The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-02-15
ANTARCTIC RESEARCH.

Beyond all question, the present time
is peculiarly opportune for the pro-
secution of Antartic research. For it
must be borne in mind that in that vast
and almost unknown area, more than
twice the size of Europe, one expedition
however well equipped, cannot in the
nature of things hope to do more than
settle part of the problems that
silently await solution. What is I'M
doubleday indicated as the ideal treat
ment or the Antarctic question is the
establishment of an International Polar
commission such as attacked Artic
problems in 1882. A Gordon of expedi-
tons surrounding the southern polar
regions, representative of all the
great civilized Powers, and working in
harmony upon preconceived lines
toward definite ends, would add more
IN one season to the needed data for
the solution of the world problems in
VolVed than isolated efforts could do in
great many. But since there are now
TWO separate parties at work in the
Antarctic, and third will, 1t is hoped,
shortly be on it's way thither there
must be much valuable collaboration,
as well as many thousands Of simuta-
neous observations taken at far distant
points. This might have been the case
at the time of Captain Ross's voyages,
when the French and American ex-
petitions were both in high southern
ATTITUDES. But the opportunity was
missed. Since then science has made
such gigantic strides in the direction of
instrumental equipment for such work.
to say nothing OF the invaluable ad-
junct Of steam, that even with only
four parties attacking the problem on
differing meridians the most moment
GUS may be expected.
After all, this planet of ours, under
the distance destroying touch of these
latter days, has dwindled into a very
small place. And 1t seems preposterous
that a region like the Antarctic should
nave been allowed to retain so long the
secrets 1t undoubtedly holds The i'll
imitable sea of stormy waters that rolls
isS way liSAl dTOuHu Jul
globe, where no busy keel ruffies the
wave or smoke of painting steamship
mingles with the pure, keen air-how
strange that it should for so long have
been allowed to maintain it's primitive
seclusion! Those appalling barriers of
apparently eternal ice, along which
Ross sailed for hundreds Of miles
watching with an INDISPENSABLE fascina-
ton the baffied pillows hurting them
selves against the glittering cliffs that
rose sheer from the sea for hundreds of
feet-what lies behind them? Those
burning mountains flaming high amid
their frozen Businesses, and lighting up
the gloomy sky for many leagues
throughout the long winter night have
they no story to tell? And, in spite of
all belief to the contrary, 1t may be that
a land funa will be found that some
animals may have been fitted to live In
that wonderful country, which as far
as 1t Is yet known, Is absolutely sterile.
Many firmly believe that a warm polar
region exists at the southern end of
our earths axis, but with recent light
upon the theory of a warm artic sea
within the encircling barrier of ice there
can be little expectation that any such
marvel will be found in the Antarctic
The London Spectator