The sun., 1883-12-05
ARCTIC FOLLIES.
Not Fit Subjects for Congregational Appro-
prIntions-'The Great discoveries Mostly
Have Been Made by Private Explorers.

To THE EDIToE OF THE SUN-ST: Gen.
lIazen has pursued this wild dream In the name of
meteorological science and doubtless Congress will be
called upon at the approaching session for fat nppro-
pration to equip aud man All expedition TO make fresh
attack the Pole by way OF Smiths Sound. Exper
has taught that any further interference by
Congress IN what should be left Ia sccniihc bodies aud
patrons Of explorations in the matter OF Arctic exora
would not only lie needless waste of the public
money, but would be bound to end iu iiasco well.
This is only OF the general history Of the Jour
neys toward the North Pole, bat it is true OF tue most
difficult teats Of land exploration on record 1t was
spcAe and Grant, backed by the Royal Geographical
society and not by the English Government who first
discovered ;he sources OF the Sie. Sir Samuel Baker
first navigacd tho waters OF the Albert Nyanza without
any other assistance than that afforded by his i'll
don,abe pluck and private fortune. Living
stone was guided In thirty years labor
aud exploration by his religious enthusiasm, and
while called Consul" in his later years It was
empty title, stanieys support is well known, and the
highly successful establishment OF "a line OF stations
equatorial Africa is hs work Of finely organ,
lied utrna,ona! society without Govern nent subsidy
from any nation Even in our attempts in tile
Arctic waters the highest point yet reached by
in latitude ~ north aud this the prom0ntory
from which Dr. Hayes looked out up0n The open Polar
sea having sedgei his way across the great ice barrier
This expedition entirely private enterprise, and
the funds to support II largely contributed by tie
late Henry Grunc 1t VIII be remembered 100, that
the explorer called nurihwlrd IN le schooner thc
United States and that the entire outlay covering II
period OF two years did not exceed 50 90 50 closely
the expense account kept that Dr Hayes used to
relate with wry face that Mr. Grinnell charged him
with the cost OF the telegram from Halifax 10 New York
announcing the safe deyerance Of the survivors Of two
years pcriis very near the axis Of the earth.
But the greatest Of all these nayiysors IL Sordenski l.
DID, again anoat those high latituies In his yacht
the Vega aud a. private enterprise. he made the
Northeast Passage, and thus performed the greatest
maritime feat of the last three centuries There are
few instances where Government expeditions or even
those which partially official. have accomplished any
great good for geographical science The expedition
commanded by Capt Mares consisting OF the Alert aud
Discovery cost England the neat sum OF EtOJooo re
sutiu1 only In ri wing new names to old discoveries
Enough been cited to show that the explorer who
really does original work Is one who does not stand II
fear courts of inquiry for indscretons OF Judgment
who s from department orders and strikes bodl,
out takeSnll risks and battles for the prize with al
hanging In the balance Hence 1t is mistake to pu
original exploration into the hands Of perfunctor!
corps of men like that inaugurated BY such rare typ
as Howgate. U. s. A., and continued by his fussy sue
cessor; and this very instance OF an arm
bureau going Into what Is practically maritime e'
| ploraton is an offence 10 good sense
But the folly may no, possibly end here. Nearly ever
year as will more than probably happen at the comm
session. there nre number OF Arctic cranks hangin
about the Capitol, exhibiting charts aud models. AVN,
sSs over s ss' sSs M and %f oas n
rssy .arn. an M 0f hssa %,t ass sd
ss .t came m OsS "' hs %"s
urge his case for an espediion he announced that
through which poured the Arctic waters y the centre
the earth.
poralion lei them gs, iheir suppofI and money sls
where than from the departments and Treasury.
"s,""feSa; sss Yoas, Nov,,s