Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-19
EXPLORATIONS BY THE NAVY
Valuable Contributions to the Worlds
knowledge.
Chief Hydrosrapher LIttIehnIc- De-
scri"es the Work Done by the
sailors In Time Of Pence.

Now that SO much has been heard OF the
glorious achievements OF the United States
navy in time Of war, ii may be a relief 10
the public to turn to the qu!eter pages Of
its history and recall the even more val
cable contributions 10 the permanent well
fare OF the great republic that have re-
suited from the painstaking explorations Of
our hardy sailors in times of peace
Few persons :ealze the Importance Of
these explorations and the far-rcaching
benefits in the way OF extension Of trade:
OF geographical and general scientific
knowledge that followed these efforts OF
the Navy Department to maintain the
proper position of the United States among
the family Of nations and to forward the
interests Of our merchant marine.
These achievements are set out in an in
terestinS style in an article by q. W Lit
tiehales, chief photographer Of the United
States photographic Office. just published
in the bulletin of the American Cieograph-
ical Society
Mr. Littlehales. himself a graduate OF the
United States Naval Academy explains
that his purpose is TO show how hy It's eN-
plorations, its discovery of new lands and
the acquisition of fresh information the
naval service OF the United States has been
among the forceful agencies OF tho nine
teeh'n century In extending the confines OF
a n
ing avenues through which the Industries
OF the people have poured millions OF trcas-
ure into the nations lap.
Exploring the Oceans.
He shows how the Atlantic cable vas
made possible through the paiio,,, i,,vqs-
legations OF the depths of the ocean first
revealed by the development Of 'docp-soa'
soundings by American naval officers. This
leads naturally to a recital of the iu,..n-
tl"nS OF Midshipman Brooke and later m
10y those OF Capt. SigsHer. who rautribuIad
the crowning triumph of the ART in his mr.
feet apparatus.
Turning to the subject Of sxplorati.ns
Mr.. Llttlehalcs describes the conditions as
to geographical knowledge. tbst sxIst,.j
after the second war for indepans.r,. rho
greater part Of the Pacific ocean was nm
charted and all OF Micronesia was nm
Known. First in commercial importance. in
The Pacific. the United States determined =,
do its share in the ACQUISITION of ,,,,,,r, mi
ca information. This determination I'D TO
The equipment and dispatch of the ,xpasi-
tl"n under Lieut.. Wilkes in IS3S which ex-
plored lo,ouO,oun square miles or pn.-fift,
OF the earth'S surface. a region studded
with more than 1.SnO islands and many
thousand reefs, and made charts which are
tGuay issued TO mariners. Besides this
wilkes discovered the antarctic continent
ana crossing the Pacific to the Philippines
by way of Hawaii, laid out the great high
way that was TO unite the holdings of this
country III the Pacific
Benefits to Commerce.
Next in order is set out the cruise OF the
brig Dolphin in 1852, under command Of
Lieut.. s. Z. Lee, in the north Atlantic
which had an important bearing upon the
commerce Of the world. and resulted in the
charting of many dangers to navigation.
Other features of Mr.. Idttlehales' article
are the explorations of the valley OF the
n y 20 in H.
Gibson.
Commodore Perry's celebrated naval cx-
petition to Japan. in 1854, which opened
that country to the commerce Of the world:
the north Pacific surveying expedition II
The same year, under Commander R,ngsuld;
the opening of the La Plata by the Water,
Nltch expedition. in 1913, and finally the
splendid achievements in arctic exploration
OF Han. De Long and Berry; the whole
making an ample demonstration Of the i'm
portant part played by the United States
navy in the development Of our couutry's
commercial Importance and in the addition
TO the sum total OF human knowledge