Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-04-24

work aid taken possession OF the coun-
try without any further ceremony, as
it was their right as first occupants
But that is just where the ditlculty
came in, because until this time the
Pole seemed to be forbidden ground TO
any one. Therefore, in case the United
States should give possession OF the
country, the company wanted regular
title to it without trouble about the
matter in the future. 1t was unjust 10
blame them in any way, as in such an
affair too many precautions can not Do
taken. Besides, the circular had para
graph which provided for all future
chances. This paragraph was capable
of so many interpretations that the
exact meaning of it could not be rem
dered even by those Who studied 1t
closely. twas stipulated that the right
of proprietorship should not depend
upon any chances or changes in the
country, no matter whether these
changes were in the position or climate
of the country.
What did this phrase mean? How
could there ever be any changes in the
geography or meteorology OF country
which were not then plain, especially in
a country like this one to BIO sold at auc-
ton? Evidently" said some shrewd
ones, s.here must be something be-
hind it."
The commentators had free swing and
exercised it with a will. One paper in
Philadelphia published thu following
pleasant notice:
Undoubtedly the future purchasers OF the
Arctic region have information that hard
stone comet will strike this world under such
conditions that its blow will produce geographic
and meteorologic changes such as the purchas
ers of the Arctic region vial profit by
The idea of blow with hard stone
planet was not accepted by serious peo-
pie. in any case it was not likely that
the would-be purchasers would have
been informed of such coming event.
"Perhaps," said New Orleans news
paper, ''the new company thinks the
procession OF the equinox will in time
favor the conditions likely to lead to
the utilization Of this domain.
'sAnd why not? Because this move
ment mobiles the direction of the axis
of our spheroid, observed another cor
respondent
sReally," answered the Scientific Re-
view, of Paris. GAS Adhemar has pre-
dicted in his book on the ocean cur
rents, the procession of the equinox,
combined With the movement of the
earth's axis, will be such as to modify
in long period the average temper
AZURE Of the different parts of the earth
and in the quantities OF ice accumulated
around the two poles"
This is not certain" replied the
Edinburgh Review, ''and, besides, sup
posing that this would be the case, Is
not a lapse of twelve thousand years
necessary before Vega becomes our
Polar star in consequence of this move
ment and the situation OF the Arctic
territory consequently changed in re-
gard to its clipate?'
well" said the Copenhagen Dadblat,
sin twelve thousand years it will be
time to make preparations, and before
that time risk nothing-not even
cent"
1t was possible that the Scientific Re-
view was right with Adhemar. 1t was
also very probable that the North Polar
Practical Association had never counted
onsthe modification of climate due to tho
procession of the equinox. In fact, no
body had clearly discovered what this
last paragraph in the circular meant nor
what kind of change it had in view.
Perhaps to know it 1t would suffice to
write to the secretary Of the new soci-
ETY., or particularly its president. But
the president was unknown. Unknown
as much as the secretary and all other
members of the council. 1t was not even
known where the document came from.
1t was brought 20 the offices of the New
York newspapers by certain William
S. Forster, a Goldfish dealer of Baltimore,
member Of the house OF Ardrinell q
Co. Every thing was so quiet and mys-
FERROUS in the matter that the best re-
porters could not make out what it was
all about.
This North Polar Association had
been so anonymous that it was impos-
sible even to give it definite name.
If, however, the promoters of this
speculation persisted in making their