Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-04-24

Pole up at auction sale, and an Amer
lean society had just been formed with
the plan of purchasing this Arctic area
and had asked the concession.
For several years, it is true, the con-
ference at Berlin had formulated
special plan for the guidance of such OF
the great powers as might wish to APP
propriate rights under the claim OF col
onization or the opening of commercial
markets. This code was not acceptable
to all, and the Polar region had re-
NAMED without inhabitants. As that
which belongs to none belongs TO every
one, the new society did not wish
merely to occupy it, but to purchase 1t
outright, and so avoid further claims
There never is in the United States
any project 80 bold as not to find people
to regard it as practical and back it with
large amounts of money. This was
well shown few years ago when the
gun club of Baltimore tried to send
proiectile to the moon, hoping to obtain
a direct communication with our sat
elite. Was it not Contemplating Americans
who furnished funds for this undertake
ing? Large amounts were necessary for
this interesting trial and wsro promptly
found. And, had it been realized, would
we not have to thank the members OF
that club who had dared to take the
risk of this superhuman experience?
Should Lesseps propose to dig a
channel across Europe to Asia, from the
banks of the Atlantic to the waters OF
China; should well-sinker offer to bore
from the curbstones to reach the beds OF
molten silicates to bring a supply to
your fire-places; should an enterprising
electrician want to unto the scattered
currents over the surface of the globe
into one inexhaustible spring of heat
and light; should bold engineer con-
ceive the idea of putting the excess of
summer temperature into largo reser-
voirs for use during the winter in our
then frigid zones; should an anonymous
society be founded to do any OF a hun
bred different similar things, there
would be found Americans ready to head
the subscription lists and regular
stream of dollars would pour into the
company's safes as freely as the rivers
of America flow to the ocean.
1t is natural to expect that opinions
were very varied when the news spread
that the Arctic region was going to BIO
sold at auction for the benefit OF the
highest and final bidder, particularly
when no public subscription list was
started in view of this purchase, as tho
capital had all been secured before
hand.
To use the Arctic region2 Why, such
an idea could 'only be found in the
brain of fool" was the general YER
dict.
Nothing, however, was more serious
than this project. A prospectus was
sent to the papers of the two continents,
to the European publications, to the
African, Oceanic, Asiatie, and at the
same time to the American journals.
The American newspaper announcement
read as follows:
To the Inhabitants Of the Globe;
The Arctic region situated within the S4th
degree. could not heretofore have been sold at
auction for the very excellent reason that IL
had not been discovered as yet.
The extreme points reached by navigators OF
different countries are the following;
Eighty two degrees a minutes, reached by
the English explorer, Parry, in July, 1871, on
the 2sth meridian, west TO the north OF Spitz
berg.
Fighty.three degrees, 20 minutes, % SEQ
onds reached by Markham with the En-
rlish Expedition of Sir John Georges Mares
in May, 1857, on the 50th meridian, west, in the
north OF Grinnell Land
Fighty-three degrees, IS minutes latitude,
Il sd and IlrQtn ri
American expedition under Lieutenant
Greedy in May, 1889, on the g.. meridian,
west in the north OF Mares Land.
The property extending from the S4th
parailel to the pole a surface OF six de-
grees must be considered an undivided domain
among the different states OF the globe and
not liable TO be transformed into private prop
erty through public auction sale.
| No one is compelled to live in this section,
and the United States, relying on this non-own'
ership. has resolved TO provide for the settle
| ment and use OF the domain company has
| been founded at Baltimore under the name OF
| the North Polar Practical Association, repre-
senting officially the American Union. This
| company intends to purchase the said country
| according to the common law, which should
| then give them an absolute right Of proprietor
| shin to the continent, islands, inlets waters
rivers etc; in fact, Of every thing Of which The
| Arctic region is composed. 1t is well under
stood by the law Of nations that this title Of
proprietorship can not be touched under any
circumstances no matter what shall happen.
These conditions having been laid before al
the powers, the Arctic region Is to be sold al
public auction for the benefit Of the highest and
last bidder. The date Of the sale is set for the
Sd Of December Of the current year, in the Auc
ton Hall at Baltimore, Nd, United States O
| America.
Address for information Mr.. W. S. Forster
Temporary Agent for the North Polar Prae
teal Association, % High street. Baltimore.
The reader may imagine how thi:
communication was received by the pub
lie at large. Most people considered il
as an absurd idea. Some only saw il
it a sample of characteristic American
humbug. Others thought that tn,
proposition deserved to be fairly consid
cred, and they pointed to the fact tina
the newlY-founded company did not il
any way appeal to the public for pecu
mary help, but was willing to do ever,
thing with its own capital 1t was viii
its own money that it wanted to pur
chase the Arctic region The promot
ers did not try to put gold, silver AM
bank notes into their pockets and keeI