The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-09-20
NOrdenskj0ld.
Denver Tribune.

Swedish Society of Anthropoly and
Geography, Baron Nordenskjold gave
an address outlining the plan of his ex-
petition to the Arctic regions, which re-
Gently started. The Dagablad Of Stock
holm, gives report of the baron's ad-
dress, of which the following is trans
lation: It had been Prof. Nordenskjold'
intention to take voyage to the New ST.
berian group of islands, where many i'm
portant scientific questions could be
solved, and from which new lands might
possibly be discovered in the north.
But as the members of the Jeanette ex-
petition had visited this group of is
lands, and the Lena Delta had since
then been crossed by several other expe-
ditions an international meteorological
station also having been established
there, the time was not suitable to ex
plore the group of islands in question.
After reminding his audience that it is
now Just 900 years since Greenland was
discovered by Northman, Erik Rode,
and speaking briefly of the appearance
of the land, Prof. Nordsnksjold passed
to u representation of the grounds upon
which he had come to doubt that the in
terror of Greenland consisted of o single
immense field Of ice. In the voyage
along the northern coast of Siberia the
absence there of all glaciers bad brought
him to the conviction that the so called
ice period had not extended its power in
70 consistent degree over the northern
hemisphere as had been assumed. 1t
lay, then, nearest at hand to investigate
how the ice conditions in the interior of
Greenland might be. Prof. Norden.
skjcld make some calculations over this,
which showed that the inner part Of
Greenland could not be covered with
ice.
These calculations were referred to
Prof Edlund. who had come to the same
result. The chief ground for Prof.
NordenskjOld's assumption is that the
wipds which pass mp mountain are
chilled, but in the descent down the OPP
posite side of the mountain are warmed
anew, and, il they Here moist in rising.
give of moisture and become dry. II,
now (which, however, conflicts with
what one knows of other continents on
our globe), the inner portions Of Green
land are higher than the coast regions,
then the foundation of Prof. Nordensk-
jolds calculation falls. But if Green
land, on the contrary. IS observations
70 to show, is higher near the coast and
lower toward the middle, there cannot
be any continuous field of ice. In order
TO investigate this, Prof. Nordenskjold
intends to make an incursion OF thirty or
forty days on the inland ice. The plan
for the voyage is. in brief, the following:
The Sophia is to start from Gothenburg
on the Goth Of the coming May. and land
in Northern Scotland to take Prof.
Nordenskjold on board. as he. on &C
count of parliament matters, cannot be
ready to accompany the vessel from the
Swedish port. Then the course will be
steered to Iceland, whose east coast may
possibly be touched to land Swedish
Mineralogist; ct all events. the vessel
will lie to vt Reikiavik, where the stay
will last some days. From there the
course will be westward to the ice bar
rier, which binders ell approach to
Greenland's east coast Except further to
the north). and then continued in q
southerly direction along the edge Of
Joe. Soundings and photographic
meteorological examinations will be
made il this sea. which in said respects
has scarcely been the object Of investi-
CATION. and the vessel will lie to at the
celebrated cryolite quarry. directly west
Of the southern point of Greenland, Cape
Farewell. After coal has been taken in
here, the voyage will b. continued to the
vicinity Of Disco island. in whose neigh.
borhood Baron Nordenskjold intends to
step upon the main island, in order to
begin the trip on the island ice at the
Same place as the former time.
Whi1a this Ooaa nm Docart NsAhor.k
will examine the immensely rich stock Of
vegetable petri6cations to be found on
Disco island, from . period with warmer
climate, and make collections. which
ought 10 be Of great interest, - he will
be the nrst psleontologist who visits this
famous place for finding things. Fur.