St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1893-08-03


Denmark, England and America.
The fifth country is Germany, and
the object of the members of the ex-
petition from that nation is to study
the glacial phenomena of South
Greenland OF two the object of the
promoters is identical, the discovery
of the North Pole. This is the work
DR.. Nansen, Norwegian, and Mr..
Jackson, an Englishman, have set
themselves to do, but in the minds
of many thoughtful persons it is a
hopeless task, at least by the meth
DDS each proposes to follow. DR..
Nansen's scheme, which is, in brief,
TO throw himself with a specially
constructed vessel into the pack ice
north OF the new Siberian Islands,
with the expectation that the cur
rents as will carry him across the Pole,
some of the clothing Of the crew Of
the ill-fated Jeanette was, seems
especially chimerical, and there is lit
tie doubt that it was nothing but this
known daring and former brilliant
success in Arctic regions that led sci
entihc bodies to consider the propo-
sition 70 a moment and assist in
raising the necessary funds.
Mr.. Jackson's idea to reach the
Pole by landing on Franz Josef Land
and travelling northward by means
OF sledges is not new one. 1t has
been before attempted, and there is,
therefore, it would seem, but little
chance of success this time, especially
since the conditions of the attempt
are much the same. A possible ex-
petition is one to Arctic America, for
the purpose of locating the magnet
ic pole, feasible and important pro-
ject, and which will be, if the funds
can be raised, purely American en-
terprise, and the conception of Lieu
tenant Glider. The two remaining
expeditions, while not Identical in
purpose, have interests in common,
and it may be that sections of the
two will meet each other in their
work. These are those of DR.. Ryder,
a Dane, who returned last year from
the east coast of Greenland with val
liable discoveries, and who returns
there this yearto pursue his research
es, and Lieutenant Peary, whose
splendid achievements of 1S91-92
justly placed him in the front rank
ofthe Arctic explorers of the century.
Both purpose to make explorations
on the east coast of Greenland, but
that with Lieutenant Peary is but
an incident. His main object is to
explore the northern limits of Green
land and the outlying land beyond.
1t is this expedition that will be of
the deepest interest to Americans.
Lieutenant Peary will sail with funds
raised by his own exertions and by
the Geographical Society, a young
of Philadelphia, which
is taking an active interest il the ex-
petition. 1t is purely private en-
terprise, while all those to be sent
ont from foreign countries are more
orless the recipients of governmental
aid. More, its expense is much less
than any of the others. That of DR..
hansen will exceed $4,000, Mr..
Jackson's $4,000, the Danish
about the same, while that under
Lieutenant Peary will not exceed
SOS, 900, including relief expedition
two years hence. Lieutenant Pea
RVS plans seem so feasible, some of
which he has already practically
demonstrated, that he deserves all
the assistance he desires. And this he
can hardly fail to secure in Philadel-
phia, city which has fostered ex-
ploration expeditions to a greater
extent than other city in the world
: Minneapolis Times.
LESSON IN SELF-RELIANCE.