Evening star., 1901-07-19
ANTARCTIC EXPLORATION
-Ef
Four Expeditions Are Fitting Out
Scientific Mi..Ae. Of the Dis
covery a1fd Gauss.

1t is not so many years since our al
most total Ignorance of the South Polar
regions was Justly regarded as a reproach
to geographers. This has been in part re-
moved, and indications are that We shall
soon be well informed in antarctic geog-
raphy Writing IN the American Monthly
Review Of Reviews on New Phrases Of
Polar Research" Cyrus c. Adams tells us
that the most thoroughly equipped, most
costly. and most scientific Of all polar ex-
petitions are about to make their way to
the unknown antarctic He goes on to
say:
Pioneer explorers will gather there the
highest honors that are yet to reward
geographical research: The largest I'M
known area on the globe awaits them.
The diameter OF the unknown region
around the North Pole Is only 800 miles,
but around the South Pole it Is 1900, The
area which. so far as we know. has never
been seen by human eye is twice as great
as that Of Europe.
"The most interesting Of the discoveries
to be made around the South Pole viii be
there is really a large continent at the
southern apex of the world. Some Of the
leading authorities believe it is there, and
that we are not likely to be much longer
In the dark about It. DR.. John Murray,
among others. has expressed the view.
merely conjectural. Of course. that the
area of the antarctic continent Is about
100000 square miles. or, tn other words,
as large as Europe: or third larger than
the United States. exclusive of Alaska
Making Ready for the search.
Four expeditions will make south-polar
explorations. The two largest are the Ger
man and British expeditions. which have
been planning for six years. They are
supported by government grants amount
fpc fo S1SA aDeca hy TO
contributions Of about $780, 900 additional
Each has built a steamship, and they have
agreed upon their distinct fields Of investi-
CATION.
The German vessel, launched at Kiel on
April 2. was named Gauss. in honor Of the
brilliant physicist who. In the early part
of the last century, conjecturally located
the south magnetic pole. The vessel win
be coaled and provisioned for three years,
when she starts for the remote French
island of Kerguelen. From this point ex-
petitions will be started toward the pole.
The Discovery, the British ship. was
launched at Dundee March q. her cost be-
ing $225. 900. With five naval officers, five
scientific specialists. and twenty-five men
in the crew, she Is bound for Victoria Land,
with three years supplies, and camp Is
likely to be pitched on Cape Adare. The
English have never used dogs to any large
extent and only twenty Of them will be
taken on the vessel.
Expedition to WeddeII Sen.
There are also two smaller expeditions;
one sent out by the Scotch. who will oc-
cupy the region kndwn as Weddell sea.
where 1t will endeavor to find and explore
the coasts of that side Of the hypothetical
continent. and another under the command
of DR.. Otto Nordenskjold. nephew of the
distinguished arctic explorer, 1t is said that
DR.. Nordenskjold will epdeavor to establish
station on the east side Of Graham Land.
frxy 70 faiv, hat ty,nr f1,,t Ia,
gion is an island or merely a promontory
Of the continental mass. MIR. Adams goes
on to say, in conclusfonI
The results are likely to be almost
wholly of scientific interest. Even if large
lands are found, they have probably no
commercial value. No coal or other miner
ais have been aiscoyered: If they exist.
they are perhaps buried too deep under
arctic seals and whales have had economic
Importance. but tho useful varieties seem
to have become practically extinct. Whal-
ing. resumed within few years past. had
results that encouraged further effort
There is little doubt that better knowledge
of antarctic meteorolOgy will be Of dis
tinct advantage to navigation along the
most southern routes around the world.
and this may be the only practical issue
to be served.
THE scientific basis for antarctic explo-
ration is. however. too substantial to need
any bolstering. Physicists tell us that south
of 40 degrees S. latitude there IS gap In
our knowledge OF the elements required for
the complete expression of the facts Of
terrestrial magnetism Scientific men like
DR.. Neumayer. Sir John Murray, and many
others say that until we have q complete
and continued series of observations in the
antarctic area, the meteorology Of the
world cannot be understood. 1t Is to find
new lands and study the problems Of biol
ogy. geology and many other phenomena
to be observed in this vast area that four
expeditions are to visit 1t. The money they
cost will be well spent If they may add
something to our knowledge Of the world
W live n