New-York tribune., 1882-02-10
EXPLORING POLAR REGIONS.
ARCTIC COLONIES AND VOYAGES.


HOW AMERICA AND EUROPE ARE CARRYING OUT
LIEUTENANT wEYPRECHTs sCHEME-ACHIEVE-
MENTs OF EXPLORERS II THE FAR NORTH.
An outline of the work undertaken in the inter-
national scheme Of Polar observation devised by
Lieutenant Weyprecht is presented in the accom-
nauvinC man. The points reached by the Jeanette
and other recent expeditions and the achievements
of some noted explorers of former years are also IN
dicated America has taken the lead III putting
Lieutenant Weyprecht's scheme into practical
operation During the year 1851 two colonies were
established by the United States within the Arctic
Circle-one at Lady Franklin Bay latitude 81 ~
north longitude CO. west and one al Point Barrow
latitude 10 north, longitude 1852 west The
former under command of Lieutenant Greeley has
been in its ice-bound home since last July, and has
recently been reported in good condition and hope
ful of doing efficient work. Lady Franklin Bay Is
not only the most northern point ever inhabited lor
anv considerable period but is not far from the
highest latitude ever attained by Arctic explorers
If is in the region made known the world by the
expoits of the Americans, Hall and Hayes, and the
English traveller, Sir George Mares who there, not
a great distance beyond Lady Franklin Bay, in
1876 reached the nearest point to the Pole ever yet
attained The second American station Is at Point
Barrow. the northern extremity of Alaska. Amerl-
can explorers have thus taken up positions at the
northern extremities of the known shores OF the
two great approaches to the Pole namely, Balm
Bay and Behring Strait.
Russia is fulfilling her obligations 70 the lnterna-
tionaI Polar Commission by sending out colony to
the mouths of the river Lena, Siberia, where the
survivors of the Jeanette expedition effected their
landing. The arduOus work thus undertaken may
be appreciated from the fact that a journey OF
{. $50 miles from 81. Petersburg has TO be taken TO
a desolate region, where the average tenn
perature in January is 4Oo below zero
Fahrenheit. In the summer, however, there
is always open water north of the islands at
the delta, and there Will be good opportunities ior
valuable research.
England will establish one post of observation in
her North American possessions. at Fort Simpson,
on the Mackenzie River south OF the Arctic Circle
The only other station outside the Arctic Circle Will
be established by Germany, On the Gulf of Georgia.
near VancOuvers Island mot shown ON this map)
but she will also place another colony at point
III the far North, not yet selected.
Austria will send colony TO Jan Mayen Island,
northeast of Iceland. and Denmark will send a
party of explorers to the western coast of Green
land. Norway's work will he done at Altengardc,
in the Provine of FinnmaTk, at almost the extreme
north of the scandinavian Peninsula, and France
will establish post of observation and exploration
in the southern part of Spitzbergen. Other eXpedi
tons have been planned, and 1t is probable that at
least some stations additional to those indicated on
tie map and enumerated above will be established.
SEEKING TO REACH THE POLE.
The achievements of some of the most prominent
Arctic explorers are shown Oh the map. Six gen.
eral courses appear to have been followed in at
tempting TO navigate the Northern Sea. 1t has been
sought TO reach the Pole by way of Bailin Bay and
Smith Sound; by Behring STRAIT; by Barentz Sea;
and by the eastern coast of Greenland and attempts
have been made to pass from ocean TO OCEAN along
the northern coast of America and along the
northern coast of Asia OF the first Of these under
takings, mention has been made in connection with
Lady Franklin Bay. 1t was III this direction that