214 SCIENCE. 
In the latter case, before proceeding farther, 
the second vessel is to land her house, two 
boats, and a year’s supplies for the whole 
party, in the vicinity of Dobbin Bay. Should 
both vessels avoid disaster, yet not succeed in 
communicating with Greely, one is to winter 
in Franklin Pierce Bay, and the other near 
Littleton Island. ‘The coast is to be examined 
on the way north, and cairns enclosing notices 
of the relief party’s plans established at promi- 
nent points on both coasts. The naval vessel 
or tender is to go as far as Littleton Island or 
Cape Sabine. Whalers and sealers are to be 
asked to keep watch of the ice-floes for any 
drifting party. It is also suggested that an 
advance ship be sent up still earlier, if possible, 
to relieve the Greely party, if by any chance 
they should have reached the Danish settle- 
ments or the entrance of Smith Sound. It is 
stated that Commander W.S. Schley, U.S.N., 
has been selected to take charge of the expe- 
dition. 
In many respects this plan seems well con- 
sidered, and, in proper hands, likely to suc- 
ceed in the desired object. It may be doubted, 
however, if the projectors fully realize the in- 
advisability of too great haste in attempting 
to proceed northward of Littleton Island, or 
the strong probability that no satisfactory 
opportunity for northward progress will occur 
in the natural course of things much before 
the end of July. Nothing would be easier 
than to grind up two or twenty of the stron- 
gest ships by pushing them into the pack too 
early. On the other hand, a proper method 
of early relief preceding the time of navigation 
—namely, by small coastwise boat and sledge 
parties combined — does not seem to have re- 
ceived any consideration in the report. Such 
parties would be much more likely to get early 
information than any number of vessels en- 
tangled in the floes off shore. It is certain, 
from all previous experience, that the chances 
are greatly in favor of finding the party on the 
western shore rather than on the Greenland 
coast. The probability of their having been 
able to reach Littleton Island is infinitesimal. 
‘7 , 
[Vou. IIL, No. si : 4 
We hope, that, in addition to the govern- 
ment expedition, a large reward will at once 
be offered to any one who may succeed in res- 
cuing the party. This would enable private 
parties to make their preparations for such an 
attempt before all the whalers and sealers have 
left port, would greatly increase the chances 
of a rescue, and would put all parties on their 
mettle. To neglect this precaution would be 
almost criminal. 
Tue destruction of the forests is frequently 
assigned as an efficient cause of freshets. But 
all the primeval forests which covered the 
head waters of the Ohio did not prevent fresh- 
ets, nor could they under certain combinations 
of circumstances. A wide-spread storm, with 
heavy rain on frozen ground and snow, such as 
to raise all its tributaries at once, must inevita- 
bly cause a flood. The floods of early days 
were of longer duration than those of to-day, 
by reason of the forests standing upon the 
river-bottoms and adjacent banks, which be- 
came filled with matted drift-wood, forming a 
tangled mass which obstructed rapid flow, and 
through which the water found its way but 
slowly. ‘The most serious effect of the denu- 
dation of the land is the increased erosion to 
which it is exposed, by which the fertile soil, 
unprotected by vegetation, is swept by the 
rains into the rivers, and lost. The magni- 
tude of this loss, and the great erosive effect 
of water on the clay soil of the west, can only _ 
be realized by those who have observed the | 
tawny floods, thick with mud, which flow — 
through the deep and wide valleys which the . 
western rivers have cut in the soft earth. 
In bright lands like Australia, where sun- 
shine is sometimes so prevalent as to give rise 
to complaint, it would seem that the advent 
of the rain-doctor should cause noalarm. Mr. 
Russell, the government astronomer of New 
South Wales, has, however, gone a long way — 
toward discouraging the endeavors of this well- 
minded individual, notwithstanding his offer 
to work reasonably, as it will appear to some, 
£, 
with nitroglycerine, with cannon, with elec- 
