Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1907-06-14
ANTARCTIC
EXPLORATION
SCHEMES

the other pole of the earth IL the
present zeal for polar enterprise con-
tinues. The widest attention seems
now to be fixed on the Antarctic re-
gions, and for the first time we hear
of expeditions whose main purpose
will be to reach the south pole. Some
explorers who have lived and work
ed in the Antarctic now believe that
IL will be easier to reach the south
than the north pole.
They say that sledge parties bound
for the north pole are beset with
enormous difficulties, because the
frozen sea that surrounds the pole
abuts on great land masses far to
the north, and the sea ice in its
movements Is crushed against the
coasts, with the result that the ice,
even far fran the land, is shattered
and piled up by tremendous pres
sure, so that II is almost impractic-
able for sledges.
The conditions seem to be different
in the Antarctic. The British expe-
dition under Capt. Scott made no
greater discovery than the vast plain
OF ice covering tho sea, whose north
ern edge is the great barrier, first
seen by Ross. How far this ice sheet
spreads away to the south and east
of Victoria Land is still matter of
surmlse. Wherever seen It presents
a practically level, plainlike surface,
except where II is lifted Into pres
sure ridges by collision with ice NOV
ing off the land. Scott made It his
highway through four degrees of the
latitude to so deg. II min, where the
same level surface continued to the
horizon.
This immense area OF nat ice has
inspired the idea that specially con-
automobiles may be used TO
advantage on that surface. The lev
ell ice is known to extend east and
west between Victoria Land and
King Edward VII Land. Henry X.
Arctowski, who is planning to lead
the next Belgian expedition south,
says he wishes to use automobiles on
this ice to see how far II extends to-
ward the pole. II a continuous coast
line is found between Edward VII
Land and Victoria Land there must
be an immense gulf separating them
II. however, the two coasts are pro-
longed without joining, there must
exist a wide arm OF the sea separating
the Antarctic lands into two hemi-
spheres.
There is no proof yet that the
level Ice OF these waters may not
extend TO the pole, or 80 far toward
Il as to greatly lessen the difficulty OF
reaching the goal.
DIR. F. A. Cook OF Brooklyn also
hopes before many months TO be
testing on this ice the automobile he
has made, and perhaps he will be the
hrst in the field.
Lieutenant Schackleton OF the Dis
,overy expedition expects TO leave
England for his old stamping ground
in October, carrying not only an au-
but also several Siberian
ponies. He hopes TO get much fur
her south on the level ice than
Scott was able to attain with his de-
'ective equipment.
DIR. Charcot's next expedition has
he endorsement of the French Aead-
amy OF Sciences. and a vessel VIII
,e specially built for him. Next year
he will go TO the east side OF Gra-
nam Land TO study the rich deposits
If fossils reported by the Swedish
expedition and will then transfer his
,arty TO the west coast. The extent
II this land south of South America
$ not known but DR.. chareot VIII
solve the problem II he can Or at
east, he hopes TO add large mile
,ge of the new coast line 20 the
York Sun.