New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-14
THE MAGNETIC POLE.

If, las is reported the Swedish explorer, Amund-
sen, has found the north magnetic pole, his sue
cess should prove useful in two ways. 1t ought
20 aid those who prepare charts for the naV1-
gator and surveyor indicating the extent to
which compass needles may be expected to vary
from the true north Tor SOUTH, and it may as
sist the men who are studying the theory Of
terrestrial magnetism.
1t has been known for centuries that a dis
crepancy Of the kind just mentioned exists, and
that the deviation is greater in some places than
in others. The astronomer HALEY was prob
ably the first person to try to represent the stu
alton by drawing lines on a map. Since his day
many advances have been made upon his primi-
tive efforts. Permanent and temporary observa-
| tories have been established for the purpose of
| recording both the average variation of the
! needle and any ephemeral disturbances which
| might affect It. The party which was sent to
Lady Franklin Bay in 1888, under the command
of General Greedy, was one of thirteen provided
for by international cooperation to attack the
same problem. All Of them were stationed near
one geographical pole or the other and their
records were MADE to extend over a period of
full year. Much helpful data has also been
secured by astronomical means at sea- and Is
even now being thus obtained This class Of in
formation is not SO abundant as certain govern
ment bureaus could wish, but it is one of the
resources Of the experts who are continually re-
vising the magnetic charts Of the world.
1t became evident in time that the focus tow
ard which compasses in the Northern Henri
sphere pointed was situated somewhere near
the Arctic shores Of America. The desirability
Of ascertaining its exact position was so fully
appreciated that a special hunt for it was pro-
posed Sir John Ross, who was in charge of an
expedition fitted out to seek the so-caned North
west Passage from the Atlantic Ocean to India
was icebound for one or two winters in what
was particularly eligible locality for such an
investigation. His nephew, Sir James Ross. i'm
proved the opportunity, making a number of
trips over the ice with sledges. At length lin
1880 he found this interesting spot to be five
miles north of the SEVENTEEN parallel of latitude
and In west longitude $3.50. The younger Ross
visited the Antarctic regions about ten years
later, in command of the ErebuS and the Terror
discovered and named Victoria Land and an
proximately determined the position of the south
magnetic pole. A fresh attempt of the same
kind was made by the British expedition to that
region two or three years ago, and in 1903 Can.
tain Amundsen set out to repeat Rosss perform
ance in the Northern Hemisphere Owing to tho
slow secular" change in the earth's magnetism
1t is not unlikely that in so long period as sew
enty-four years the magnetic pole has shifted
percepubly, but until its present latitude and
longitude are reported nothing can be taken for
granted.
Without confrmatory news OF definite nat
ure 1t will not be wise to assume that Amund-
sen has really accomplished the chief purpose
or his visit to the Arctic regions. The belief
that he has done so and that he will soon
attempt to emerge through the Northwest
Passage and Behring Strait rests on a moor
foundation. 1t is said that order has been
sent to the Norwegian consul in San Francisco
TO procure supplies for the explorer A story
OF that sort, If true, is susceptible of more in
terpretations than one Still, there is reason
for hoping that the inference regarding the
magnetic pole will prove correct With the
second and incidental feature Of Amundsen's
plan the world has little occasion for svmpa-
thy. Mcclure traversed the Northwest Passage
more than fifty years ago, and, even il that
marine highway were now to be opened I'D for
the first time in history, it could not possess
! the slightest value. The Suez Canal affords an
Infinitely better route for commerce between
Western Europe and the Indies