The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-06-11
ARCTIC EXPLORERS.
DIR. Louis Stein VIII Take Party to
Ellesmcre Land.

Lana.
New York. June 10.A special to the Her
aid from Washington says;
thorouEhy equipped expedition is about
to start to explore a corner Of the froz.u
north. Its object will be that of scientific
Investigation. DR.. Louis stein of the United
states eeodetic survey with TWO we'll known
scientists. will embark from sydney. ~ S. W.
on July 20 for au extended exploration of
the coast of Ellesmereland. They Will go ia
the Hope. which has done much service in
the Arctic regions and is one of the ships of
the Peary expeditions.
The Hope will take supplies to Peary at
Bowdin Bay She will return Ia September
but Dr. SteIu and his companions VIII be
lett at Cape SABINE, The Scientists who are
gong with Dr. stein are taAldermist from
boston and pnyscist and naturalist from
Cornell university Tue party VIII ESTABLISH
a station at Alexandra Haven, thirty nl.e5
west OF Cape SABINE. They have supp les
Tor two years and do not expect To return
until september. 1900.
Inc main ouJecL OF the expedition will be to
trace the west coast OF Ellesmere Lanu
Dredgings Will be made, If possible, In the
surrounding straits, and Esqulmalt remains
Investigated. Collections will also be made IN
botany, which has not been attempted before.
Speaking OF the scientific objects OF his e&-
petition. Dr. Stein said; 1T Is to ascertain
with greater precision the shape, size anu
density OF the earth, the astronomers base
OF measure, and thus render the science OF
surveying more accurate. Ten pendulum OBJ
servatlons near the unknown extremes OF tue
are are worth Il hundred elsewhere Observa-
tons on magnetism, and especially near the
| magnetic pole. will benefit thousands OF YES
sells, which largely depend for their safety on
the precision with which the compass eau be
interpreted. To the meteorologist this eH-
petition is OF special importance. Tides and
currents are similarly nterdependent The
aurora can be studied where 1t is most COM
mon and most fully developed. Observations
on the character and behavior OF plants and
animals under the unique conditions of the
Arctic will give TO the student of organic lie
a more thorough mastery OF his problems. To
that end the sydrusraphy must be known
depth OF sea, temperature, water movement,
sea bottom salinty and light. The Arctic
affords the best facilities for studying one set
OF geologic forces-gaeiors. icebergs, frost ms
suring-in their extreme manifestations The
condition of the earth in past epochs will not
be fully known until the strata of the Arctic
lands have been mapped"
The party will take from ten to fifteen
dogs from Greenland and use them to aw
the vicinity of Cape Sabine in the spring of
1900 in puuematic boats, made OF rubber aud
inflated on the same principles as bicycle
tires. There are four air and water tight
compartments In each. and ii three OF these
should be punctured the one remaining would
be sufficient to keep the boat and its cceu-
pants afoat A house will be taken along
TO be erected at some point In the vicinity
OF Cane Sabine.
Or. Stein has been student OF Arctic sci
enttc phenomena for more than ten wears
On former occasion he organized an eXpedl-
ton TOR the rescue and relief of BiorlinE and
kallsteniusky, young Swedish naturalists
who were lost in the Arctic in the very por-
ton Of Ellesmereland which 1t is intended to
explore, This expedition fell through on the
very eve OF It's departure but. nothing daunt-
ed. the doctor began to plan for the present
rihces in order 10 undertake this expe iition
and expects to contribute largely Of his own
means to the financial needs Of the eXnedi-
ton. A few outsiders have given him little
financial assistance. and il is hoped that some
Of those interested in Arctic explorations may
add 70 the fund.