Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-09-15

runs In the SAME ulItttloli, SiioWii Ing loI
every place in question more souther-
ly determination the more recently the
latter was made-the difference
amounting to as much as second for
the century. From this experience we
may consider not only that the in
stability of the location of the North
Pole is an established fact, but that we
may have a measurement by which
the movement of the poles may be de-
termined. Surprising the forces caus-
ing the movement-no matter what the
forces are-to act uniformly, we can
see that in course of 5000 years the
latitude of certain place must have
been reduced by one minute, and after
36O. 600 wears by one degree. To bring
the change up to 10 or 20 degrees, the
supposed causes must have acted some
$500, 900 or 100000 years.
Now how far back do We reach by T.
600 COO years? Could we reach the middle
of the tertiary period? Certainly not.
For that We should probably need double
the time. TO be sure. certain theorists
geological ages, but the real and practl-
cal geologist can hardly be misled by
such calculations. Approaching the over
whelming though slow effect of the geo
side with Nordenskiold when the latter
said that the scientist in estimating the
length of the cosmical time periods
should not place himself on the stand
point of the child that desires with it's
hand to grasp the silver disk of the
moon.
Having thus found that a change of
the north pole, TO the extent of ten de-
grees. very easily might have taken place
since the middle of the tertiary period,
wv ~ the fossil flora for furf her
testimony.
AS mentioned above. it has been said
that the tertiary fossils proved that the
north pole of the tertiary period must
have been located just where it is now.
This assertion. however. was too hasty.
since in northern Asia, at the time, the
tertiary fossils had been examined only
in kamchatka.
Having examined the fossil collections
brought home to Nordenskiold from Mako
in southern Japan, l found that the same
testified to a climate colder than the pres
ent one. and as the fossil plants collect
ed at Mako were comparatively young, it
might have been possible that the indi-
Gated colder climate depended upon the
low temperature of the ice period Re-
Gently. however l have had the opportu-
nifty also to examine and determine the
tertiary plants collected by the geologi-
cal survey of Japan, and 1 have found
the remarkab BILE fact that even the ter
tiary flora of Japan shows a colder Gil
mate
Europe proves to have had much
warmer climate during the tertiary peri
cd than did Japan at a latitude OF 80 to 40
degrees. In many places of Europe. as
for instance at Peningen. in Bavaria sew
eral species of the palm tree seem to have
been common. q This difference between
the tertiary flora of Europe and Japan
can no longer be explained by accidental
causes influencing the isotherms of east
ern Asia but must depend upon more es-
sential and permanent forces.
If We turn to Greenland. at a latitude
of 50 to 40 degrees farther north than ia
pan, We shall be surprised to find from
its tertiary fora that the climate of the
tertiary period must have been at least
equally as warm as that of Japan. Now
Greenland lies Numerically opposite to
Japan, straight line between the two
countries going right over the north pole.
and nothing would seem more natural
than to ask whether the climatic differ
ences in question may not depend upon a
| movement of the north pole along the
said line. in direction from Japan to
Greenland Surprising such Il movement
we are really able to find such ample
verifica tons that We may say the suppO-
sition muy be proved to be Il fact.
Let us then suppose that the miocene
north pole was located some 90 degrees
nearer to Japan, that is. at about 10 de-
grees latitude and 1870 degrees longitude
east of Greenwich The territory ilora of
Japan would then have been found be-
tween 20 and IS degrees latitude while
that of Greenland would have been found
at Il latitude between u and So degrees
and if We examine all other hitherto
known tertiary fora. we shall find from
| everyone of them that they confirm such
location of the north pole. Should
such be the fate of the hypothe-
sis here presented, [ still venture TO hope
that it is step in the right direction
And in that case some wide vistas would
be opened to the naturalist. We might
tons which have hitherto baffled ali at
tempts at explanation, and regarding
which ! would say what a great scientist
once said: Il feel disposed to envy COM
ing generations because of the many in
teresting questions they will solve"