Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-03-21
EXPLORATION OF cREENLA AND.
DIR. Frithiof Nansen's Expedition Across
the Land of Icy Mountains.

Several times recently we have had
to record wanderings in most unpromis-
ing localities, says the London Times
but no experience could surpass for
apparent dreariness those which DR..
Frithiof Manson has been undergoing
in Greenland since last July. Courage
Gus hearts were needed for the little
party not to turn gloomy and down.
cast as it waved last farewell on July
IL to its late shipmates before the fog
enshrouded the whole. Twelve days
OF ice-drifting before the shore, which
had seemed within touch. was reached
would try to an uncomfortable point
ordidary nerves. After the boat crews
landed huge cliffs of ice had to be
climbed before the real journey could
be commenced.
When the table land was attained it
was so blocked with glaciers that
progress was at the rate of no more
than ten miles a day. Continually
loose snow had to be waded through.
AT height of $500 feet storm burst
upon them and compelled tedious
circuit. The western coast was fenced
against their descent, as the eastern
against their ascent by a terrible
array of ice bulwarks. On their ar
rival on the seashore they learned that
the last steamer had gone; and one
which their messenger overlook at a
further stage was unable to wait for
them.
In the circumstances the gavetv and
good humor which DR.. Nansen's and
Mr.. Sverdrup's letters exhibit do the
utmost credit to their equanimity and
the solidity of their physical constitu-
tions. We have little doubt that they
testify also to other results of the
undertaking which do not appear from
the present communications. The
leader is a trained and enthusiastic
naturalist; and the interior of Green
land is for science virgin soil. For
centuries the characteristics of the
country, its climate, its vegetation, its
four-footed and winged inhabitants.
its geology, have been subjects of I'M
verified speculation and controversy.
Thirty-three species of mammals and
124 of birds are known to live in or
visit it. There are curious insects.
The flora, as hitherto catalogued, is
abundant, and in the class of litchens
exceedingly rich. The swarms of
feathered migrants bear witness to the
presence of vast quantities of insect
and vegetable life. All the particu-
lars which have been collected have
been observed from the outside fringe
of the country. The scattered settlers
cling to the coast line, and it seldom
enters their minds to force their
way few miles beyond the frost
locked cliffs. 1t is reasonable to in
fer that the details which have been
gathered of Greenland and its produce
are infinitesimal in comparison with
the number to be ascertained behind
the encompassing veil of ice and fog.
That is what the world wants to be
told by DR.. Nansen; and it will have
to contain it's inquisitiveness for another
four or five months.
AS field of colonization Greenland
is hardly likely to appear in DR.. Nam
sens full narrative of his travels much
more attractive than it has generally
been considered in modern days. Re-
mains of ancient vegetation indicate
that the climate was once more favor
able. Even at the period of the old
dition must have been greatly superior
to the present. On the coast it is no
longer possible to raise cattle without
extreme care. Formerly there IS good
cause to presume that there were ex-
panses of excellent pasture for focks
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 in Newfoundland, the interior is
not to be judged by the coast. Frost
would seem to have mastered the rival
forces in nature. Summer warmth it.
self aids the progress of the glaciers,
which glide onward propelled by the
streams their thawing sides provide.
If utilitarian objects be forwarded by
the expedition it will much more
probably be in the direction of mineral
than agricultural industries. Coal
exists in large quantities. There are
graphic, iron and lead. Though they
have not as vet been discovered in
masses and with facility sufficient 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 but 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 occupied almost
wholly by an immense nodule of cryo-
lite. Cryolite is valuable for CONVEX
sion into soda and alum, and the
average yearly export of it is said to
be seventy thousand tons. Whether
DR.. hansen has noticed symptoms of
similar and as copious deposits else
where he will explain when winter has
raised its embargo. They will have,
it may be feared, to be extraordinarily
wealthy to tempt capitalists to brave
labors like his in the endeavor to
raa liza tham