Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-03-03

turely To the expedition. Peary intends
following the route adopted by Captain
Hall and along which Greedy suisse
quently reached what stood, up to Nam
sens time, as the farthest point north
ever reached by n civilized being, name
ly 50 deg. "a min. north latitude.
Nansen's old ship, the Fran, is be-
ing QUILTED for another Arctic trip in
command of Captain Sverdrup, who
navigated the vessel for hansen. But
II does not appear that the aim OF the
second voyage of the Fran into the
frozen north is anything more than for
scientific observation in already dis
covered territory, that is along the
shores OF Greenland and Grinncll Land.
Walter Wellman win voyage toward
the North Pole this summer, using
methods similar to those adopted by
Peary, only he will make Franz Josef
Land the base OF his operations instead
Of entering the Arctic by Davis strait.
Again. Frederick q. Jackson. who spent
three years In Arctic explorations in
Franz Josef Land. intends entering the
uneNplored region lying west and north
OF Jones sound.
The fifth expedition Quitting for
the north IL headed by Professor 4. @.
Nathnrst. one Of Professor Norden-
skjold's companions on his Greenland
trip Of 1888; but 1t differs from the
other four by reason of the fact that
It's object is not necessarily the dlscnv
cry of new lands or a raid on the North
Pole, but one Of search for Professor
Andree and his associates in the daring
North Polar balloon expedition OF last
summer. Professor Nathorst has the
strongest faith in the theory of the
survival Of Andree. and thinks that he
and his two companions Will he found
on Franz Josef Land. where n cashe Of
provisions was provided for them by
the Jackson party In anticipation of
the aeronauts returning that way after
their desertion of the balloon. Pro-
fessor Nathorst will sail in n vessel
built on the same lines as those Of the
famous Fran.
In addition to the foregoing expedi-
tions there are two others ofloat seek
ing TO penetrate the unknown territory
surrounding the South Pole terri
tory that is much more n terra lncog-
nita than its antipodes. only one
South Polar explorer ever pierced the
Ice pack surrounding il like an impen-
etrable wall. That was Sir James
Ross, who made the passage in the
ships Erebus and Terror in 1871 fore
ing his way through the pack into the
open sea which he found beyond by
putting the blum bows of his ships
straight at the Ice with all sail set.
Ross discovered in the open Antarctic
ocean lying beyond the belt Of the ice
pack great volcanic mass. with lofty
ranges and one active volcano in Il.
which he traced for 500 miles-to rs
degrees south latitude. Ross also dis
covered the great South Polar ice cap.
the source of the Antarctic ice pack.
The cliffs of this ice cap rose $50 TO 800
feet in height and were traced by him
for 200 miles.
The Franz Josef Land expedition un-
der Mr.. jackson was largely devoted to
these objects. For three years the
members of that expedition occupied
themselves with the meteorological.
magnetic and astronomical observa-
tons, in studying the flora, geology and
zoology of that section OF the Arctic.
The Geographical Journal for the cur
rent month publishes in full Mr.. Jack
sons report TO the Royal Geographical
Society and the special reports of his
scientific assistants. The results of the
meteorological and magnetic observa-
| lions remain to be worked out and are
as yet of unknown value. The geology
OF this Arctic region adds to our lSnowl-
edge of the earth's life history: and
what the Jackson party found among
the flora Of Franz Josef Land and Spite
bergen throws some light on the ocean
currents of the Far North
Walter Wellman answers the ques-
ton of the utility of North Polar explo-
ration IN the American Monthly Re
| lew Of Reviews by quoting Sir John
Barrow's statement of half a century
| ago, namely: THE North Pole is the
only thing in the world about which
we know nothing, and that want of all
knowledge ought to operate as n spur
to adopt means of wiping away that
stain of ignorance from this enlight-
ened age" Barrow erred in his limita-
ton of human ignorance to the North
Pole, for it applied at that time, as it
does now. to the South Pole, and the
fertile interior of the African continent
was then described on the maps as
desert. Wellman supplements Barrow
by assuming that the glory OF standing
on that point of the earth where there
is no north, no east and no west only
south-is worth all of the effort Of
winning. II that were all there were
In polar exploration, 1t would be OF very
little benefit to the human race. but
while Mr.. Wellman places the empty
glory of being the first to stand on the
Pole as the leading inducement for the
effeort tn accomplish, the real value of
| all polar exploration consists In that
| which he slbordlnates. namely. the
| the procuring of information concern
| ing the magnetic and electrical forces
| of the earth: polar meteorology and
| geology the forms, extent and resources
| OF polar lands. the depths of polar seas
| and the courses and velocity of polar
| currents and organic life OF the pres
ent ages as shown in the rocks. and
| solution of the great problem of glacia-
| ton which. he very properly states.
involves the history Of the human
race"
Men brain-fagyed from business cares