The Daily Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Or.) 1876-1883, 1881-03-01
Arctic Explorations.

contributed to intensity the desire
on the part Of the scientific world
TO unravel its mysteries. Each
sacrifice of human life has inspired
men to brave the greater risks that
have been disclosed as the object
Of search has been neared. Any
call for volunteers to officer and
man an exploring ship is responded
to with alacrity, and the enly
trouble is 10 repress the multitude
who are willing to perform this
hazardous service. 1t can never
be told in advance what practical
results will flow from scientific re-
search, and none can say now what
pecuniary benefit will come to the
world from all Of the study that is
being given to Arctic exploration.
The abstract studies of the astron-
omers have enabled the modern
navigator TO traverse the ocean
with as much eXactness as though
he were at some vast elevation.
and could look down upon the
seas and the continents and ob-
serve the position of his vessel IN
reference 10 them. The midnight
studies of the alchemists were the
forerunners Of the chemists of our
time, and their discoveries have
almost infinitely advanced the wei
fare and comfort of the human
race. Every line of scientific study
that was at first pursued for its
swn sake has resulted i'm giving to
the world something of great and
abiding value. Perhaps there Is
no more striking illustration than
the earlier researches I'm electricity
We have the best of reasons.
therefore, for the belief that the
ultimate outcome OF Arctic re-
search Will be of some value TO
civilization, though in what par
ticular way cannot be surmised,
because the secrets of the frozen
world have not yet been revealed.
Anxiety has been expressed in.
many quarters, about the fate Of
the exploring vessel that started
OH her journey two years ago, but
we can see no reason for any of
the theories of disaster. IL the
relief vessel sent wear ago had
found the explorer, she would
have accomplished ia one wear
what had been planned for two;
the fact that no tidings were OBJ
tanned is one Of the strong argu-
ments I'm favor of the success Of the
expedition. But the plea in be-
half of sending a relief steamer
is sound for other reasons. 1t as
possible that there has been disas-
ter in those, remote, frozen regions,
because their perils are known to-
be great, and the equipment of an
auxiliary expedition should have
been provided before the original
voyage of exploration was COM
meRced. If similar safeguard
had been provided OH former occa-
sions, many valuable lives would
have been saved, and the store of
knowledge concerning the Arctic
would have been the larger. There
is no enterprise more worthy the
attention of the government, and
It's costs is so trivial, when the
national wealth is considered, that
none should object from motives
of economy. The Mediterranean
squadron might be dropped for a
year, and the pleasure trips of its
officers deferred for a season. The
country owes something to abstract
science, and its obligation cannot
be more appropriately ackRowl-
edged than by doing all that is
necessary to enable explorers to
solve the mysteries of the Arctic.
A correspondent Of the Yamhill
Reporter, writing from Sheridan, says: