New-York tribune., 1882-08-13
BUSy TIMES IN THE P4R-NOR tn.

month During the twelvemonth which has
onened systematic observations Will Dc taken
simultaneously at eleven stations. There VIII
be bourly magnetica and meteorological obser-
votions. The temperature of air and sea,
tbe velocity of the wind, the pressure ana
humidity of the atmosphere, the form, amount
and direction of clouds, the occurrence and
duration of rain and snow, and the variations
of terrestrial magnetism, are to be systemat-
ically noted. On term days, the 1st and 9th
of each month, magnetic readings arc to be
made every five minutes, special pains being
taken to facilitate smutaneity OF observations
The optional observations recommended to the
scientific colonists relate to tides ana ocean
currents; the thickness, structure and motion
of ice the melting of ice i'll summer; eVap-
grafton at all seasons; solar radiation sal-
vanic earth currents the height OF the aurora
and many other physical phenomena lhese
observations, conducted on common OASIS
defined by the Conference OF St. Peteisourg
are to be brought to n close rs late as possioie
before September /, 1888. Summaries are
then to he sent to the international Polar COM
mission in order that the results may be tab
ulated for publication. During the same period
meteorological and astronomical observations
are to be taken at eleven scientific stations
outside the Arctic zone.
This rapid summary OF the work which lies
before the Arctic colonies is made from the
programme of the Conference at st. Peters
burg published in a recent numbeI OF Nature
with map showing the stations as located by
the geographical societies. similar map ap-
neared III THg TRIBUNE eight months
ago, when the stations were definitely
selected. The American colonies had al
ready been established at Port Barrow
and Lady Franklin Bay, and preparations
were then making to convey the remaining
bodies of observers TO their destination as soon as
the season should open. Midsummer finds
these preparations completed and the colonies
established. Supplies and scientific RELAYS
have been sent to the tw o American posts Work
Las been begun by the Canadians at Fort Rae,
near Great Slave Lake, by the NOrwegians ut
Bcssekop, and by the Finlanders at Sodankyla.
The Austrian expedition, after falling in It's
first attempt to land on Jan Mayen, set out from
Tromso about the middle of July, and was
| probably successful in reaching the Island, the
sea in that quarter being Invariably cleaI OF
| ice during August. The Swedish observers
| left the same port early in July for Sptzber-
| gen, aud rs the party was under the charge ol
| CAPTAIN Paander Baron Nordenskiold's efli-
| cient companion, good fortune undoubtedly
| attended it, The German colony, which is To
| be stationed at Cumberland Sound, DAVIS
| Strait, set out early III June, and as the voyage
was not particularly dangerous one may be
presumed to have landed in safety. The
| Danish Government has sent corps CT obServ-
ers TO Godthaab, settlement on the west coast
| of Greenland. and the Dutch expedition ex-
pected, when it set out in July, to reach Port
| Dickson at the mouth OF the IenlseJ early In
August. The Russian observers, having made
ar ea1ly start, have already established them
selves at the mouth of the Lena. Nature, IN It's
chart of the Arctic basin, locates second Russian
observatory at N0vaia Zemlia, making twelve
instead of eleven posts in the circuit So tar
as we have learned, the attempt to open
| station there has been abandoned. The circuit
| is complete without the twelfth station. Be
ginning with Jan Mayen and Spitzbergen on
either side of the Greenwich meridian, it COM
prises two stations in Northern Europe, two IN
| Siberia, one i'll Alaska, one in British America,
one on each shore of Davis Strait, and one fer
to the North at Lady bFrankin Bay opposite
| Captain Halls grave. At the same time,
scientific observations are to he taken by two
parties, German and French, in the Antarctic
| Ocean, The Italian expedition under Licuten-
ant Bove having been wrecked oil Cape Horn
cannot take part in the seasons work.
While so much serious scientific work is pro-
cecding in that mystic realm of eternal ice, the
spirit of adventure is not wanting. Lieuten-
ant Hovgaard, one of the youngest officers
in the Danish Navy has set sail for the north
| of Asia yyh no homes n
| make his way through an unknown sea
TO an unknown land which he fances
lies to the east of the Franz Josef archipelago.
It is an expedition based on the newest geo.
graphical theory of the distribution OF
land and water in the Polar basin, aud has been
organized with precipitate haste. Heading
Nindly for an unknown coast, like the ill-fated
Jeannette. it represents the old-time spirit Of
exploration, as opposed to the systematic ar
rangements of the ring of scientific observers
for studying the physics of the Arctic world.
In the same quarter the Hope is searching for
Leigh Smith, who, unable to resist the weird
fascinations of the mystic King of the North,
has probably been lured to his death in the
dreary reaches OF pack ice north OF Novaia
ZemlIa. Busy times these are in the Far-NOrth.
The three stages of Arctic exploration arc il
lustrated in the seasons work. Lieutenant
Hoygaard and Leigh Smith represent the dar-
Ing Of the early voyagcrs. Sir Allen Young in
the Hope and the United States officers who
arc searching for the Jeannette's missing boat
recall The long and weary quest for Sir John
Franklin. The eleven stations occupied by
the trained observers of many nations present
the practical methods ard scientific aspects of
modern thought
TIE LLTERARY RAGPICKER.