Year: 1879




SCIENTIFIC AND COMMERCIAL BENEFITS TO BE


OBTAINED.


[From the San Francisco Commercial Advocate,


June 2S.l


The officers and other members Of the American
Exploring Expedition who are to sail in the JEAN
nette in few days from this port. met by invita-
ton the members of the California Academy Of
Sciences at their rooms. the evening Of June 16,
where . very able and eloquent address upon this
subject delivered by Arthur b. Stout, N. D.. in
which with mastery skill he portrayed the advan-
tages to science. to ana to mankind. that
would arise from the discovery of the true and
location of the North Pole. The Doctor stated
that there many points in science that would be
materially advanced by the Investigations that could
be made by the various members of the expedition.
among which might be mentioned the important
problems in astronomy that would be solved ;
Of the earth's relation to the sun. and its effect
upon the arctic summer and winter; the
fatness. projection or depression Of the earth .
surface the pole; the measurement of of mer
diam greater exactitude to the txaon of latitude
and longitude of important locations the surface
during cons of past ages; to compute the gradual
variation Of the plane of the ecipc to that of the
equator. with the consequent meteorological condi
tons; and to establish many other mooted facts
upon the firm PEDESTAL OF ascertained truth.


INDUCTION AND EDUcrroN OF THE MAGNETIC CURRENT.
The knowledge that would be gained in the fasci-
mating realm OF terrestrial magnetism would alone
compensate for the cost and the arduous struggles
Of the expedition. That the earth is great magnet
has been asserted by scientists but the OF its
magnetism has never yet been fully solved. 1t is
supposed to be derived from the friction OF the
earth's mass upon the intersteller atmosphere but
the fact has not yet been decidedly established.
Over quarter Of q century since. Hopkins Of Eng
land, published work on Terrestrial Magnetism
and Geology" in which he set forth the
course of the magnetic currents of the earth
and south path. He gave nomencla-
ture to electric facts; instead OF the terms pos-
tive" and negative he used those OF Induction
rent was absorbed or "inducted ut the North Pole.
and. passing through the centre OF the earth. was
discharged or educted at the South Pole. continuing
its circuit by traversing the surface Of the globe
from the south 10 the north In the work in ques-
ton Hopkins made the assertion that all terrestrial
matter is in motion and that the movement is toward
the North Pole. where its induction and that
it evolved from the South Poles or. in other words
that all terrestrial matter in accordance with
the currents of the EARTH The Doctor, in his
remarks, alluded to the commercial benefits to be
derived from polar discoveries and enumerated the
coal fields at Behring Strait. the whale and seal
OIL the fur trade the opening of direct trade with
the northeastern parts of Russia the elephant ivory
walrus tusks, MOSES and other articles which are
| found in thcse regions.


| NATURES FASCINATION.


There is strange attraction in these desolate and
weird realms. Nature is here seen in 80 marvellous


garb that the behoder is almost led doubt if he
is still upon earth. To one who has witnessed the
grandeur, beauty and gorgeousness OF ice scene.
there will be found any other that will equal
it for its fascination. When the einting beams Of
the sun fall upon the high peaks of the icebergs,
they reflected back in hues Of brlliancy combin-
| ing all the prismatic colors in food Of magnif-
cence that enraptures the gazer and fills his soul
with admiration of the beauties that can only be
| found in the arctic zone. Earth has elsewhere no
| counterpart for it. The prismatic tnts produced
| by the transmission Of the sunlight through the
| angular OF the ice cliffs transpose them
| into emeralds OF the deepest green; make of
| them rubies Of the most vivid crimson
pale them down to the soft tints OF the
aqua marine; give them the blaze of the
| opal; portray upon them the maiden-like blush Of
the amethyst CLINT them with the golden semblance
| OF the yellow topaz; cause them to sparkle with
the pure brilliancy OF the perfect diamond ana
| dow them with the cerulean blue OF the sapphire.
All this wonderful action OF light transposes the cold
ice crags from masses Of congealed vapor and i'm
bues the beholder with the sensation that he ia
| gazing upon all these beauteous and enchan ting
| gems not in their real diminutive sze but In tho
vast and gigantic proportions OF mountain masses.
| Nature has beautifed this sterile realm with her
most alluring attractions We're 1t not so, its
sterility left In its barren harshness there were
nothing in Its desoation that would lure the stops
Of the explorer to venture within its wild domains
May prosperous gales speed the Jeanette on her
mission OF adding to our fund of knowledge. and
when her destined voyage has achieved its good in
tent may her safe return laden she will be with


rich cargo Of scientific lore be thing of certainty
To those noble and daring hearts that tread her deck
give our ardent "God speed you'll aud utter for
them our earnest prayer. ''God bless you and pro
xa~kv vOr,lss