210 KANSAS CITY REVIEW OF SCIENCE. 



the Indian races to be, already in more southern latitudes — having learned the 

 fact that firing would keep down trees and aid in the preservation of the chase — 

 following the retreat of the glacier to the higher lands, and still as they advanced 

 northwardly, firing the plains up to the water's edge, it would certainly account 

 for the absence of arboreal vegetation from these immense lacustrine lands from 

 the very beginning of their formation. Of course with this view we should 

 have to look for some evidences of man's existence, both on the lands which were 

 once under water, as well as those which were timber lands at his first appearance 

 there. He did not know how many such evidences have been or may be found. 

 Man's traces in the past are at best but rare, and they would naturally be much 

 more scarce in lacustrine regions than in lands dry at the same epoch. At any 

 rate, this part of his remarks, he said, must be taken as mere speculation ; but, as 

 we could see on the basis of sound scientific investigation why there could be no 

 trees on these grassy prairies within the range of indubitable history, it was a 

 fair inference that some such cause had continued from the beginning; namely, 

 that annual fires had ever been the reason why arborescent vegetation had never 

 had an existence there. 



GEOGRAPHY. 



UNITED STATES ARCTIC COLONIZATION AND EXPLORATION 



IN 1881. 



The United States has no less than six Arctic Expeditions in progress, at the 

 present time, under Governmental control and direction. It is the only Govern- 

 ment that has actually taken the field in this direction, although most of the lead- 

 ing European nations, inspired by such activity here, are preparing for coopera- 

 tion next year. 



These expeditions are divisible into two classes : one comprising those sent 

 out for purposes of exploration and scientific research, and the other comprising 

 those sent out for humanitarian purposes only. 



The "Jeannette," the " Howgate" or " Lady FrankHn Bay " and the Point 

 Barrow Expeditions belong to the first-class, and those of the Rodgers, Alliance 

 and Corwin to the second-class. 



Those in the first-class differ again, and, most essentially in the principles 

 upon which they are conducted ; that of the Jeannette being naval and dependent 

 for success upon the ability of the ship to penetrate the ice to high latitudes and 

 return in safety; while those to Lady Franklin Bay and Point Barrow are to es- 

 tablish permanent stations or colonies, where work is to be steadily carried on 

 from a fixed basis and a vessel used only as a transport and auxiliary means of 

 assistance. 



