The Savannah morning news., 1900-08-19

correction upon accurate magnetic obser-
walton. the immediate return OF polar ex-
penditure must be evident.
In the other branches OF polar explora-
ton, the object is not so clear. except to
specialists but to remedy the erriug dSrec-
ton of the compass effects the home ana
the family of every man, rich or poor, ed
ucated or otherwise. To point correctly
the magnetic needle, is alone worth all the
time and money spent in searching the
polar regions. The men who measure AL
human effort by commercial standards
ask, What is the dividend of this costly
search of ages?" Without a consideration
of the other products of polar work, we
can say that TO properly equip the sea
captain and the land surveyor will save
! future life and property, which will repay
| every outlay.
| What is true of geology and meteorol-
| oSy and magnetism is equally true OF the
| other departments OF science The polar
fauna and fora have an all important
! bearing upon the early life of the globe.
! If We would understand the life follow
ing the glacial period, we must go to the
| poles to study the penguin, the seal, the
| musk OK, the ice bear, the reindeer, and
! the whale If we will gain a true knowl
! edge of primitive man we must seek the
| Eskimo, who is just emerging from the
| stone age. Every phenomena of the globe,
| every SpSNh vi lilS, anu every SiNcl VI
earth is Intimately related to some other
| part of the globe The world must be
studied as q whole because each region
| influences surrounding areas and indirect
| ~ regions far away If there remain large
| blank spaces as these a the poles. the
| home lands and life and conditions cannot
| be understood, as is necessary from a sci
| entific point of view.
The insignificant Cost.
| The habit of condemning the work Of
| polar expeditions because of the cost of
money and life is a relic of selfish, mar
row-mnded barbarism. 1t is the spirit
of the man who seeks only immediate per-
sonel gain, and has no thought of the fu-
ture of the enlightenment Of posterity.
| 1t is the motive of the Indian who seeks,
| day after day, only the wants of his stom-
| ach. But let US look more deeply into this
criticism. Is the loss of life, or the ex-
penditure of money so great as is popu-
| larry supposed?
From 148 to 1854, the most active period
of arctic research, there were $40 British
seamen engaged in the service A calou-
letion of the total time occupied by these
| men would be represented by 1878 men in
| constant service. OF these various Eng
| lsh parties there were thirty two deaths.
which would make an annual percentage
| of IL From this it will be seen that
! polar explorers 90 not SuIleT a greater
mortality than stay-at-home people in va
| rious cities. The ordinary risk by climate
| and diseases is rather decreased among
polar workers. In the modern expeditions
of Peary and Nansen there has not been
a single dea til from disease, and only one
from an accident. In the voyage of the
Belgica there was but one death by an
accidental fall, and another from a disease
previously Contracted. With our present
Ia1rr ht.tri ora.l x1rifh inc
ed polar experience, there is no need Of
future calamities.
The mistakes and failures of the
past are remembered. but it is forgot
ten that by those mishaps we are to-
day able to profit and so plan expedi-
tons that there is a reasonable safety to
life The mistakes of the pioneers are the
stepping stones to future success.
The expense of modern voyages of ex-
ploration are not necessarily great. We
no longer need to send large and armed
forces as was done during the stage of
commercial and romantic adventure Small
parties of properly equipped investigators
are more economical and much more use
full than large corps of unframed men.
The voyage of the Belgica is an example
| of what may be done with modest means.
With an expenditure of $4,000, a system
attic series of scientific observations were
prosecuted for nearly two years new
| naVigable highway, in size comparable to
the strait of Magellan, with 500 miles of
the coast of a new land discovered. The
various scientific records will form several
volumes of new contributions to the
knowledge of our globe; and who will say
that such contributions are not worth, TO
the coming generations the paltry sum of
500 900 which was expended? This amount
multiplied by 100 would not represent the
money spent yearly on pleasure yachts
| and race horses, and surely these do not
yield result comparable to our increased
| knowledge in the annals of science from
| polar exploration.
The prospective value of this work has
been confirmed by various recent govern
ment enterprises. And by their verdict we
may assume the question answered for
all time in the affirmative. Individuals may
| engage in notional or useles ventures, but
a government does not give time and
money TO doubtful projects. Norway, Bel
GUM. England, Russia, and Germany are
now engaged in this effort TO clear up the
mysteries about both pc es, and they would
not be thus occupied If there were not
tangible results within the range of prob
ability.
What of the Future.
England and Germany are organizing
expeditions. Will Americans, who have
carried the Stars and Stripes to the far
| thest reaches of the earth, stand aloof and
look on? If we are to have awell- equipped
expedition, ready to work with Englanj
and Germany, some merchant king mus
come to our rescue. The present govern
ment indica lions are not favorable 10 sucl
venture, but with the liberal hand of q
Bennett a Harmsworth or a Newnes, we
could work hand in hand with the sub
jects of the Queen and the Kaiser. The
combined armies of peace could, in this
way, march into the white silence, the un.
broken icy slumber OF centuries a bout the
south or the north pole, and there collect
the needful scientific spoils.
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE.