Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-10-10

Naval Insttsote.
Ap.prp NV LIEUTENANT DANENHowER DEP
RrcAr,Na FURTHER ATTEMPTS TO REACH
THE POLE DISCUSSED By EMINENT AUrHoRI-
TIES on ARCTIC oUEsTIoNs-cHIEF ENGINEER
MELVILLE LIEUrKNANT GREELY AND OTHERS
ON THE SIDE OF FURTHER EFFORT.
CORRESPONDENTS of THE EVENING STAR
ANNAPOLIS, October 8, 1885.
vary interesting discussion took place at
the meeting of the Naval institute In the old
chapel of the Naval academy this evening on
the polar question. Some of the most eminent
arctic explorers and authorities of the present
age took part in the discussion. Hon. c. r.
Markham, secretary of the Royal Geographical
society, presided. The immediate cause of the
discussion was q care:ully-prepared paper by
Lieutenant ]. w. Danenhower on the polar
question. In opposition to any further
explorations. The most salient features
Of the a1Sencs er
giving brief sketches and the results obtained
Of the various arctic expeditions which have
been made by the different routes, Spitzbergen,
Franz Josef Land, East Greenland, Baffin Bay
and Smith Sound, and Behring's Strait, Lieut.
DanenhOwer argued that the experience OF all
the expeditions that have reached the borders
the impracticability OF any ship, whatever be
its model or however fortified, coping with the
regions. The main point of the paper, however
was that after having served with one arctic
expedition, and having devoted seven years to
ful observation OF the numerous efforts and the
comparatively Insignificant results attending
sacrifice of human life and OF treasure. he un-
hesitatingy recorded himself as opposed to
further exploration of the central polar basin
beyond S5th parallel with our present resources.
in the Interest of meteorology, magnetism, and
other scientific branches, should be made, but
national support should not be given to another
To fortify himself in this stand, he discussed
at length the principal claims for the import
ance OF polar exploration. He stated that all
the earlier expeditions of this character had
geographical discovery for their chief object.
The efforts of the present century have met
with a fair measure of success I'm extending,
| step by step, our knowledge OF the desolate
lands in the extreme north; but the great geo.
graphical problem of the North pole yet re-
Granting that, at the times the recent expedi-
tons We're sent, geographical discovery was of
he held that t is obvious that the mercaniIe
value of the islands already discovered amounts
to nothing, and expressed the opinion that
evidence of what is to be found in the unex-
plored regions beyond. thus showing the fu-
tility of further penetrating them. The
the circle bounded by the s5th parallel of north
latitude, although extensive unknown areas
are below that parallel. Everything found and
experienced at the extreme northern points
reached goes to show that the unknown central
region contains vast areas OF ice lnterspersed
with desoiate islands of no value to man. He
called attention to the fact that British America
has not been fully explored, and yet it has an
area of 3,377, 900 square miles, while the cen
trail polar region has only :5S0, 900 so uare miles,
photographic research he held next in import
ance to geographical discovery, but that il is
not requisite to 90 to the central Polar regions
to carry on such work to the best advantage
Meteorological observations taken in such
isolated places and brought back to civilization
he considered too limited to sustain deductions
and conclusions based upon them. and besides
there is no special reason for believing that me-
neurological phenomena of the Polar regions diff
fer essentially from those observed near the Dor
ders. All other scientific discoveries that
might be made he treated in the same manner.
In conclusion, he said: "The time may come in
the progress OF civilization and advanced
knowledge when the exploration OF all the
present unknown parts OF the torrd and tenn
perate zones shall have been completed, and IL
Will then be the occasion to explore the ice
locked regions of the north pole.'
CHIEF ENGINEER MELVILLE FAvoRs FURTHER
ATTEMPTS.
In reply to Lieut.. Danenhower. q paper by
Chief Engineer Geo. Melville was read, in
which he took the ground that the explorers of
the past have had their uses and have contrib
uted their modicum of knowledge of which 1t
is our duty to make use, and ii In the future
search for knowledge any should come to grief,
1t will be another lesson for our successors He
search because of the hardships to be endured
or the loss of life or treasure.
said, land treasure is being accumulated by
men and nations to be squandered in luxurious
living, which leads to the decentralization of
men and nations; therefore, If men must die,
why not die in honorable employment i'm
search for knowledge rather than be sacrificed
to the molOch of gain tor the purpose OF adding
u few more thousands of dollars to the millions
already accumulated that tend only to de-
moralize our manhood and make the god man.
considered the best school for heroic endeavor,
and bemOaned the fate of America If her young
blood on land and sea has no sacrifice to make
for science and for the Information Of our fell
low man. Or gauges its life and services by fits
commercial value. He strenuously opposed the
Smith Sound route toward the POLE but on the
vantages offered by the Franz josef Land
route calling attention pagsieuiarly to the two
its perfect safety of approach and
retreat and its high latitude. He did not mean
to convey the idea that he intended using ships
for any other purpose than carrying supplies TO
a point of safety and returning. The advance
toward the pole must be made on foot or by
deer or dog teams, ii, as he claimed, a smooth
paleocrystic sea of ice is found to the north OF
the broken "tarrassy" and hummOcky pack.
He considered it as foolish to attempt to force
ships against the ice of the Arctic ocean, as it is
to imagine that balloons OF oiled silk can stand
sufficient force to work to windward against
cIusion, he placed himself on record as favor
ing future arctic expeditions and as prophe-
syfng that by the Franz Josef Land route the
uiSueSt polIt, IL uOI tuS ptAc VIII DS
reached.
CAPT. MARES VIEWS.
A letter from the famous English explorer
Sir George S. Mares, captain in the royal navy,
was read, in which he agreed with Lieut.. Da-
nenhower that if we closely balance the in
trnsic value Of arctic exploration, and only
guide our actions strictly by ex perience gained,
then neither the scientific and commercial re-
suits of further research, however successful,
undertaken with the sole desire of reaching a
higher latitude, would compensate for the dan
gers that have to be undergone. But he claimed
that neither individuals nor nations guide
their action by such close study. All enter
prise would stop if we were never to act without
being able to point to a decidedly successful and
well-balanced result of our undertaking. He
considered It OF the first Importance to a nation
to foster within due limits spirit of enterprise,
and that it is our duty to study the past and
present history of our world. He predicted
that further arctic research will be undertaken
before many years are passed.
A LETTER FROM LIEUT.. GREEDY.
Lieut.. Greedy sent a letter from New England
on the subject, which was read. He agreed that
from unitarian standpoint arctic expeditions
do not pay, but thought the matter should not
be considered from a commercial point of view.
Systematic polar work he considered OF the
highest scientific value, and that to the navy
belonged the privilege of conducting it. He
thought that in times of peace arctic expe-
ditions would be the best training for the navy,
affording countless opportunities for the display
of perseverance and herOism. To the navy the
results from such expeditions would be fully
commensurate with their cost.