The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-02-05
THE "JEANNETTE."
What Vessel VIII be Used fer
the Searching Expedition?

, Washington. 4.-Ths President
to-day, sent to. both houses OF Con
Igress q communication received BY
him from the secretary OF the navy
: relative to the despatch of vessel il
! search for the Jeanette polar expedi
ton. In this letter, which the Presi-
dent commends to favorable action Of
Congress, Secretary Gofi says: ]
have considered the letter oil
Chief Justice Daily, president
OF the American Geographical
society, relating to a relief vessel
for the Jeanette polar expedition.
The propriety of sending such q relief
expedition is fully concurred in, and
we need therefore examine the means
only to be employed. Judge DAILY
suggests the Galena, now in the
Mediterranean, as a vessel suitable
for this expedition. Il is unneces.
sary to say that any naval
vessel destined to be sent on
such service must have
her battery removed, undergo ex-
tensive Strengthening and alteration
to prepare her to encounter the ice;
that the crew must be reduced to the
number deemed just sufficient, that
they must be equipped at the expense
OF government with furs and other
clothing adapted to the regions of
arctic winter, and provision for the
period OF year or more, with
food of q character not found
in the navy; return and carry besides,
the surplus for relief purposes. A
naval vessel thus transformed would
lose the destructive features Of a
man ot-war, and yet not be well cal
culated for polar expedition. To
start the Gdlena on this ser
vice, supposing her to push
forward RIA the Suez Canal, Hong
Kong and Petropsn Bosski, through
Behring Strait to Herald Island, she
would have to traverse a distance of
some 1900 miles, requiring ninety
one days at sea, and at least iorty-four
days in port for replenishing her coal
supply, or total CT four and a half
months, and this, IN addition to
making any allowance OF time for the
preparations above indicated as indis-
pensable. Surprising her to start al
once, she could not reach Herald
Island before June 10Th, while it is
admitted that she should properly
reach that place fully equipped by
July let. This could not be done.
The GGleRa then, no matter how well
che may be adapted for the expedition,
is not available. The navy has,
however, in the Pacific, a yes
sci fully as well adapted as
the GaLenG for such relief and search
expedition. This vessel, the Wdchu-
sets, is now at Panama and will soon
be on her way to San Francisco. She
is a screw steamer, 1875 tons dis
placement, carrying In her bunkers
100 tons of anthracite coal, and con-
sumes foil power of thirty tons per
day, or halt the power, sixteen tons.
Should it be dee med expedient to |
select this vessel for the relief expedi- |
ton, no time should be lost. She |
must be FASTENED to the Mare Island |
navy yard, and the work of trans
forming and Strengthening her be COM
menced at once, that all may be
ready by June let. Her battery must
be removed, together with all warlike
stores; her sides and bow must be
her propeller pro.
-ected, her bulkhead removed, and
.eplaced TO suit her new mission; pro.
visions of special character, in large
quantities and in excess of the
reeds Of tbs vessel alone must
,e provided, and the crew re-
laced by rejecting from her
,resent compliment all those who
re not OF robust construction and
heerful disposition. This requires
ime and money. II ia estimated
hat 800, 900 will be necessary to pre-
ARE and equip her. That amount
hould be appropriated by Congress
7ithout delay if the search is to be
this year. It must be
orne in mind that navy vessels,
Though strongly built, were never I
for battling with ice in the
'olsr Sea. Any alteration or at ,
smpted adoption of one for such !
purpose is at best but
lake shift; besides, thereafter
be would be entirely lost to the navy {
8 the expense Of recovering her 1
lto a man. of.wsr would be equal to
er value. There is now at San
Francisco O steamer built and ,
quipped for whale fishing, in the
.roiic, having passed last season :,
bove BehriDg Straits, where her
haling venture Was very successful.
am informed this vessel is peculiarly
tied for the purpose in hand, aud
An be chartered or purchased. 1t
ould seem advisable to obtain her
I'D ssend her at once 10 the Mare
iland navy yard to be repaired r
nd equipped. She should be, of 7
purse, differed and manned by the =
avy and come under its description :
I'D control. This would require an :
ppropriation OF SIZE, 000, which is !
APPARENTLY greater than necessary TO T
luip the man-of-War; bat when We T
)nsider that the vessel would be lost :
} the navy by conversion, it would Q
3 the most economical process to Z
lrchase. Furthermore, the pur. -
lased vessel will require a compli- u
ent of officers and crew of thirty, A
hereas, the WdchusettS could not be ID
ut with less than 40 men. "
The Cor,0in, which could be D
adily purchased, could make Ell
lother trip in the Arctic "
ring the coming summer, and oil
ould not be Withdrawn. She can a
nder good service, and the expert
&c of her personnel in the Arctic
arch should not be lost. CT
With great respect, your most ebe- ~
mt servant,
Signed N. GoFF, JR.,
Secretary OF Navy. th
No Railroad Commission.