The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-04-23
DR. NANsEN's ANTARCTIC PLAN.

whom ore OF these brothers = plseiing in.
il at Lake Bennett.
DR. NANsEN's ANTARCT1C PLAN.
The Explorer Desires Knowledge =
Iaknewn Things 81 sessA Pese.
LONDON, April aS-Dr. Nansen's scai 10
stirred with q new ambstioa. The expaorec
wants TO head an expedition to the south
pole. aud has great hopes OF making tine
portaut discoveries In THAI part of the frc1-
Ell world. He has decided on the suhtece
ard discusses IL with has usual originality.
Dr.. Nansen has made ssroug plea tof
the fitting out az an expedition that VIII
seek for the continent that. II Is supposed.
exists at the south pole.
The plan in brief Is to send out an exc
peo.sion aid have properly equipped
party of Observers camp at = point like
Cape Adare. on the Antarctic continent.
for one or two winters. From there Il -
hoped they viii be able 10 make success.
fui excursions towards the anterior. and
bring back valuable information TO the
probable thickness OF the ice-eap. its TEN.
peEature AT different levels. i;s rate Of ac-
eumulation and its motion. concerning al
which points there Ia much difference oe
opinion. The few Indications % the depth
or the ocean in this part OF tho world
seem 30 show that there u y gradual
shoa.ing OF the ocean from very deep
water towards the Antarctic continent.
and so far as We yet know. either frOm
soundings or temperature obssryatione~
there are no basins cut OK from general
oceanic circulation by barriers or Ridges
similar TO those found in the Arctic.
In the opinion OF Arctic explorers. in-
Guiding DIR. Nansen. {, cannot he doubted
that an Antarctic expedition would bring
hack collections aad observations OF tho
greatest interest to all natursiisss ana
Psychologists. without which 1t to impos-
sshle TO discuss with success the present.
distribution Of organisms over the sur
.acs of the globe. or TO form true con-
ceptIon of the an.ecedsns conditions by
which that distribution had been hroughg
about.
such an expedition. IL - further argued,
would enable a more just conception o.
the volume relations OF land and sea 70
be formed. and In connection with peudu-
iuns observations some hints ~ TO the
density Of the sub-oceanic crust might b
obtained.
DIR. Nansn Is in cordial harmony With
the scientific men OF the country regarde
Ing tho valuable results 10 be obtained ~
means Of the suggested expedition. Here.
are his personally expressed views on the
subject OF an expedition by sea. 10 act IN
conjunction with one by land. for the
exploration OF southern polar regtona:
~ land expedition In the Antarctic
would be OF great Importance In connec-
ton with a naval expedition that hnD
been suggested. For my part. consider
|. doubtful whether there y . continent
points OF the coast an yet. and Il mighes
be that they are parts Of large islands.
Wa could only solve the Esscinl prohjsm
in the polar regions. Greenland has ii.
ready given us much information. but In
the Antarctic We should probably nn0
- A-1 A - 49,
Il do not think Il would be 80 din1cuit
70 explore these Antarctic regions - IL
expected. We know . good deal more
about than than We used 20, and We have
better ships. We have steam. and we are
not 30 afraid Of being crushed In the Ice
pack N former nayigafore were. The leo
Is not so hard or dangerous a. Il n In the
north. for where We are surrounded ~
an open sea We would not run the risk
Of being shut up In the Ice % much ~
In the Arctic regions There II more room
for the Ice 10 expand. We could uss the
opportunity 10 push the ship along the
open coast water. Ross could not do this,
bur we can with steam.
In calm weather, OF course. The sailing
vessel could not use her opportunity.
think that there would be great "a.
vantage In using balloons in the polar
regions. There IL no dificusty IN carrying
the necessary gas. and the balloons could
bs got up In a ausrter OF an hour. IL was
only the question OF expense which pre-
vented my taking balloon In the Fran.
With balloons there shoula be no DIM
Guilty In ascending the ice-cap. though
do not think there would be any trouble
in getting on 20 the inland Ice from the
bare coast lire.
"a journey on the ice-cap would solve
many important problems and secure
much valuable meteorological information.
All could not be done by one expedition
however. We all look 10 Great Britain
TO open the campaign. and II such an
expedition were sent cut Norway would
gladly Join in the attempt. and provide
an exploring party 70 take up the lana
work. The simultaneous co-opeFe ton Of
expeditions from various countries would
be Of the utmost Importance. Polar -.
picration has nowadays become q science.
We could lay our plans better. and N one
campaign We should probably be able 10
lay before tho world the main features.
at any rate. OF a part Of the giobs which
20 much influences that ocean over which
Great Britain Is proud 20 rule
Among the distinguished men who are
energeticaiiy supporting DR. hansen In
his plan for Antarctic exploration are
lard Lister. Prof Neumayer, OF Hambrsa.
Sir Cifment Markham, DIR. A. Buckham.
asr Archibald Geikie. DR. Slater. Prof
Darcy Thompson. Admiral W. wharton
and Sir John Evans
An EFFORT II being made 10 have the
British government appropriate s750ooe for
the purpose OF fitting out an expedition.
A. soon az this can be done the expediuon
VIII be gotten ready.
Chim<s~ TypewriteP.