Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-06
Mr.. STEMS PROJECT
1t is Ably Discussed by Former Arc
tic Explorers.
GREEDY AND MELVILLE MDORSE IT
Interesting Meeting of tho National
Geographic Society.
A WASHINGTON ENTERPRISE

A WASHINGTON ENTERPRISE
Six men of skill and science talk ed for
nearly three hours last night at the Ma
tional Rifles Hall about ice and snow and
everlasting cold. 1t was a veritable sym
postum of chill, but it did not seem to af-
feet the audience, which filled every seat
and took very warm interest in the pro-
ceedings. 1t was special meeting Of the
National Geographic Society, held for the
purpose of explaining to the public the pur-
poses of the expedition to Ellesmere Land
that has beef projected by Mr.. Robt. Stein
Of the geological survey. incidentally, it
was also for the purpose of swelling Mr.,
STEMS fund, and the additions to the sum
total must have been generous, for every
expense connected with the meeting was
paid for by those interested in the expedi-
ton, and every ticket sold represented so
much clear profit to the cause of science
and arctic knowledge.
MIR. Gardiner Hubbard's Introduction.
Secretary Herbert was to have presided
but he was i'll and sent letter which was
read by Mr.. Gardiner Hubbard, the pres-
dent OF the society, who presided in his
stead. Mr.. Hubbard told how Mr.. Stein
had presented himself to the society and
pressed his claims for attention. But the
members had little faith in the scheme and
gave him no encouragement. He still kept
at work, however, until he had secured the
favorable notice of Gen. Greedy, Commodore
Melville and others, and then the Geo
graphic Society saw that there must be some
merit in the project. There was a doubt as
TO whether Mr.. Stein possessed the quail
tues OF leadership, such as are necessary
hntf he
agreed upon two men. either one of whom
would make a leader In whom the public
would have perfect confidence. Mr.. Stein
mad said: Il go on this expedition, with
leader, or without one" and Mr.. Hubbard
added that when a man talks like this
there must be in him the sort Of stuff that
makes successful arctic explorers The ex-
peaitlon VIII cost, he explained. about sl0.-
ooo OF which Mr.. Stein has secured about
%WO. with another $1,000 promised He
called attention to slips that had been laid
on each seat. forms of blank subscriptions
10 the expedition fund, and urged that all
who could should give In any sum from a
dollar upward.
Gen. Greely's Talk.
He then introduced Gen. Greedy, who
spoke for three-quarters of an hour about
arctic explorations in general, his own in
particular, and incidentally about Mr.
Stems project. He traced the course of
discoveries, from those of Baffin in 1916 to
the present day, and asserted that il the
proposed expedition should become firmly
established on Ellesmere Land it will have
almost virgin ground to work upon The
permanent base will be from 10 to 80 miles
OF land absolutely unknown to civilized
man. He said that the observations to be
hiaue there were very valuable. especially
should a magnetic base be established He
said that he was confident Mr.. Stein will
do good work in the interest Of science. and
he characterized the expedition as project
ed ds practicable. desirable and safe
Commodore MelviIIe's Address.
Mr.. Hubbard gave Commodore Melville a
handsome introduction, saying that he stood
out most conspicuously for his great work
in the rescue of the belong party, without
the loss of a single life The commodore
read a brief address upon the purposes and
Inspirations of arctic expeditions. They are
undertaken, he said, for every purpose that
is grand and noble, for the benefit of fellow
man. for the benefit of human knowledge.
There Is no desire on the part of the genu-
Inc explorer, who has his heart in his work,
to make catch-penny of his sufrerinSs
ike a boy who exhibits his sore toe for the
bite of an apple
III could show to a capitalist" he said
the certainty of making 100 per cent out
or an expedition costing 81 ,O00OO I'd guar
antee having the entire outfit inside of
thirty days. Unfortunately, the world is
too prone to regard chiefly the loss of
treasure IMAM the loss OF life. Is
there better school for heroic endeavor
for youth than arctic seas? 1t is some
thing for a young man to do, something
which man has failed ever to do before
You may speculate until doomsday and
theorize forever, but you cannot get true
knowledge OF the conditions in the far
north until you go there and study amid
the actual conditions"
Commodore Melville took issue with the
folks who contend that in order to insure
success white men must live with and like
the natives. He said that white men may
live indefinitely in the arctic regions If
properly clothed and fed. and If contented
IN mind. Life among the natives is I'M
necessary and loathsome. and liable to de-
tract from the real success of the expedi-
ton. He closed by saying: Woe to Amer
lea when the young men of her army and
navy stard back and pate of the dangers
of the ice pack. and when her citizens fail
to come forward 10 the support of enter
prisHs such as this. and when folks begin to
question the use of all the endeavor that
mas been spent in the frozen seas"
Capt. Shepherds Paper.
He was followed by Capt Shepherd of the
revenue marine service who read brief
paper about the establishment of the refuge
station at Point Barrow. the highest north
on the American continent He gave the
history of the legislation that finally Gull
minated in the erection of a house on this
The house was put up ready for occupancy
in october, 1889. 1t has four rooms and is
able to accommodate one hundred persons
for period of nine months. The first year
1t cost $l2,o0O. including the original ex-
penditure and the maintenance, but since
then L has cost but $1,000 a year Can't
shepherd thought that the success of the
Point Barrow House warranted the estab-
lishment of simila: refuge station on the
eastern coast i'm the track of the whalers
VINO go into James sound at such a point
as has been chosen by Mr.. Stein Tor his
base of opera tons.
Senator Perkins on the Pacific Route
Senator Perkins of California was the
next speaker and he spoke out of his ample
experience as the owne- of whaling fleets
He paid a glowing tribute to Greedy and
Melville, and added that glory should not be
Withheld from Mr. Hubbard, whom he COM
pared with Richeiieu as the power behind
the throne. When Mr. Hubba ID was r.ady
to send out an expedition for the discovery
of the pole from the Pacific route he
thought he would have sufficient influence
with the whaling company with which he
is associated to secure for the party free
transpo- tation into the highest waters that
are navigated, and" he added Il can In
dertake to furnish also good camping
ground-plenty of ice water
The Senator gave his reasons why he
thought the Pacific route a profitable ore
ma i'm lN- fln Of th