Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-01-10
EXPLORATION OF GREENLAND.
DE-, FrithiOf Nansens Expedition Across tn
Land of Icy Mountains,

Dr. tflLnlOI NanSenS EXPeti1tl0n Across the
Land of Icy MeUntains,
! Several times recently we have had to
/ record wanderings in most unpromisinR
localities, says the London Times, but no
experience could sur pass for apparent
dreariness those uhich Rr. Frithiof
Nansen has been undergoing in Green
| land since last July. Courageous hearts
were needed for the little party not to
turn gloomy and downcast as it waved a
last farewell on July IL TO it's late ship
mates before the fog enshrouded the
whole. Twelve days OF ice drifting be-
| fore the shore, which had seemed within
touch, was reached, would try to an unen-
durable point ordinary nerves. After
the boat crews landed huge cliffs of ice
| had TO be climbed before the real Journey
could DE commenced.
! When the table lend was attained it
was so blocked with glaciers that progress
was at the rate of no more than ten
miles day. Continually loose snow had
to be waded through. At height of
Z 500 feet a storm burst upon them and
compelled tedious circuit. The western
coast was fenced against their descent,
as the eGstern against their ascent, by a
terrible array of ice bnlwarks. On their
| the last steamer he'd gone; and one which
their messenger overlook at a further
stage was unable to await for Shem.
In the circumstances the gayety and
good humor which DR.. NanseG's and Mr..
! Sverdrup's letters exhibit do the utmost
credit to their eGuanimity and the soliG-
| ity of their constitutions, We have
/ little doubt that they testify also to other
results of the undertaking which does
not appear from the pres entnoommunioa-
| tions. The leader is trained aud en-
| thusastic Dgtu-eiist; and the interior of
Greenland is for science virgin soil. For
centuries the characteristics OF thecoUntry
it's climate, it's vegetation, it's four footed
and winged Inhabitants, its geology, have
been subjeo CT unverifie6 speculation
and controversy. Thiyty three species
o mammals and E24 of birds are known
TO live ia, or visit it. There are curious
insects.
The fore, as hitherto ca:elog0ed, is album
dant and in the class of Kitchens exceed
ingly rich The swarms OF feathered
migrants bear witness to the presence of
vast guam titles of insect and ,vege table
life. All the particulars which have been
collected have been observed from thu
outside fringe OF the country. The scat
tered settlers cling to the coast line, and
it seldoms enters their minds to force
their way a few mikes beyond She frost
locked cliffs. 1t is reasonable TO infer
that the details which have been gath sred
Eof Greenland and i*s produce are in
.fnitesimal in COMPARISON with the number
to be ascertained behind the enoOm pass
ing veil of ice and fog.
That Is what the world wants t@sbe told
by Dr.. hansen; and it will have TO contain
its inquisitiveness for another four or
five months.
As field of colonization Greenland
hardly likely TO appear in Dr.. Nansen's
full narrative of his traS els much more
attractive than it has generally been con
sidered in modern days. Remains of
ancient vegetation indicate that the eli
mate was orce more favorable. Even at
the period of the old Teelandio settlements
the physical condition must have been
greatly superior to the present. On the
coast 1t Is no longer possible TO raise
cattle without extreme care. Formerly
there was good cause to presnme that
there were expanses of excellent pasture
for hocks and herds.
From the few words of DR.. Nansen's
letter it may be inferred that his route
lay through no inland districts OF a
character TO justify the faint hope that.
as ia Newfoundland, the interior is not
to be judged by the coast. Frost would
seem to have mastered the rival forces
in nature. Summer warmth itself aids
the progress of the glaciers, which glide
onward, propelled by the streams their
thawing sides provide If utilitariau
offsets be forwarded by the expedition it
will much more probably be In the direc-
zion of mineral than agricultural indus
tries. Coal exists In large quantities.
There are graphite, iron and lead.
Though they have not as yet been dscov-
cred in masses and with a facility suffi-
Client to make the working pay it Is
more than likely they may be plentiful
inland.
Already the country is famous for
mineral known TO exist in one other
spot of the earth alone. At Ivigtut, on
| the Arsut ford is an area of 400 feet in
length by some hundred deep, and of the
same or a less breadth, which is occupie
| almost wholly by an immense nodule OF
cryolite. Cryolite is valuable for con-
version into soda and alum, and the aver
eye yearly export of it is said to be
seventy thousand tons. Whether Dr..
Nansen has noticed symptoms of similar
and as copious deposits elsewhere he will
| explain when winter has raised its EN-
barge. They will have, it may be feared,
to be extraordinarily wealthy to tempt
capitalists to brave labors like his in the
endeavor to realize them.
Fire destroyed eleven buildings on
La Fayetse street, Decatur, Ala. Loss,
$4,000.