738 KANSAS CITY REVIEW OF SCIENCE, 
miles north to its union with the Beni—7oo miles around, in place of less than 
300 miles direct. The waters of the Beni come down from the gold mines of 
Bolivia and through forests of Cinchona trees; and the Madre de Dios from a 
much larger area of similar territory of Peru. 
Dr. Heath, alone, unaided, spent two years in patient, determined prepara- 
tion near the scene of the proposed exploration, and then, in a frail canoe, with 
only two Indian servants, with certain death before them, as all Bolivia believed, 
paddled bravely forth to explore a great river and extensive country where, dur- 
ing 350 years, a score of costly expeditions have disastrously failed. It is 
thought that the governments of Peru and Bolivia will give official recognition of 
his daring and successful achievement. His work will develop and change the 
commerce of many hundred miles of mountain and plain. Rubber and bark will 
now descend the Beni, instead of going 600 or 700 miles around. What risk and 
danger he faced in descending an absolutely unknown river, larger than the Mis- 
sissippi, in which were rapids and falls! What satisfaction he must have felt 
when his canoe entered the yellow waters of the Mamoré, having successfully 
braved the superstition of ages and opened up a new country to commerce! 
Dr. Heath has achieved a noble work in exploring this unknown region, 
which will be recognized everywhere, and as long as the Orton river flows, men 
will remember the explorer whose name it bears, who contributed so much to our 
knowledge of South America, and gave up his life to the cause of science. 
CONGRESSIONAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR SCIENTIFIC PURPOSES. 
[The following extracts from the billmaking appropriations for sundry civil 
expenses of the government for the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1882, will be of 
interest to our readers and to scientists generally :—En:ror. | 
THE HowcatTEe PoLar ExpeEpDITION.—Observation and exploration in the 
Arctic Seas: For continuing the work of scientific observation and exploration 
on or near the shores of Lady Franklin Bay, and for transportation of men and 
supplies to said location and return, twenty-five thousand dollars. 
Lieut. A. W. Greely, 5th U. S. Cavalry and Acting Signal Officer, has been 
assigned by the Secretary of War, to the command of this expedition. Lieut, 
Greely will be permitted to select such officers and men from the army as will be 
required to carry out the objects of the expedition. In our next issue we shall 
probably be able to give fuller details of the personnel of the expeditionary force. 
THE BENNETT PoLaR ExpepITION.—To enable the Secretary of the Navy to 
immediately charter or purchase, equip, and supply a vessel for the prosecution of 
a search for the steamer Jeannette of the Arctic Exploring Expedition (which the 
Secretary of the Navy is hereby authorized to undertake), and such other vessels 
as may be found to need assistance during said cruise, one hundred and seventy- 
five thousand dollars: Provided, That said vessel shall be wholly manned by 
volunteers from the Navy. 
