New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-23

WHAT POLAR EXPEDITIONS DO FOR
SCIENCE.
Mr.. BoRcHGREvINK or ANTARCTIC ExPtORA
TloX-woNDER THAT so ATTEMPT HAS
BEEN MADE TO FINISH THE WORK


BEEN MADE TO FINISH THE WORK
BEGUN BY ROSS
In view o., the recent hansen agitation. there
comes mp IN the mind Of persons given 70 the CON
sdcration Of live subjects % the day question
70 the worth and value OF those expeditions whose
object is the discovery 81 the North Poe and
the investigation ~ that wide stretch OF unknown
territory called. In a general way. the Arctic
region" Should the Pole be found. should the lines
dividing Arctic land and water be carefully gone
over ana accepted authentic. what WI. be the
value Of such definite knowledge 20 MANKIND. -
science. 20 commerce. to navigation?
Originally the spirit OF exploration had rs In
ccnilve IN the greed Of gain national individual.
Tie hope that new lands were TO Do found. rich IN
mineral and other products OF commercial value.
led many daring spirit 10 peril and deprivation.
but territory Of this Kind has all been taken ~.
The Arctic and Antarctic alone remain shrouded
in the cod icy. impenctrahlo mystery maintained
from the beginning OF the world From the
eleventh century to the present day. attempts more
or less frequent; and OF large or small importance
have been made 10 reach the Pole. Large sums oi
money have been spent. many lives have been lost
ard much time consumed. As a result certain
knowledge has been acquired - the effect that
above a given latitude HE exists. nor can exist
tina; no buried treasure awaits the invader TO re-
ward him for his trouble. and that his pleasure
Of a prodlsious feat and the additions TO scientific
knowledge which would thereby accrue.
THE KNOWLEDGE OF GREAT VALUE
Men OF science are agreed that definite knowl-
edge Of the Poc and is rcslon Will be Of great
value to the world Ex-Judge Charles J.. DAILY.
president OF tho American Geographical Society.
once male an address at one of the meetings In
which he said.
"Why should We try 10 reach the North P0lr'
why send out costly expeditions involving peril
TO lfc and property when We all know that the
approach to the Arctic Honc IS surrounded by In
surrountabc barriers II IL involved nothing more
than the feat OF reaching the Pole IT would Doe very
difficult 70 answer sIcn questions but the general
answer 10 them Is taat there H. portion OF the
globe where observations in respect TO scientific
matters affecting the wnoie globe Ceyefy part OF ~
are important as in the polar basin and It's
vicinity The tremendous forces which are there
AZ work and which are the cause ~ the difficulty
of exploration and observation are physical phe-
nomena which 1t is most important TO observe and
study They have 70 DO with the winds. the ocean
currents magnetic influences and numerous other
questions Of the most practical nature In their ap-
pHcatlon and In results to which they lead. The
amount Of knowledge In the word which has been
discovered by accident Is small in proportion to
that which has beef the result Of previous inVest-
cation In the polar region will be found the key
10 unlock those mysteries in respect the laws OF
magnetism. All know that magnetism is polar
force. that It directs the needle which guides the
seaman upon and around the earth. But II is only
the scientific that knows the insurmountabe
difficulties that bcset investigation OF its laws. and
how important to the world is thorough knowledge
of those laws
THE best answer given 10 the query, We'll.
wha; OF these expcditions% was that given
by Franklin. when asked one day as regards his
discovery OF electricity. What Is the OF your
discovery? Frank.lns reply was this: What Is
the use OF a child? Make OF IT. The most
ordinary things in our present civilization their
origin to what in their day was scientific informa-
ton. and they due to the close observation and
patient labors OF men who could not have pre-
dcted the great results that followed their
searches"
At the time these remarks were made by
Judge DAILY there members OF the Council OF
the Geographical Society who did not agree with
him the question: and who held TO the opinion
that the game was not worth going after.
THE ADVANTAGE TO SCIENCE.
At the present time should reward the Arc
tic explorers. 1t Is expected that science would
receive It's valuable Information as regards the
laws Of the and air currents and the laws OF
meteoro,ogy. Positive knowledge Will be obtained
to I'll out the gaps OF science which
cupied by theory and hypothesis. SO far az the
United States is concerned. 1t has expended COM
paravely little money In fitting out expeditions OF
this nature American activity in this direction has
received its financial support largely from private
sources In the OF Peary the cos, OF his expe-
dtions borne almost entirely by himself From
this fact 1t may at least be inferred that the Ma
tions representatives have never considered It n
profitable investment. either from a commercial or
scientific standpoint; TO give financial support to
enterprises OF this nature.
England has expended large sums OF money on
explorations. 1t began In expeditions TO md e