The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-03-23
The Polar stations.

PREPARATIONS FOR IliE RELIEF OF THE PAR
TIgS AT POINT BARROW AND LADY FRANK
I'm BAY.
The relief Of the signal stations OF oh
.cr,ation AZ Point BlrrOw, Alaska, and at
! sdv Franklin hav. established III 1881,
i one az the problems now being consider
"a a, tho signal Office. These stations,
.oy. a Washington special, as Is known,
orc two OF the international chain 81 posts
established IN pursuance OF plan adopted
hv The congresses held AZ Vienna in 1879,
he final details Of which were completed
.f a congress held In 81. Petersburg the
following year.
n MAS hopcd to maintain these ohServa-
,;ons until 1884, but the terms OF the last
,nnropriaiion for this work are such that II
49, hecn decided 90 recall both parties du-
ring The coming summer II possible.
Tbrrc j. little doubt with regard 20 the sta
lion n Point Barrow being reached, and u
vessel VIII sail frcm san Francisco during
limo next With orders to Lieutenant Ray
10 cease operations and return with his
party.
At LADY franklin BAY.
The relief OF Lieutenant Greedy at Lady
Franklin bay is q more difficult task. MOI
only /, the latitude higher one. but the
narrowness Of Smith sound and Kennedy
rbqnnel. which form the only southern
outlet Tor the vast masses Of lee IN The
..rcat Polar sea. render navigation IN those
y,5trrs both pCrilou> and uncertain.
The cNYcduion OK last year sailed from
=. Johns. y. f., on july Sih, and after
,emN irving to get through the lee from
.Gi'y 9Sth % September "a, when The new
ice w, already four inches in thickness,
,ya> OBLIGED 10 return without having COM
rurpi,.ited with Lieutenant Grecly. Caches
~ Store, ana two whalCboats were, how
ever. left 40 Lt,lcton island and Cape Is
land. the localities having been agreed UPON
with Lieutenant Greedy in the event OF a
failure Of the vessel 10 get through the Ice.
The original intention was 10 communicate
with Tie station yearly. renew the supplies.
bring back the sick and disabled, recruit
tho colony with ab'c-Aodicd men, and
gradually extend the field OF research into
more northern latitude.
ANo1nER EFFORT THIS YEAR.
This wear q determined effort Will be
made 10 communicate with this station, ana
vessel will leave st. Johns n carly As
July 1t with complete outfit Of proyi-
.iou> and everything neediul for the relief
wiil permit ana the station can be reached
DE entire party. numbering about
thirty PERSONS. will be brought away
and ne work discontinued. II is
proiabic. however. that this cannot lie
dome. nut that the ice barrier will prove q,
formidable tins year rs last. In view OF
th', contingency, supplies OF all kinds will
}ristcu sufficient for the cntiie party for NJ
ta,n months. ard should the apprchcnsion'
oiis1ure DE winter station VIII he
made bv The relief party at Lifcboat Cove,
u,r Liiil.ton island. 70 which Lieutenant
Gr,ev must retreat with his party during
ihc coming fall. This will involve march
over the ice-docs or The almost impossible
crf. which form on the shore Of not le>'
tlan ,woAuudred miles. A. soon n pos
>illc after tie failure 10 get through the zee
+. evident 4 purity Of men viii slcdge III
Tire sound. following the west shore lt
communicate with Lieutenant Greedy anC
render his party assistance.