The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-03-14
HUNTING THE POLE
DIFFICULTIES WHICH STAND IN THE
WAY OF ITS SOLUTION.
4 Cherries Yet Interesting Regjon-Ths
Frigid Circle aud What It Cor.a'ns-The
Treacherous Ice, Which Ii Alwsys Shift
ing and Varying.

ing anu v0xyIuSs
It is curious fact that the most cheer
less portion Of Our gIobs and the region
that is most awful in its desolation han
Tor generations been the center of most
absorbing interest. The region that is
the most remote from all civilization and
has the least to benefit mankind has pre-
. sented a weird fascination to explorers
that the long and unbroken line of fail.
ures has not been able to diminish. This
is the great zone or belt that constitutes
the vast northern circumpolar region, and
which, after defying nearly four centuries
Of exploring endeavor, still guards its sol
emn secrets with grim and unabated rig
lance. A mere catalogue of the pA bile
and private expeditions that have been
fitted out to penetrate this strange realm
would ill pages. But, whether they went
forth in quiet or with the zeal born for
heroic daring and endurance or went forth
with the pride and pomp of the armada,
not ono Of the multitude has found its
quest.
Now, In brief. Whist ere the general
physical conditions, what are these insur-
mountable impedimentS that have SO sue.
ceasfully barred all penetration to this alb
1t is, OF course, understood that the polar
points are such for the reason that they
are the axial points in the earth's rota
tion, and as our revolving globe presents
its equatorial line to the sun these polar
points thereby necessarily are the regions
most remote from the solar influence
Hence it Is that in the districts of these
pivotal points are the localities where the
IS h. IL l.
maximum, while the equatorial belt pre-
sents the maximum If high temperature
Now, as it happened, the polar point
under consideration is in tie midst of {
sea--at least, SO far as we know, this is the
case. Singularly enough, this polar basin
Is pretty we'll landlocked, the great north
ern land divisions of Europe, Asia, North
America and Greenland, all AUDITING
against or into this arctic sea, not in
solid, circular mass, Of course, or thi:
polar matter would be of much more sim
pie solution. But there ure great gaps OF
water that connect the Arctic ocean with
both the Atlantic and Pacific basins, and
we shall see how this great physical fact
bears on and bars polar investigation.
Those who understand something OF
what may be termed the photography Of
the earth's meteorology will know that,
owing to unequal temperature, there are
great circulating currents in the ocean
caused primarily by the unequaily heated
seas, or parts of seas, seeking equilibrium.
These currents also involve the Arctic
ocean, and now we shall see the action OF
the great factor, low temperature. When
the sun is low in the southern heavens
and the freezing line extends down to-
ward the equator 80 degrees of latitude,
there is then frigid circle over 1000
miles in diameter with the north pole as
its center and closest point.
Of course q tremendous congealation
takes place, but when the sun resumes its
northern journey the circle of high temper
ature is showed poleward until the area
that does not lose its ice is less than 5000
miles in diameter. On this area there is
something OF summer, more than the
mere sun conditions would warrant. The
matter is worth considering. While the
sun is still near the horizon, for months it
does not sink below it, and thus the solar
contribution of warmth is considerable.
But there is a halt of summer temperature
all around this axial REGION, and, come
the currents from whence they may, they
can come only from the south. There Is O
limit to north and south, but there is no
limit TO east or west, and thus it is, when
the summer belt is crowded far north
ward, that all the infiowing breezes are
warm-that is, coming from a southern
quarter-while all outgoing breezes hear
away some of the stock of lower tempera-
ture.
But this now loosens vast areas Of Zee.
Tnfa bN
melting masses fall over precipices and
pack ice, icebergs and fields of floating
ice, large and small, all crowd and crush,
grind and break as the currents bear them
out toward other seas
Long before this floating ice has had
time to be transported the brief summer
ends. The sun goes on his return Jour
ney, and the crushing ice, heaved into all
kinds of fantastic shapes known as hum
Knocks, is locked. Rains and SHOWS add
to 1t, and, though soon solid enough to
bear the weight of armies, there is nothing
more tiresome on earth than to journey
over IL. Some of the polar winters are
compaT atively mild, as few years ago
whalers went far in, the ice flow being
light, and found whales in immense MN
bers in secluded hooks in the arctic wa
tiers.
On that Arctic sea not once in a srore
Of years is there time when ice is not on
the move from the spring until caught on
the flow by the next winter. And yet
there are frogs and fowl innumerahle
The latter, of course, mostly leave wien
tho rigorous season comes and the former
hibernate down in the mud, where the
motion and temperature prevent freeing
All these creatures breed in that region
that yet so utterly defies man. Now cones
the question, How is the advance TO DO
made with such an environment, what
motive power other than dogs is availstie
and how are subsistence and the necessary
equipment to meet whatever may present
to be carried: This constitutes the prob
lem.
1t is unfortunate that this polar poir g.
not on absolute terra frma. 1t is Tbs
shifting, varying, changing and capriciDt,
foundation tha5 causes the mischief snf
presents the difficulties that have beer
found inslIrmouu table.
l., -