Gilpin observer., 1907-05-23
COLD N THE TROPICS
EXPERIENCE OF FRENCH ExPE.
DlTIoN IN WILDS OF ANDES.
Average Height In Which Explorers
Lived and Worked Was $4,000
Feet Above Sea LeveI-Hard
to Secure Servants.

Paris.-A scientific expedition which
has spent six years in the wilds of the
Andes has just returned to France and
Col. Bourgeois, its chief. has given
some remarkable details of its expert
ences. 1t was organized to make a
new set of observations from which tc
verify the length of a degree on the
equator-the unit upon which the
French standard of measurement and
the metric system are based.
The site chosen for the work was
the neighborhood of Quito, Ecuador
1t was so high up in the mountains
that although in the very center of the
torrid zone the men lived under arctic
conditions. The party consisted of ten
commissioned and 27 noncommissioned
officers. With three exceptions the
entire party spent the entire six years
in the work. One of those who gave
up was Commandant Massenet, who
preceded Col. Bourgeois at the head of
the expedition.
Loneliness was one of the things the
men had to fight hardest against.
They lived to large extent amid
fields of snow and ice. The country
below them was often invisible from
clouds hanging about the mountains.
Yet their situation differed from that
of arctic explorers in this respect, that
they knew thousands of people were
within comparatively easy reach. The
temptation to descend to the seacoast
cities was therefore almost irresisti-
BILE at times.
OF course the men did not spend the
whole time in the mountains. This
would have been almost impossible,
because they had not merely the vigor
of the cold to contend against but also
the enervating effects of the rarefied
atmosphere of the mountains. The
average height at which they lived
and worked was $4,000 feet above sea
level. Cooking was difficult at that
elevation and the proper feeding OF
the men was one of the most difficult
problems. Another practical difficulty
was securing servants and laborers.
The natives consented to go into the
hills only at high pay and on urgent
persuasion and they deserted at the
least provocation. The winters were
especially trying. Bands of wolves
wandered about the camp and de-
voured the refuse thrown out even to
old leather straps and the wornout
saddles of mules and horses.
Notwithstanding the obstacles. "a
geodetic stations were erected.
chain of geodetic and astronomical OBJ
servations covering the entire six
years was secured. including the estab-
lishment of the meridian of Quito.
with the nearest approach to scientific
accuracy that is possible. The re-
mainIng error, it is said, is ihfinitesi-
NAL. The result of the observations
was not worked out. This is to be
done in Paris now by corps Of sci
entists.
The expedition cost a good deal of
money. Besides the pay of the men,
bers the French government contrib
uted 10000 francs ($S.00G). The bal
ance of the expenses, about 100000.
has been subscribed by Prince Roland
Bonaparte.
While the members of the expedi-
ton confined themselves strictly to
their mathematical work, DR.. Paul
Rivet, staff surgeon in the French
army. who was detailed as its medi-
cal attendant, made remarkable col
lection of photographs of the country
and people and brought home also an
invaluable chronological gathering I
native implements and fabrics.