The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1879-10-02
[ MUM Der 18.
THE NORTHEAST PASSAGE.
From the New York Tribune

From the New York Tribune
The practicability of the Northeast
passage has .been demonstrated by Pro-
fessor Nordenskjold's arrival at Yoke
hama. The voyage of the Vega in
high ATTITUDES began on the 18th of
July, 1878, in the Swedish port of Goth
enburg. North Cape was doubled and
the Kara Sea traversed without diff
Guilty, and when the Vega was impris-
oned in the ice in September, East Cape
and Behring Strait were almost in
sight. The next nine months were
passed in pack ice a mile from shore.
under circumstances peculiarly fayora-
BILE for scientific observation. The
villagers on the mainland were kindly
disposed: there was no lack Of provis-
ions during the Winter, and in the
Spring game was plentiful; and the
health and spirits of the ships company
were excellent. So admirable were the
appointments Of the vessel and so com
Portable were the Winter quarters, that
notwithstanding the prolonged con-
finement, the expedition was something
like holiday excursion in the Arctic
regions. The ice fields broke up about
the middle Of July, and within forty
eight hours the Vega had passed
Behring Strait. She now lies at anchor
off the coast Of Japan, the first and only
vessel that has skirted the northern
edge of Europe and Asia and sighted
the American continent.
Tie success Of the expedition has
been complete. The Northeast pas
sage was the primary object, and this
has been accomplished, not without de-
lay, but with unexpected facility. In the
Professors Judgment, us communicated
to a correspondent of the Herald, the
fact has been established that with very
little more experience Of navigation in
the northern seas, the voyage from Eu-
rope to Asia by way Of the Strait is
certain and safe. Apparently the log
Of the Vega confirms this declaration.
The voyage was Well-nigh ended when
the vessel was embedded in the ice. II
the expedition had started few weeks
sooner and if less time had been wasted
i'll the earlier aud smoother stages, the
exploring party would have been spar
ed long Winter in the ice SO close to
the journeys end.
When he speaks of the commercial
results OF this experimental voyage the
enthusiastic explorer is undoubtedly
His assertion that from
Japan to the mouth of the Lena, where
a large prospective trade with Central
Siberia can be developed, there are no
difficulties in the proper season for ex-
perienced sailors, requires serious quail
ification. While the Northeast passage
must be regarded from this time forth
as entirely practicable, high ATTITUDES
are no lower than they have been
and the northern seas are closed for
all time against vessels in the coasting
tjG de. The scientific results of this
voyage may be of the highest import
ance, but human creduli,y is over
strained when it is called upon to ac-
cept the commercial advantages to be
derived from this venturesome under
taking. 1t may be taken for granted
that until the ingenuity Of man can
devise some method Of changing the
angle of the earths axis, the profits of
Arctic navigation ond the commercial
Importance Of our ice-bound North
west possessions can best be calculated
by the Man in the Moon.