The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-06-23
What is the North Pole,

tenant Robert T.. Peary, the American
Artie explorer, spoke to a number Of
young folks on "Aretic Explorations
and Experiences" Ii was fascinat-
ing story, and as he is TO go north again
next year, and in view OF Nansen's
wonderful voyage, it is doubly interest
ing.
Lieutenant Peary began by explain
ing what the north pole is: Why it is
simply a mathematical point at which
the axis Of the earth cuts the circle of
the earth; il il 80 degrees Of latitude
and so degrees-or no degrees-Of
longitude. Assume for the moment
that man Is standing on the north
pole. What will be some Of the pc
euliar conditions there? In the first
place, though he would stand there for
twenty-four hour, the daily revolution
of the earth would simply have the ef-
feet Of turning him about face
With man standing on the north
pole there is but one direction in the
whole world, and that is south He
can move only one directien-sOuth.
After he has taken the first step, south
ward he can go to the right OF the left,
to east or west, but that first step must
he southwark.
If he remained there for a year he
would but have one night and one day.
The sun would rise on the 2lst day Of
March and il would pass daily around
the horizon, each day getting little
higher. On the 2lst day Of June it
would be 23l degrees high, or little
more than one-quarter of the zenith.
Then it would begin TO descend again
until the 2lst of September. On that
day it would roll around the horizon
and on the next day it would have
disappeared, to remain invisible for six
months.
During this time when the sun is
down, this man would see every star
in the heavens. Ifin the summer he
step directly toward the sun it is then
noon for him. If he take one step
backward it is midnight for him. \
man standing there can not say he Is
having 4 good time or a bad time.
What is time? Noon is the instant at
which the sun passes the meridian on
which we are. \ man ut the north
pole has no meridian and hence can
have no noon.
What are the physical peculiarities
of this north pole? Well, no one has
ever been there, l can say, however,
that there is absolutely no re1son
whatever for assuming that there are
unusual conditions ut the north pole.
There is no reason for thinking that
there is an open Polar sea There is
no reason for thinking that there Is
paleocrystic sea; no reason for the Old
superstition that there is a great hole
at the axis or wonderful volcano. II
there be any land there, it bears prob
ably the same characteristics as other
Arctic lands; lands that have been
seen by exploration. If there be any
water at the north pole, it is an Arctic
sea, similar to other Arctic seas that
we know of.
Now, as regards its discovery.
What is the use of hunting for the
north pole? What will be the good of it
when is-is found? Regardless Of any
commercial vsige whatever, the fact re-
mains that the discovefy of the north
pole, AS a geographical feat, will rank
with the discovery of America by Co
lumbus. The discovery of the north
pole is the only great geographical fact
vet remaining to be accomplished on
the face of the globe. The man who
discovers the north pole will in the
future years rank with Columbus, so
far rs the importance of his work goes.
Ii is asked is the game worth the
candle? Is this discovery worth the
expense, the time, the risk, the hard
work? AS regards the money, you
may have an idea that money expend
ed on an arctic exploration is thrown
away. Yet that money is spent TO buy
food, to pay men, to purchase equip
ment, clothing and supplies of all
kinds, and the money is expended
here at home. As regards the risk,
that is practically out OF the question
now. The revolution in arctic meth
ods has been such rs 10 make arctic
work to-day just as safe as exploration
in any part Of the globe; perhaps more
so than in some countries. In arctic
regions there are but two foes, cold and
hunger. Cold is not to be considered
10y well man who is properly clothed
and fed. can say frankly and truth
fully that was rs uneOmfortably cold
on the quay walls of the Brooklyn
navy yard last winter as | have been
in the arctic regions.
But the discovery of the north pole
does not mean simply attaining that
spot. 1t means determining the geo
graphical features of very large area
of the polar regions, which has rs yet
been unexpIored. What is the Use Of
discovering the poles What good was
the wreath of leaves that was prized in
the Olympic games? In value the discov-
cry of the north and the wreath are
the same-they represent the intelli-
gence, the energy, the courage, the en-
durance and the indomitable will that
climb over every obstacle.
Up to year ago there were three
possible ways of reaching the north
pole. One was by the route advocated
by DIR. Nansen, his theory being to put
a ship into the ice north of Siberia and
drifting, perhaps to, or at least near
the north pole. The second route was
va Franz Josef Land. That land
when discovered in early '70s, was sup
posed to be the southern point of &
great arctic archipelago. The third
and what may be called the American
route, developed by American explor
ers, is along the northwest coast o
Greenland, which is longer to be re
garded as a great continent
During the last five years / hav
made four Journeys across the interio
of Greenland, with the result Of deter
mining that Ii is not continent, but
huga arctic island with an archipel