The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-01-26
THE REMAINS OF THE ICE AGE.

While Lieutenant Peary is exploring the
northern and northeastern coasts of Green
land, Danish travellers are opening the
southern extremity of that bleak continent
to public view. In 1892. under the auspices
of the Danish commissioner on Greenland
exploration, Lieutenant Nansen crossed
Greenland in the latitude of Godthaab,
about 64 deg. north longitude, and added
much TO our knowledge of the ice cap,
which is the remaining relic of the glacial
age. Last summer his work was pursued
by Lieutenant Garde. also of the Danish
army. He crossed $50 miles south of Nam
sens line. in about the latitude of 81 deg.
80 min. He did not actually reach the
coast on the east side. but he got so near
it that nothing would have been gained by
pursuing his march. He spent thirty-six
days on the road, marching at the rate of
about ten miles day.
Among the additions which he has made
to our knowledge Of Greenland must be
counted. first. his notes of the trend of the
mountain range which traverses the CONT
nent from north to south. Lieutenant
Peary crossed the divide few miles from
the east coast; the summit was about 5000
!eet above the level Of the sea. This was
in the extreme north. In the south, about
80 miles from Cape Farewell, Lieutenant
Garde found the divide close to the west
coast; the summit was about 1000 feet
above the level of the sea. Thus the range
runs west of south, with probably no ele
vations such as those which we find on our
continental divide.
Like hansen, Garde found the interior of
Greenland an even. level plateau of ice, on
which snow was piled in uneven ridges as
the wind distributed it. The whole region
Is evidently in the condition in which the
bulk Of North America existed in the
glacial age. How thick the ice-coating is
10 Greenland we have as yet no means of
knowing. Scientists figure thatin the East
ern States it was from half a mile to 4
mile thick. 1t Is probably not less in the
region north of 60 deg. north latitude. No
signs OF a movement Of the ice body-such
as relieved the temperate zone of its icy
cloak-have been reported from Green
land.
1t is apparent, however. that the eternal
glaciers are in summer diminished by
lquefacti on and evaporation, so that their
bulk probably remains the same from year
to year. Lieutenant Garde gives curious
mug VI aAlOh VI AhO pNnNi VI viz sun hpOh
the ice and snow. When he camped to
rest in a snowhouse. at or near daybreak,
the tread of his men in building the house
lowered the level OF the floor of his house
several inches. so that when they went 20
sleep they lay in hollow. But when they
arose at nightfall TO resume their march
they found that the sun had lowered the
level of the snow all around them. so that
their house was several inches higher than
he snowfeld around it. Travellers in the
Rockies have noticed how powerful the
rays of the sun are even in winter at or near
noon. After nightfall, when the sun
has set, intense cold prevails, and the
moisture which has accumulated on the
surface Of the snow congeals and becomes
hard enough TO bear the weight of a mans
footsteps; hence the explorers found that
the best time for the march was from 10
or II in the evening to ay5reak.
Science has thus far been unable 10 &C.
count for the disappearance Of the ice
fields from the temperate zone. The
theories of changes ID the orbit Of the
earth, involving changes of temperature,
appear to be plausible. but they are al best
coDisctures. As knowledge progresses
some explanation of the ice drift, which
has left its mark on the rocks, will p1oba-
bly, be given on scientific data. The cause
must have been overwhelming in power.
and must have extended through long
ages. 1t is mystery at the present time.
1t would seem that Greenland is the right
place to look for its solution. For the law
of uniformity which prevails throughout
nature, must apply to regions north of 60
deg. as We'll as the regions south of that
latitude. If the ice masses travelled and
melted so as to create the drift age in
New York and Pennsylvania, they should
pursue the same course in Greenland 1t
is this presumption which lends import
ance TO explorations of the unknown lands
of the extreme north.