The morning call., 1893-11-19
A PRACTICAL EXPLORER.

The newest of the schemes OF polar ex-
ploration is proposed by Mr.. Robert Stein
of the United States Geological Survey; It
has the merit of contemplating posi-
bility of Iecuniary profit as we'll as scien-
tifc discovery.
A good map of the north polar regions
shows Jones Sound, which divides North
Devon from Z lesmere Lane, and connects
with the north point of Bafins Bay. just
where that sea merges into Smiths Sound.
Nothing is known of Jones Sound or of its
northern Observation-Disclosures Land-ex-
cept the east coast line. How far Jones
Sound extends Dortherly we have no
means of KIN owing, nor is anything known
Of the contour or area of Ellesmere Land
Arctic explorers in sailing up Smiths
Sound have traced its eastern shore. but
there our knowledge sto, 8. Mr.. Stein
proposes TO explore 1t through the agency Of
a humble of parties radiating from base
at its southeast extremity, at point $50
N lies from the pole. To this point he pro-
poses to dispatch party of eight highly
educated exI lorers in a steam whaler, sail
ing from st. Johns. Newfoundland.
On landing the explorers will build them
selves a commodous fire. proof house.
stocked with TWO years provisions. When
the house is completed two men will be
left In charge of it; the others will travel
on snowshoes or in launches. as the nature
of the country permits, for a distance of
100 miles, either north or northwest or
west, as they may find best, and there
establish secondary depot in the shape
of a warm. fre-proof house. This depot is
to be provided with food by the chase, it
being calculated that ole musk-ox will
feed five men thirty days, one walrus
eighty days, one whale ten years. Having
established this secondary depot the party
is to return to the point of departure, and,
if the season allows, to start out again and
plant another depot, also at a distance Of
100 miles from the main base, but in a
direction slightly varying from the first
By adhering to this plan the explorers
would succeed, in the course of three or
four years. in covering Ellesmere Land
with hive of stations spread out like a
fan from the original depot. And then, a
third line of stations, extending from The
second line toward Grinnell Land in the
direction of the pole, might be planted.
Thus, in course of sime-Mr. Stein talks
of twenty years-the whole area of the
polar region, to the border Of Lincoln Sea,
might be dotted with stations, which
would serve as bases of operations tor ex-
plorers.
Mr.. STEMS plan differs from all others
in that in it the discovery of the MOI tn
pole is a secondary aim. while the main
object ia facilit ting Arctic exploration.
The increased value of Arctic whales opens
probabilities Of profit in voyages of discov-
cry into the Arctic. A single large whale
caught in Lancaster Sound is now worth
something like $4,000, and the new splen-
didly equipped steam wbalers sometimes
bring home cargo worth $4,000. They
might do even better were it not that their
season is so short. The whales leave Lam
caster Sound in August. Where they 60 is
not known; but it is known that they do
U OF go TO Smiths Sound. They may flock
to an unknown sea lying west of E les
mere Land. If the borders Of this sea are
explored new whaling-ground may be
discovered which might be as valuable as
the one in Lancaster Sound.
Again. many of the rocks in the Arctic
regions belong to the oldest formations
and are thus likely to contain valuable