Sunday morning globe., 1901-12-08

The use OF polar exploration is not that
it promises any immediate return of food
or gold or land Otherwise stock compa-
mics would be formed and the rush to the
pole would be immediate, and with an i'm.
pulse that could not be resisted. The use
of polar research Is that it adds to the sum
Of human knowledge The addition of
knowledge may be compared 10 the addi-
tion to our country Of a large area Of new
land. No one could have told when the
magnificent northwest territory including
the states of Oregon and Washington, was
added to the United States what splendid
resources Of agriculture and minerals would
some day be developed there what great
wealth would in this way be added to the
United States, and what a teeming popula-
ton would some day be supported there
So when new fields of knowledge are ex-
plored and new facts added to our previous
stock, no one can describe for the moment
the ultimate harvest that is to come from
them but the fact that the results derived
from new fields of knowledge in the past
have been of inestimable value. to the hu-
man race inspires us with the belief that
every field of knowledge should be explored,
even at the cost of much treasure and life.
When Franklin wished TO prove the iden-
tity of lightning and electricity by sending
up a kite during a thunderstorm, he slipped
ont secretly to avoid the ridicule and ques-
tioniug of his ueighbors. When someone
asked him later the use of certain expert
ment he replied. What is the use of an iu-
fant2" 1t was such experiments as that of
Franklin which made possible the telegraph
the telephone, the electric car and the hum
dreds of inventions by means of which elcc-
tricity now contributes to the wealth and
comfort of man Moreover IL has not all
ways been research along the lines that
promised an immediate return that has been
the most fruitful of results. These facts
convince many of us that polar research
would be well worth the while, though it
cost ten times as much as at present
The observations IN the polar regions i'm
the past have already borne fruit in many
ways The observations on terrestrial mag.
uetsm have enabled scientific men to make
progress i'm working out the laws which
govern the movements Of the magnetic pole
and the changes in magnetism which affect
the compass of every ship that plows the
deep. Polar observations are enabling men
to compare and test the theories about the
origin of weather changes, and are thus
laws Of storm and cold waves which kuowl-
edge may in time be worth millions OF dol.
lars to the world Polar observations have
also added much 70 a knowledge of the life
of plants and animals under extreme CON
ditions. II is also found that bacterial life,
such as that from which most diseases are
derived, does not, and perhaps, cannot exist
in the polar regions so that Nauseu has
suggested that this region may be the future
sanitarium of the human race
These are undoubtedly but a few of the
ways in which knowledge of the polar
regions will benefit mankind. In my opin-
ION such knowledge is likely 10 prove of
more advantage to a country than the an
nexauon of a territory like the Philippines
or the Transvaal, although for obtaining
this knowledge America and Great Britain
grant grudgiugly but few dollars, while in
the latter cause they willingly sacrifice the
lives Of thousands and pour out money like
water Think the difference of view arises
from the fact that at present most people
appreciate military more than any scientific
achievement.
The heroism of Hobson, who riskcd life
amid bursting shell and shrickiug schrap-
mel in order TO block the entrance to San
tiago harbor is known in every hamlet of
our country, but almost unknown is the
name OF the physician who sacrificed him
self TO the insidious yellow fever germ in
order that its life history might be known
and the ways might be blocked by which
IL seeks an entrance into our country.
bringing panic and sickness and death to
thousands and checking the wheels Of i'm
dustry over very large sections.
There is reason to believe these invasions
have been checked or rendered impossible,
and it is an achievement beside which many
a far-famed military exploit sinks into sig
nihcance.