Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1877-02-17
The South Pole.

Almost every one has heard little
concerning the north pole, however
vague may be the impression produced
by the term. To man who believes
that the earth is fat-and there are such
men even in the last quarter of the nine
teenth century--the pole must appear
rather useless appendage. To men
generally, the north pole is that point on
q globular earth which is always nearest
the north, which is equidistant from all
parts of the equator or equinoctial line,
which has in it no east and no west, and
in which six months daylight is followed
by six months darkness. No enc has
ever seen the north pole, so far as human
testimony goes; and therefore no one can
say whether the spot is occupied by dry
land, open sea, or perpetual ice.
But who among lis knows even this
much concerning the south pole?
There is south pole certainly, form
ing the other extreme end of the axis of
the earth, point having the maximum
of south latitude, and enjoying continu-
GUS day mt the season when the north
pole is veiled in continuous night, and
rice cersa. So far as is known, while
the northern hemisphere has about half
as much again of ocean and sea rs of dry
land, i'll the southern the proportion is
more than six to one; in other words,
continents spread much less extensively
over the southern than the northern
halves of the earth's surface.
The greatest point of difference be-
tween the arctic and antarctic regions
lies in the fact that the former is dotted
over with numerous islands, peninsulas
and isthmuses; whereas the latter is ex-
posed to the dash of a vast and deep
ocean. Sir James Ross, in 1910, expert
enced from sweeping currents and winds
more than ever has to be borne by north
ern explorers. On one occasion, when
he was becalnled for few hours, the
dead set of the ocean waves drifted the
ships toward a range of huge icebergs,
against which the SET broke with appall-
ing violence. every eye was transtixed
with the tremendous spectacle, and de-
struction appeared inevitable" The
ships were thus driven on for eight
hours, until within half mile of the gi-
gantic icebergs, when gentle air began
to stir; the ships yielded to the influence
of the puff of wind, which gradually
freshened into a gale; and before dark,
to the heartfelt satisfaction of all on
board, the ships emerged from their
peril, and got out into the wide ocean.
The reader will remember that, two
years ago, the astronomers of the whole
world were greatly interested in transit
Of Venus ; correct observations of which
would, it was believed, afford data for
the true distance of the sun
from Venus, from the earth, and from
al the other planets. 1t was desirable
to make the observations at many differ
ent spots, widely separated both in lati-
5ude and longitude ; and one of the spots
selected was Kerguelen island, situated .
between the cape of Good Hope and .
Australia, but farther south than either.
Astronomers from England, Germany
md the United States landed on the
sland, and did good work there, but the
'oughness of the climate was great trial
o them. Although further from the
outh pole than any part Of England is
rom the north pole, the weather was
learly always stormy, and the tempera-
IRE verging on the freezing point, even
n the summer of that hemisphere.
Astronomers are considering of appeal
ng to the southern ocean again five
ears hence, when another transit of
Tenus will take place, and when still
nore advantage is expected to be derived
rom the use of station rs near the ant
rctic pole as possible. In order to give
hese hard working astronomers fair
LAY, it would be no more than right to
end out an expedition q year or two in
dvance to accumulate as many useful
facts us might be attainable;
nd it is just possible that in so doing
r James Ross sev6nty-eighth degree
f latitude might be overpassed, especial
Y as they might now have, what Ross :
ad not, steam power wherewith to con-
end alike against calms and adverse
-inds.
What we know of the south pole is
imply this--that nobody has got within =
even or eight hundred niles of it that ,
y barriers are met with quite eclipsing ,
nytlling known in the north frigid zone; \
lat mountains have been seen Zone =.
looting forth volcanic fames) loftier
ian any discovered by our northern ex- =
lorers that all the land is covered with {
low at all seasons that no human be- s,
g has been met with beyond tifty-six :,
egrees of latitude that no vegetable :,
rowth, except lichens, has been seen be-
ond fifty-eight degrees of latitude and
lat no land quadruped is known to ex-
t beyond sixty-six degrees of latitude.