Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-03-24
WASHINGTON.
Preparations for a Voyage to the
Arctic Regions.
A Deficit Of $4,000 in Ben Buffers
Account as President Of the
National Soldiers Home
-Folger's Health.
SOME OF RlDDIEsERGEEs SCHEMES.

WASHINGTON, March 23.-The relief OF the
signai stations OF observation at Point Bar
row, Alaska, and at, Lady franklin Bay,
established in 1881, is one OF the problems
now being considered at the Signal Office.
These stations, as is known, are two OF the
international chain of posts established in
pursuance Of a plan adopted by the con-
gress held at Vienna in 1879, the final de-
tails of which were completed at congress
held in St. Petersburg the following year.
1t was hoped to maintain these obserya-
tions until 1884, but the terms of the last
appropriation for this work are such that
it has been decided to recall both parties
during the coming summer, if possible.
There is little doubt with regard to the
station at Point Barrow being reached, and
a vessel will sail from San Francisco during
June next with orders to Lieutenant Ray
to cease operations and return with his
party.
Al Lady Franklin Bay.
The relief Of Lieutenant Greedy at Lady
Franklin Bay is a more difficult task. Not
only is the latitude higher one, but the
narrowness of Smith Sound and Kennedy
Channel, which form the only southern
outlet for the vast masses of ice in the
great Polar Sea, render navigation in those
waters both perilous and uncertain.
The expedition of last year sailed st.
Johns, n. F., on July s, AMI after yainly
trying to get through the ice from July %
to September ., when the new ice was al
ready four inches in thickness, was Obliged
to return without having communicated
with Lieutenant Greedy. Caches OF stores
and tive whalebOats were, however, left at
LittletOn Island and Cape Island, the local
tiles having been agreed upon with Lieu
tenant Greedy in the event OF failure OF
the vessel TO get through the ice. The orig
inal intention was to communicate with
this station yearly, renew the supplies,
bring back the sick and disabled, recruit
the colony with able-bodied men and grad
ually extend the field of research into a
more northern latitude.
Another Effort This Year.
This year q determined effort will be
made TO communicate with this station,
and a vessel will lie ave st. Johns as early
as July l with q complete outfit Of provis.
ions and everything needful for the relief
Of the party. Ii the condition of the ice
will permit and the station can be reached
the entire party, numbering about thirty
persons, will be brought away and the
work discontinued. 1t is probable, how
GNGAs AAlAN AAlAS NdlAAOb bC uOhC, OUb bhaS VIC
ice barrier will prove as formidable this
year as last. In view of this contingency
supplies Of all kinds will be taken sufti-
cient for the entire party for fifteen
months.
Construction of Sledges-
The service has had constructed in this
city three sledges, which are believed to
combine the essentials of strength and
lightness so necessary 10 Arctic travel.
At any rate they have the approval Of
Chief Engineer Melville and Lieutenant
Berry, of the navy, who are good authori-
ties on the subject. The more prominent
features in the construction of these sledges
were suggested by the first named officer,
and are the result of his experience while
on the Jeanette and during the mOmOra-
bic retreat which followed the loss OF that
vessel The largest sledges are Il feet in
length. with double runners-One four
inches in width and Hat, for snow, and the
other tree inches wide, slightly rounded
and intended for use on the ice. These
runners are brought together at the ends
and securely fastened. They are shOd with
thin Norway iron specially rolled for the
purpose. These sledges, complete, weigh
less than 200 pounds each, and 1t IS be-
lieved will be found great improvement
on both the native and the MCClintOck
sledges heretofore relied on. smaller
sledge of similar construction has been
supplied.
OIher Neeessaries PrOylded-The
Party.
The expedition will have two whale5oats
and a smaller boat for use in case of neces-
shy Sgedging tents made of blue denim
and capable of Sheltering six men each
have been provided, as have ice chisels,
boat COmpsSses, sleeping bags of sheepskin
and all articles necessary for extended
travel on the ice during low temperatures,
boats sledges and implements being paint
ed black to render them more distinguisha-
bic On the ice or snow.
The relief party of this year will consist
Of one officer Lieutenant Ernest \. Gar
lington, of the Seventh cavalry; one sur
geOn, not yet selected, and ten or twelve
men, all of whom have been detailed from
regiments serving in the Northwest where
they have become Injured TO extreme cold.
In view of the probable failure to reach
Lieutenant Greedy a suitable building will
be taken from st. Johns, in which the COM
bined parties can be sheltered during the
long months of an Arctic winter.