Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-18

~ 4 in his search for ,he
northernmost spot on earth does not inter
est him. His greatest desire is that his
arctic explorations may enable him to
prove some scientific theories and point out
some scientific facts. Concerning this point
We are enabled to quote from q magazine
article written by him and soon to be
published his ideas of the practical utility
CT reaching the north pole. He says:
There are a good many scientific
searches which are much needed in the
polar regions. L may mention here mag
netIc and meteorological obsery atoms. The
magnetism of the earth and its strange
changes has been and is Il riddle, and we
do not yet know much about this mys-
FERROUS force. The greatest lack in our
knowledge about it is, however. that We
have not sufficient magnetic observations
from the polar regions. We need
tinuCuS observations carried for years,
there. on board the Fran we got con-
,inuous series for three years: other expe-
uitiOns have also brought back valuable
material; but this is not sufficient We
should also have il from every part of the
unknown north. and cannot possibly
get too much 1t is not necessary to point
cut the Importance of knowledge of this
kind 1t is not only that the magnetic nee
ole points to the sailor his way from land
to land and from harl.or To harhor; but the
knowledge of the terrestrial magnetism
has in many other ways been of great bene
fit TO mankind; it has been one OF the step
ping stones for our evolution.
The Arctic Situation.
As to meteorology. it is now generally
understood of what great Importance this
science really is; but it is still in its in
fancy, and none Of us can tell what it Will
have in the future when it has been fur
Their developed, and We can more fully ex-
plain the various climatic changes. In
der to understand these, however. need
complete knowledge Of the physical con-
Gitio1S of the atmosphere in all parts of the
surface of the earth. We have now OBJ
tanned a tolerably good knowledge in this
respect of the known regions. and We have
meteorological stations almost everywher.
In the inhabited part of the globe. But the
polar regions still remain. and 1 cannot
emphasize too much the Importance of
further search there, the atmospheric
conditions diverse from those pre-
vailing in better known regions. We need
to know what influence those extended
snow and ice-covered tracts with the long
polar day and the long polar night have on
the atmosphere, and We shall not be able to
explain the atmospheric changes in our
own ATTITUDES before NO know more about
Ibis.
rs it Of airy special use TO reach the
north pole itself? l think il is. Not be-
cause this mathematical point has any
special interest or has any special scien-
tliic Ndlu'' GlItltnt from all OtEef points
In the unknown north, but because it E;.s
for centuries been the ambition of sea
farIng nations to reach this point and
there Plart their flag. and before this is
done the race for the pole will never cease.
1t also certainly is below the dignity of
man to erect a goal and then give it up
before II is reached / believe it can be
reached without too great difficulties NOT
only ny a sr.p drifting with the ice across
the polar sea, mentioEed above but
also by the help of logs and sledges fre.a
the Greenland side. 1t is 10 be hoped that
it sill not 10 long before this pon; is
gained. As long have this Holy
Grail reckoning us III the north we are all
of US apt to forget that it is scientific re-
search which ought to be the sole object
of all explorations.
How the Arctic May Be Explored
How can this unknown region be ex-
plored? 1 think there are various ways III
which ii ought to be done, as each of thrrr
will certainly bring important results
think the drift of the Fran has clearly
proved the efficiency of the mode OF travel
which we adopted. That ship can be
built able to withstand the pressure to
"hlcn II would necessarily be subjecta!
on a drift through these regions is estai-
llshed. 1t can scarcely be doubted that
the ram was exposed to difficulties Of
this Kind great as can reasonably he
expected 1 believe therefore. that the
polar sea can at all times be trayesed with
suincient safety in this manner. If only
proper PROVISIONS be made Furthermore
thls method of travel offers such great ad-
Santages that II certainly ought to be
ADOPTED in the future, as the drift of a
snip Ike the Fran through unknown re-
slons affords the best means of making
scientific Investigations of ali kinds 1t
rs only by sojourn of years that sufIi-
clent material be collected to enable
fuiiy satisfactory conception of the phys
icaI conditions of these regions he formed
A vessel like the Fran is in fact an ex-
cellcnt floating observatory
mink that such an expedition ougn.
10 20 north through f;ering strait and
enter the ice In northerlv or rernans
rather northeasterly direction somewhere.
between 1G) and 40 west longitude The
thip VIII then ne closed in by the ice, and
Will certainly Ice carried across the uE-
known sea great distance ncrth OF the
ram route. ACROSS. or. at any rate not
Tar from the pole itself and will emerge
INTO open water somewhere along the cas-
coast OF. Greenland. The sxpedition Will
thus bring . sum of information about the
polar region Which VII, /, of priceless
dement, TO many branches of science
The man who can thus Law ont for biro
SELF such Il course of scientific research
must surely be interesting IL his person.
ahty: TIE truth OF this is We'll attcsted 10
oy Mr. Richard Heard, whose friend he is
Mr. Heard te,is many stories which are
Characteristic Of the great explorer
Nenrly Hecame College Professor.
1T is not generally known" says Mr.
Heard. that Nansen once came near re.
lnquishinS his north pole project through
the agency Of college in Indiana While
We were travelling through Indiana one day
Nansen said. This IS the place where
nearly became a college professor 1 ask
ell him what he meant He said:
They offered ME the professorship o,
zoology in the university mere. and 1 came
very near accepting ii. / was then con.
tempiating my hrst trip to Greenland. ant
u was question with me as to whether
should go to America and take this profes.
sorship. or undertake my expedition tc
Greenland 1t required a great deal of de
liberation, but finally made up my minC
and declined the professorship'
The inside facts of Nansens early lif,
are not publicly known. but he was a:
brilliant a boy as he IS a man. We started
out the other day for quiet trip to Mag
ara TO see the falls. and while in a trolley
car Nansen was talking of mathematics
When i was a boy he said L solved
some problems which had never befor,
been solved. They thought they were 60
Ing TO make a mathematician of me-
Il said that was news to me, and asked
what were the problems. Then he hem
nnd and