F. GEOGRAPHY. 173 



the 16th of August, when it was near the Bear Islands, in 

 latitude 76 17' north and longitude 60 41' east. The expe- 

 dition found immense masses of thick ice, but easily penetra- 

 ble by steam-vessels. At the date mentioned the expedition 

 was in sight of Cape Nassau, at least 220 nautical miles in a 

 straight line from the ice-barrier in latitude 74.5 north and 

 longitude 48 east, which had been reached on the 25th of 

 July. Circular from Dr. Petermann, October 10, 1872. 



RECENT EXPLORATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES. 



The various government exploring expeditions have been 

 busily engaged in carrying on the important work intrusted 

 to them ; and it will be safe to expect as the result a larger 

 addition to our stock of detailed information respecting the 

 western regions of America than has ever been brought 

 together during a single year. The more important of these 

 parties are the northwest-boundary survey, the geological 

 explorations of Mr. Clarence King along the fortieth parallel, 

 and the surveys of Lieutenant Wheeler in Nevada and Ari- 

 zona, under the War Department; that of Professor Hayden, 

 in two divisions, under the Interior Department ; and that of 

 Major Powell in Colorado, under the Smithsonian Institution. 



Among the most thoroughly equipped and elaborate ex- 

 plorations is that of Lieutenant Wheeler, which is now fairly 

 in the field, and engaged in carrying on its work. This has 

 for its object a complete investigation of the region west of 

 the hundredth meridian, for the purpose of determining its 

 geographical position, thoroughly working out its topogra- 

 phy, and investigating its geology, natural history, and cli- 

 matology. 



As the basis of this work, it is proposed by Lieutenant 

 Wheeler to divide the region referred to into eighty-five 

 rectangles of equal size, and to mark their corners with great 

 precision, then, taking each one in detail, to determine its as- 

 tronomical, physical, and natural-history features. This, of 

 course, will require considerable time for its completion ; and 

 it is hoped that Congress will grant the necessary authority, 

 so that the work may be accomplished as speedily as may 

 be. As each rectangle is elaborated, it will, of course, join 

 on to those previously investigated ; and an index map is 

 to be carried along simultaneously for the more ready under- 



