The Savannah morning news., 1901-01-20

dicates the quarter wherein discov-
aries of Importance may yet be made
exploration. Millions of square miles of
the earths surface, incredible though 1t
may appear, are as yet a ank on our
maps. Decade following decade has seen
the roaming grounds of fancy" in the
geography of unknown Africa Asia, and
Australia steadily filled In, with little
space left for discoveries Of any great
magn tude to be made there. Nansen's
brilliant traverse of the Polar sea in 1886
1896, whereby the forefoot of Arctic ex-
ploration was suddenly advanced 200 miles
nearer to the Pole-as much as had been
accomplished in 2O0 years OF previous ef-
fort-has drawn the re. n Of knowledge
closely about the forbidden North al
though not yet to the extent OF preclud-
ing the possibility of discoveries of real
magnitude being made in the region. Fol-
20 miles completely surrounding the Pole
our knowledge is still a blank, and 1t
continues such for nearly double this dis
lance on at least one side The present
work of Lieut.. Peary may largely solve
what is still to be found in this tract.
II is. however, in the antipodal regions
of the earths surface, in the Antarctic
chat discovery still has its chance FOR
an area OF unknown or of only passlVely
known territory exists there which meas
ures more than double that OF all Europe
and perhaps more nearly trebles 1t. 10
n after an interval of fifty years-durirs
which the fame of Sir James ark Ross
of Dunont D'Urville. and Capt (Commo-
dore) wilkes, carly Investigators aIter
truth has not become dimmed-the eye
~ tire explorer is again directed. Belgium
England. Germany, Sweden ana austria
LA have during the last decade sent thelr
votaries Of science to this terra lncoshiOa,
not alone to seek out new geosraPhi9"'
knowledge regarding the ice-pouha uil-
known, but to ascertain iacts from otilei
aenartments of science tending to throw
ught unon many vexed problems which
nent,rue 10 aeitate the minds OF the 20
ologist and geologist
Problems of the Far south
what are some of these problems? one
Is that which pertains to the origin anu
derivation OF the fauna OF the southern
,ontinents; another TO a probable land cen
oection formerly existing by way OF the
Antarctic tract, between South America
Africa ana Australia, and a third, that
which relates to the actual form of the
ylohe. The impetus to the first two In
iuiries was given by the discovery, hard
ly seven years ago, OF the fossllzed re-
mains of forest trees on Graham Lana,
ar Island. far south of Patagonia, Of a
type similar to that OF the South Ameri-
can pines. or araucarians, OF to-day. Be
fore this discovery. by Capt. LARSEN, no
trace OF vegetation of higher type than
the lowest lichens, whether fossilized or
living, was known IN any part OF the
Antarctic tract, and the superstition had
become well grounded that for vast ages,
Z not throughout nearly all time, the ice
desert OF the south was a region apart
by Itself independent Ia rs makeup from
the rest Of the world. The new discovery
has developed conception Of far-reachns
senlfcance-the former extension south-
ward Of the South American continent,
and its comparatively recent rupture from
Terra Antarctica. With this conception