The Ordway new era., 1914-01-23

16S degrees OF longttude-while the
distance across 1t exceeds by many
hundred miles that from the north.
ernmost point of North America to
the Isthmus of Panama.
The survey OF these remote regions
was but one of the many progressive
improvements for Russia initiated by
that luminous character, Peter the
Great. Planned In his last years.
this most extended OF geographic sur
veys ever attempted was known as
the Great Northern expedition; 1t
lasted II years, from 1925 to 174a.
Its results gave fame to Bering, Mura.
vief, to the Laptiefs. to Prontschischef
and others. In later days they were
followed by kotzebue. Wrangel, Antou
and Sannikof
How Russia has persistently pursued
maritime policy for the develop
ment Of Siberian trade has been
fully set forth by Gen. J. de Schokal-
sky, Russian imperial navy. In vari-
GUS publications. Safe routes Of nav.
igation to and from the valleys of
the Yenesei. of the Lena and Of other
lesser rivers are absolutely essential
for the prosperity and development
of this habitable empire. which Ia
half as large again as is the United
States. Siberia is no longerr q coun-
try of convicts, but land swarming
with pioneers, wondrous leaven
among its 100000 Of Inhabitants.
Routes via the Kara sea and around
the north. end Of Nova Zembia have
been tested, but neither has been
found same for commercial ships year
after year. It was then suggested that
a satisfactory route could be found
by entering Bering strait. This would
enable Russia to obtain Siberian out
let, with vladivostok as the main port.
to which would be shipped the prod
ucts of the vast region to the east Of
Cape Chelyuskin.
In the summer of 1912 two power
full ice-breakers. the Taimyr and the
Vaigatz, made safely a voyage via
Bering strait to and from the Lena.
ScIndings anI surveys were made en-
route, but Ice conditions around Cape
Chelyuskin prevented the ships from
returning to Russia through the Kara
sea.
Early in July, 1913, the ice breakers
vaIgatz and Taimyr left vladivostok
to prosecute their surveys and to re-
new their efforts to round Cape Chel-
yuskin and return to st. Petersburg
through the Kara sea-
The expedition was under command
of General Sergelef. imperial Russian
navy, who was incapacitated by q
stroke of apoplexy. Lieutenant VIII
kitzky, imperial navy, succeeding to
the command, made running survey
of the Asiatic coast from the kolyma
river, latitude 70 degrees north, longi-
tude 100 degrees east, to Cape Chef
yuskin. 1t is the first time that this
cape has been visited by ship com
ing from the eastward. Wilkitzky's
hopes of completing the circumnavi-
cation of Asia were destroyed in long,-
tude Sc degrees east, where he found
an impenetrable barrier OF solid
ice,
AS the sea was open to the north.
he decided to explore this unknown
area of the Siberian ocean. To his
establishment, he soon sighted high
peaks. the submits Of new land In
latitude 81 degrees north, longitude
100 degrees east he landed. hoisted
the Russian imperial colors. took pos
session Of the land in the name of the
czar and named 1t Nicholas Second
Land.
Wilkitzky followed the land north.
ward, finding it with continuing
northwesterly trenh. In latitude 81
degrees north, longitude 96 degrees
east, he found pack of solid ice.
which forbade further progress.
though the land reached as far as the
eye could see. Retracing his course.
the southern extremity OF the new
land was found in latitude 7s de-
grees north, longitude 104 degrees
east, whence the coast took trend
to the northeast. The land is thus