The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-03-07

| 1T is in tho same manner that the on
| shoots OF the inland ice stream out
| through the Ice valleys and the ice fJords'
| and down into the warmer strata OF ar
there TO melt and finally fan into the
| sea. where. broken off. they float away
| in the form OF icebergs.
"a certain breadth OF Ice belt IN the
| Polar stream OF the east coast OF Green
land must consequently answer 10 CON
/ siderable broader and more EXTENDED
| parts in the known or unknown Polar
! Sea. I think. consequently that we
may with certainty conclude that on this
side OF the Pole there IS an extensive Ice
covered sea.
There IS. on the contrary, probable
ity OF the existence OF lana OF considera-
bic extent on the other side OF the fole'
IL Is hardly reasonable to suppose that
at this moment the norther confines of
the American arctic archipelago have
been reached. We expect to find Islands.
perhaps islands OF some importance, north
/ OF the boundary known AT present
| ~ closer examination Of these parts,
we must hope. viii be undertaken in
not toO-distant future. The drift Of the
/ Fran has found that TO tho north OF
| Franz Josef Land there lies q deep sea,
| and that this country can have no such
extension northward as has been sur
missed IN several quarters.
Franz Josef Land not only proves now
TO DO a group OF islands, but a group OF
| comparatively very small islands. How
far they extend 70 the northward we cam
not yet determine with precision. but. in
any case. their extent in this direction
| cannot DO OF Importance. Potermann's
Land cannot be Of any great size, for
| otherwise We must have seen 1t when we
went southwark In tho summer OF 1885
| our export snce with regard TO the drift
| provides a complete picture Of how this
| lee is IN continual motion; how there Is
not a single stationary spot on the whole
| Of this great surface covering tho region
| around the Pole From the whole OF
this area the winds and the current car
| ~ the ice out toward the opening which
| leads 10 the Arctic Ocean. chiefly through
the large gaps between Spitz0ergen and
| Greenland, but also down through the
narrower sound between Greenland and
the islands Of the North American archi-
| pclagO. The massive ice mantle. with
| which so many Of our great Polar ex-
plorers have sought 20 cover our Pole,
| has disappeared. Instead Of II we have
| the ever wandering ice-nclds like n link
in the eternal round Of nature. OF the
character, formation, and freezing OF this
| fee, our expedition has CLEANED great and
valuable information.
"The weather I'm the winter ND there
! was unusually clear, and often for
! long time together there was not cloud
in the heavens. In the summer. when
there were open lanes and the snow melt
ed on the foes. there could. however,
he much mist even I'm the interior Of the
Polar basin.
"On the whole, there seems TO be much
equableness I'm this atmosphere, and the
winds were not particularly strong, they
seldom amounted TO what we should call
n gale here This was most apparent
I'm the eastern part OF the Polar basin; but
by degrees. as we approached the Allan
tic and parts between Spitzbergen and
Greenland. there was a change in this
respect, the wind sometimes blowing with
much greater violence.
From my experience, 7 must say that
I found tho Arctic regions q very healthy
place Of resort. and as proof OF this I
may mention that when ] returned from
wintering on Franz Josef Land / was
better than ! had ever been I'm my life
before. on tho trip from the Fran TO
Jackson I gained no less than twenty-five
pounds i'm weight.
Something of the same kind was also
my experience when on board. As far
as I could see. the rest OF the party were
perfectly well, and the physiological oX-
| aminations which We're made ON board
seemed 10 point in the same direction"
The fact was cabled 20 The Sun a few
days ago that Nansen IS seriously con-
! sdoring an Antarctic expedition which
should undertake the task OF making
| journey to the South Pole Dr. John
Murray, who is ono Of the most active
men in England In the matter Of polar
| Ia, ION ItU- puItffa THE
statement about the plans for Antarctic
research:
'We want TO know If there IS in the
South a real continent, or only a group
of volcanic islands; We also want to know
how much ice there is at the South Pole
| Nansen himself recognizes this, ana he
is ready at some future time TO make an
expedition to the Antarctic.
Various statements have appeared re-
garding British expeditions; but, so far
as 1 know, the Government has come 10
no decision in the matter Numbers Of
persons have offered money TO defray
| the cost of such am expedition. All the
| old naval Arctic officers want q naval
expedition on the lines Of the Ross and
! Challenger expeditions. The Antarctic
is the only piece OF good geographical
work 20 be completed on our planet; and.
| I'm my opinion, it viii be great shame
if Great Britain does not do it,
"But, before anything can be DONE we
are waiting 10 see what the British Gov
! eminent means TO do. Mr.. Goschen, a
year ago. said the political situation was
not the same as when the Challenger eX-
| petition was sent out and he had Meth
! or ships nor men 10 spare for such an
| expedition.
They might have more important
| things TO do. Since then the First Lord
of the Admiralty, who has always shown
| great sympathy for Antarctic work. has
| asked for particulars Of what is likely
90 be wanted for such an expedition. Nj
| Goschen has now before him such
| statement Ir this II is set forth that
probably two ships will he required for
three years commission. with a maxi
mum number of 300 officers and men. Mr..
Goschens decision has. as 1 have said,
not been giver.
"lf we find that the British Govern
ment though sympathetic, IS unable. for
nnan.ial or political reasons. TO send out
an expedition. 1 strongly advocate de-
| spatching % private British expedition. or
| organizing big international one. Such
an expedition leaving England would
probably spend the first summer I'M. sound
| ing the whole Antarctic Ocean south Of
latitude GO degrees: then we should have
definite idea of the contour lines.
III possible, a landing party should
be put ashore. Such a party would
probably travel 10 the South Pole in n