Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-12
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structed sledges should be made in five
months. An encouraging prospect here Is
the hope that advance stations may be
pushed inland and cached which Is i'm
practicable on moving pack-1ce.
South Pole is Well Guarded.
The success or failure in transporting
food and supplies over this land ice will
determine the accessibility of the southern
axis. If the land is smooth, like the inte-
rior of Greenland, then it is within the
power of man with present means to plant
his foot on the austral pivot. If however,
it is much crevassed, irregular and noun
famous, then there is small hope of sue
cess. He who contemplates an attack upon
this heatless under surface of the globe
will find many tempting allurements and
many disheartening rebuffs. His obstacles
are those of the arctic multiplied by ten
Nature shields the mysteries of the frozen
south with much jealousy She tempts by
permitting a small advance and a long
look ahead, but when you resolve to force
on into the white blank the ice gates close.
as if to say, You may look, but you must
not enter" The battle, however, should
be fought, though it promises to be the
fiercest of all human engagements. Science
demands it, modern progress calls for 1t,
for in this age blank upon our chart is
blur upon our prided enlightenment. A
measure Of success is certain to follow
southern efforts and the victory should be
crowned by the stars and stripes.
The Magnetic Poles.
There are two other poles that are of
equal interest and in many respects more
important, since their location enters more
into the daily routine of life. I refer to the
magnetic poles. There are, then, four ter
restriai poles. Two upon which the globe
rev Olives through space, the geographical
poles, and the two magnetic poles which
point the mariners compass. The two mag
netic poles are two points on the earth not
exactly opposite each other. Their location
Is more or less of a mystery. The northern
spot to which the magnetic needle points is
at or near the southern projection of
Boothia Island, about 1,4O0 miles south of
the geographical north pole, along about
the Goth meridian west of Greenwich. This
region was explored by Ross seventy years
ago, but the subsequent behavior of the
needle has led to the belief that the pole
has since moved. The south magnetic pole
is somewhere within the high mountains of
about 1900 geographical miles north of the
south geographical pole along longitude
LAG east of Greenwich.
The north magnetic pole is the most &C
cessible of the four poles. 1t is possible to
push a supply ship to within hundred
miles of where the needle stands vertical
ly, and from there, with small boats and
sledges, the many observations which are
necessary could be prosecuted. The work
of Sir John Ross in this region was done at
time when the science Of terrestrial mag
netism was in its infancy. His instruments
were primitive and imperfect, and his meth
DDS, for present purposes, entirely unre-
liable. To make magnetic survey of the
regions about the north magnetic pole is
far more important than a knowledge of
the northern geographical pole. 1t offers
no obstacles comparable to the hundreds of
miles of moving ice which will have to be
crossed and recrossed in the regions far
Their north. One hundred thousand dollars.
in the proper hands, would certainly COM
plete this most valuable work.
May Yet Be Found.
OF the south magnetic pole we know next
to nothing. 1t Is just as important as Its
northern companion Not less than six po-
sitions are assigned by experts to this mega
tive pole. These positions are from one to
five hundred miles apart. If we draw a
circle five hundred miles in diameter on the
eastern end Of the great continental mass
known as WITHSTAND 1t would be possible
to say that the south magnetic pole is
somewhere within this, but no more def
mite point could be fixed.
Reaching and locating this pole Is entirely
practicable. though extremely difficult, but
1t must not be attempted by men with an
imperfect knowledge Of the subject. The
deceptively apparent ease of the work here
is sure to send ill-prepared adventures to
grief within the next few years. 1t is pos
sible to fix station within two hundred
miles of the probable position Of the great
est dip of the needle, and the travelling will
be over high ice-buried lands; a region SINH
| lar, perhaps, to the interior of Greenland
where the experience Of Peary and Nansen
have shown that exploration Is safe and
reasonably certain. Efforts to determine
| the south magnetic pole are sure to return
| material results, and if the right men with
the right equipment make the effort they
will certainly be rewarded by the accom-
| pishment Of their ambition.