Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1879-12-27


and arc thence propagated southeast
wardly into the Mississippi valley. We
refer to this single result of polar explo-
ration to illustrate the unsuspected value
of such researches as Nordenskjold's and
similar expeditions have made. "There
is scarcely a problem relating to the
physics OF the GLOBE" says Prot. Loomis,
(which can be fully understood without
a knowledge OF the phenomena within
the polar regions" So deeply impress
ed with this sentiment are the leading
scientists of the age that, at the recent
international congress Of meteorologists
held at Hamburg. a plan was matured
for girdling the polar basin with Gordon
of permanent meteorological stations.
and the great powers are solicited each
to occupy one or more points within the
polar area. The immense value Of
Arctic research in physical science was
long ago urged by Lieut.. Maury in his
physical Geography OF the Sea" "
"Within this polar area" he SAID, "the
tides have their cradle, and whales their
nursery; there the winds complete their
circuit, and the currents OF the sea their
round; there the aurora is lighted up,
and the trembling needle brought to
rest; and there, too, in the mazes Of
that mystic circle, terrestrial forces o1
occult power and OF vast influence npor
the well-being of man. are ordinarily al
work." The proposition of the Ham
burg congress has already taken practi
cal shape in the congressional bill
which, telegram from Washington
states, "the honse committee on nava
affairs has decided to report and urge
This bill authorizes the president tt
establish a temporary colony at some
point north Of the seventy-first degree
of latitude, on or near the shore of Lady
Franklin bay. for purposes of scientific
observation and exploration, and to de
velop or discover new whaling
grounds" There are many who con
sclentlously and justly oppose the dis
patch of Arctic expeditions in search o
theNorth pole as involving too great sac
rifice of valuable lives to compensate fo
any real advantage which could resul
even from the discovery of the pole it
sell. The imaginary perils Of pola
voyages, when conducted upon the des
perate determination of adventurers t.
outstrip their predecessors IN reachin,
the highest latitudes, do not exceed tn
actual perils encountered by every ex
plOrer ambitious to immortalize hi
name by the conquest of the poles, or b.
penetrating the frozen wastes where
''Ceaseless frost round the vast solitude
Binds the broad zones of Stiffness"
But the proposition to occupy Lad
Franklin bay "for purposes of scientifi
observation and exploration" seems t
divest the scheme OF the usual objet
tions to Arctic expeditions. and to ir
augurate sensible scientific reform i
future Arctic Investigations. Lady Franz
lin bay was found to afford an admlrs
BILE winter harbor for one OF the explol
ing vessels of the late English Arctic e,
pedition under Capt. Mares; and as it
accessible every year. the observers ths
might be stationed on its shore migl
be relieved every summer. If congre'
is to do anything in the matter, speed
action is demanded, that time may /
had for perfecting all the details OF IL
,, exploration, and sending it forth full
prepared and equipped for its work.