The Hawaiian gazette., 1881-05-04
Balraiialr O5azette,
EST Moprs IN REBUs.
WEDNESDAY, M I, ISL.
International Scientific Work.

WASHINGTON, D. c., March 18th. - Two
polar expeditions are to be fitted out ard sent
North early this coming summer under the
direction Of Gen. Hazen, the Chief Signal
Officer, for purely scientific purposes. The
one TO Lady Franklin Bay, as has already
been announced, is to be under the command
of Lieut.. Greeley, one of the most trusted
officers Of the Signal Corps. The other will
sail from San Francisco, and will establish
itself at Point Barrow, on the ncrth coast Of
Alaska, commanding officer not yet design
ated. Prof. Baird, Of the Smithsonian 1nsti-
tuition, and Capt. Patterson, of the Coast
Survey, are cooperating with Gen. Hazen,
and will each be represented in one or both
of these expeditions. These enterprises are "a
part of an extensive international system of
polar observation, in which several European
nations are participants with this country.
Russia has definitely promised to occupy two
stations, one at the mouth of the Lena, in
Eastern Siberia, and the second on the new
Siberian Island which is some distance east of
Wrangel Land Sweden has promised to
occupy North Cape, in Finland. Denmark will
establish station at Upernavik, Greenland.
Germany, though she has not made an
absolute promise to do so, is expected to send
an expedition to the Island of Jan Mayen, east
of Greenland. Holland will occupy the mouth
of the Oh and SpitZbeTgen. Austria, repre-
scented by Count Wilozek and Lieut.. Wey-
precht, will occupy Nova Zembla. Canada
will probably occupy Melville Island, while
Italy will fit ont an expedition to the South
ern Hemisphere, and will probably select its
location on Cape Horn. 1t is also expected
that the Island of Georgia, in the Southern
Hemisphere, will be occupied by an expedi-
ton from some other European nation. The
expedition will consist Of two officers of the
army and tweniy-one enlisted men. 1t will
be assembled at Washington not later than the
18th of May, and in st. Johns, Newfoundland,
about one month later. The vessel VIII be
sent north under command of an experienced
Arctic Captain, with a crew especially select
ed from the sailors and whalers of the New
foundland coast 1t is expected that the ex-
petition will leave St. Johns about the LIST of
July, and. touching at Disco, will take on
board DIR. Pavey, the naturalist of the expedi-
ton, who has been in Greenland during the
last winter, collecting dogs, sledges, and
other material for the expedition. Several
teams of dogs will be taken from Disco and
Upernavik, with two Esquimanx hunters. The
vessel is expected to reach Lady Franklin Bay
by the last Of August, when, disenbarking
the party, it will return to theUnited States.
1t is expected that, in ad0itioifto the scientific
observations to be made by the permanent
party, the northern coast of Greenland will be
explored 1t is believed that the question as
to whether Greenland is an island or CONT
nent can be definitely told, and also whether
land exists to the norihward Of Cape Britannia,
the farthest point seen by the English expedi-
ton of 1865. The station is to be visited
annually by vessels, which will bring fresh
supplies and a number of new recruits, III
order that those untitled for the work by rea-
son of disease or otherwise may return to the
United States.