The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1881-02-08
THE WEEKLY MINER.


NN@atHrAM NM G D L
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4.-The President to-
day sent to both houses Of congress a COM
munication received by him from the secre-
tary of the navy relative to the dispatch of
vessels to search for the Jeanette polar xpe-
dition. In this letter, which the President
commends to the favorable action of congress,
secretary Golf says: 81 have considered the
letter of chief justice DAILY, president of the
American geographical society, relating to re-
lief for the Jeannetfe polar expedition. The
propriety OF sending such relief expedition is
fully concurred III, and we need therefore
only to examine the means to be employed.
Judge DAILY suggests the Galena, now in the
Mediterranean, as a vessel suitable for this
expedition. 1t is unnecessary to say that
any naval vessel destined to be sent on such
service must have her battery removed, un.
dergo extensive repairs and alterations to pre-
pare her to encounter the ice, That the crew
must be reduced to a number deemed Just
sufficient that they must be equipped at the
expense of the government with furs and
other clothing adapted to the regions of Arc. |
tic winter, and provisions for 2 period of a
year or more With food of a character not to
be found in the navy rations, and carry. be-
sides, a surplus for relief purposes. A naval
vessel thus transformed would lose the de-
structive feature of a man of war and vet be
well calculated for a polar expedition. To
start the Galena on this service, supposing
her tc push forward via the Suez canal, Hong
Kong and Petropanbosks through Behring
straits to Herald island, she would have to
traverse a distance of some $4,000 miles, re-
quiring 81 days at sea and at least "A days in
port replenishing her coal supply, or a total
Of four and a half months. Surprising her to
start at once, she could not reach Herald
island before jane 18th, while it is admitted
she should properly reach the place fully
equipped by June list. This conld not be
done. The Galena, then, no matter how we'll
she may be adapted for the expedition, is not
available. The navy has, however, in the
Pacific, vessels fully as well adapted as the
Galena tor such relief and search expedition.
The vessel Wachllsett is now at Panama and
will soon be on her way TO San Francisco.
She is a screw steamer of 1,575 tons displace-
ment, carrying in her bunkers 100 tons Of
anthracite coal. Should it be deemed expe-
dent to select this vessel for the relief eXpe-
dition no time should be lost. She must be
fastened to the Mare Island navy yard and
the work Of transforming and strengthening
her be commenced at once, that all may be
ready by June LIST her battery must be re-
moved, together will all warlike stores her
propeller must be protected, her bow and
sides strengthened, her bulkhead removed
and replaced to suit her new mission. Pro-
visions Of a special character, in large guam
titles and in excess of the needs of the vessel
alone, must be provided and the crew reduced
by rejecting from her present complement all
those who are not of robust constitution and
cheerful disposition. This requires time and
money, and it is estimated that 100000 will
be necessary to prepare and equip her that
the amount should be appropriated by con-
gress without delay if the search is to be pros
ecuted this year. 1t must be borne in mind
that navy vessels, although strongly built,
were never designed for battling with ice in
the polar sea, and the alteration and attempt
5 ed adaptation of one for such purpose is at
} least but a nakeshift. besides thereafter she
} would be entirely lost to the navy, as the ex-
7 pense of reconstruCting her into a man-of.
3 war would be equal to her value. There is
! now at San Francisco a steamer built and
I equipped for whale fishing IN the Arctic
I ocean, having passed last season above
i Behring's straits, where her whaling venture
+ was very successful. I am informed that this
vessel IS peculiarly fitted for the purpose in
! hand and can be chartered or purchased. Il
I would seem advisable to obtain her and send
her at once to the Mare Island navy yard tc
@ be repaired and equipped. She should be
y of course differed by the navy and come un.
> der its discipline and control. This woult
require an appropriation of $4,000, which i
g apparently greater than necessary to equip
, man -et-war, but when we consider tia
: the vessel would be lost to the navy by tn
e conversion, it would be the most economical
process to purchase. Furthermore the pur
chased vessel will require a complement o
: officers and crew of 80, whereas the Wachu
sets could not be sent with less than y
!, men. The Corwin, which could be readil
y purchased for another trip in the Arctic du:
ing the coming summer, should not be with
drawn. She can render good service, aud tn
= experience of her personnel in the Arcti'
search should not be lost.
With great respect, you most obedient ser
want, (Signed)
a N. GOFF, JR., Sec'y of the Navy.