The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-03-02

nent, u settlement Of which would be Of no
meaH value To science, The evidences Of
the sciences therein may be more technical
o OF popular interest, but they point ~
the same general direction and from Thorn In
deducod tho fact (which absolutely involve
tho existence OF IN extensive Antarctic land!
"a lnnd which mi 1T have been clothed with
varied vegetation, and have been alive with
beasts, birds and insects" Mr.. BlSndford,
the president Of the Geological society OF
London, in his annual address, recently de-
liyered, tells us that growing acquaintance
with tho biology Of this world leads natural
lists TO u belief that the higher forms of ter
restrinl life. originated during the mcSozOic
peried-still further to the southwards, that
Is TO say In the lost Antarctic continent for
the traces OF which We desire to seek"
Notwithstanding the much heavier leo
conditions, and the natural inference there
from that the climatic conditions are &C.
ver6r IN the Antarctic than tho North Polar
regions, Maury IL inclined TO %think--f0r
complex meteorological reasons which arc
too long and technical to describe here
That the climate Of the south polar area IL
miIder than that of the north. The relative
difference between the two polar climates
will be greater than that between n Cana
dian and an English winter. ''Ihe true
character OF the climate of this region liz
one OF the problems awaiting solution"
says Grifiths, OF Australia, land whatever
~ AssspohS S"Ry W bhso GbbS" 81 Nv . IAN
50 near to us. that its m%eteorology must
have n dominant influence on the climate
or Australia, II on this fact the value of q
knowledge. Of the weather OF these parts
must rest"
The general value Of magnetic surveys /
ing their great yalae from the time and
money devoted thereto by eminent scien-
fists ana Literally disposed governments
would here insert the conclusions Of Capt.
Craik delivered to the British association
that great advantage to the science OF
from q new magnetic survey Of the southern
hemisphere, extending from the parallel of
40 degrees south as far towards the geo
graphical pole ~ possible"
Much information might also be obtained
regarding the aurorbe of the south polar re-
Rions, or the Aurora Australis.
But l know l am travelling on safe popu-
lar ground when l can commend the IN
dertaking from . commercial or "practic-
al" standpoint. In the way Of possible
commercial returns there are many signs of
a hopeful character, while the csrtainties
are reduced to the very important one Of
have studied the question from the prac-
tical side of personally seeing the rapid
decadence of the north polar whale fisher
les. say; I'VE think it il established be-
yond doubt that whales Of species similar
to the right or Greenland whale found in
high northern latitude exist in great num-
bers in the Antarctic seas, and that the es-
Establishment Of a whale fishery within that
area would be attended with successful and
profitable results"
On tho other side, too, / have tried to
find some good authority against the gen
eral results, but SO far l have been able to
encounter only those vague, intangible gem
eralities which we hear waged SO often by
those people who cannot Dee beyond the
diameter of a dollar in investigating any
thing presented to them.
FREDERICK SCHwATKA.
Copyright.