XII NOTES BY THE EDITOR 



An Arctic expedition, organized by public subscriptions, to follow 

 substantially the route of Dr. Kane, and to attempt to reach the open 

 Polar Sea, sailed during the past summer from Boston, under the 

 command of Dr. Isaac L. Hayes (surgeon of the Kane expedition), 

 with Dr. Sontag as astronomer. The expedition was at Upernavik 

 August 14th, from whence Dr. Hayes writes as follows: 



"I anticipate reaching Cape Frazer, lat. 70 42', where I propose 

 spending the winter. A degree lower, however, will place one within 

 practicable reach of my proposed field of exploration. If the condi- 

 tion of the ice will permit, I will immediately, after a -winter harbor 

 has been selected, carry forward the boat which I intend using for 

 next summer's labors, and some provisions, as far north as possible, 

 and then leave them, secured against the bears, and return to the 

 schooner after the winter has firmly set the ice. Early next spring we 

 shall push forward advance depots, and, should we find either ice or 

 water, we shall endeavor to accomplish with boats or sledges, or with 

 both, the chief object of the voyage before the close of the summer. 

 If this fortune awaits us, we shall then return home without unneces- 

 sary delay. I do not, however, anticipate this result, but I expect 

 that we shall be detained two winters. I shall endt avor, by every 

 means, to avoid a third year's absence. Y\ r e carry with ns, however, 

 food and fuel for that period, and, in the event of our being so long 

 detained, I do not fear adverse results. AVith the fresh supplies we 

 have on board, I believe we can resist the scurvy." 



The act of Congress of June 22, 1860, authorized the President to 

 send some competent person or persons to the Isthmus of Chiriqui, to 

 examine and report upon the quality and probable quantity of coal to 

 be found on the lands of the Chiriqui Improvement Company, the 

 character of the harbors of Chiriqui Lagoon and Golfito, and the 

 practicability of building a railroad across said isthmus, so as to con- 

 nect said harbors. An expedition was accordingly sent, under the 

 command of Captain Engle, U. S. N., with Lieutenants Jeffers and 

 Morton as engineer officers, and Dr. Evans as geologist. The reports 

 of these o-entlemen show that the harbors on both sides of the Isthmus 



o 



of Chiriqui are unsurpassed ; that, in the opinion of Lieutenant Mor- 

 ton, " it is entirely practicable to connect the harbors by a line of 

 railroad adapted to commercial purposes ; " and that the coal found 

 there is of excellent quality, and the supply inexhaustible. 



The discussion of the observations of the U. S. astronomical expe- 

 dition to Chili, under Lieut. Gillis, conclusively establishes the fact 

 that Valparaiso, and probably the whole coast of Chili, as laid down 

 on the best charts (those of the British Admiralty), are four and four- 

 fifths miles too far to the west, an error of much importance to navi- 

 gators. 



The State Geological survey of California has been organized 

 during the past year by the appointment of Prof. J. D. Whitney as 



