnavig stion of the two
continents. But the highest latitude
reached by the Vega was only ~ 40. The
practical results Of the expedition, aside
frorl their scientific value, have been un-
important. 1t has been determined that
water exists east of he northernmost point
OF Asia, where land appeared on the charts,
and it has also developed some remote c5m-
mercial possibilities.
The Je1nastts, Bsnneits ship, will carry
the first strictly Polar expedition setting
out from the Pacific and attempting TO push
forward to the North Pole by the wsy OF
Behriug Strait. NJ vessel has penetrated
further north through Behring Strait than
latitude .O'. Beyond that parallel the ex-
plorers will encounter Al unknown region.
A brauch Of The Suro Shiwo, or japanese
Warm Stream, is known to enter the Arctic
Ses through BehriDg Strait, and it ia be-
iieved thai il emerges on the other side OF
the continent through Bstiin's bay. The
drift OF the ice is consequently northwsrd
on the ives. side, while it sets to the south
on the east eide. Whether this will be an
element Of danger 10 the expedition, or
whether il will heIp it in the solution OF
the Arctic problem, remains to be seen. II
has been regarded by Arctic eXpl ,rers hith-
ticallv cuts eff the re reat in case of any
accident to the ship which may compel the
party 10 take TO the ice. In an article re,
ferring to this expedition the San Franciaco
B,dI,tin Of the l7th says:
The California Academy of Science last
evening held meetin5 for the considers-
ton OF the Arctic problem, al which Lieu
tenant De Long, commander of the Jesn-
nette. and other members OF the Bennett
expedition were present a. invited guests.
The Academy expected these gentlemen
would unfold their plans, but IN this re
spect il WAS disappointed. Whatever
thess plans are, circumstances NAV arise
uecessitaling material revision OF them,
or even their total abandonment. The eX-
pedition starts, howe yer, with the benefit OF
the experience Of all other expeditions in
the Polar regions 10 gaide it, and the pres
tige Of governmtnt direction. Even il the
expedition fail to resch the North Pole
the goal of every Arctic explorers smbi-
tion-it will no doubt add something
TO geographical lore and still further re-
duce the area Of unknown territory for tu-
ture geographical exploration. The expe-
di;ion will be stimulated to strain every
nerve to accomplish the chief object of its
mission by the fact tbst the initial steps
will be taken BY the Howgate expedition
about the same time that the Jeannette sails
hence. The Howga;e expedition contem-
plates reaching the North Pole by the So
called northwest route" by means of a
line of relief ststions. well stocked with
supplies and located within easy reach of
one another. Both expeditions have the
bsst wishes for success of all persons inter
estei in geographical exploration and dis
ever.