The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1908-12-24
NORWAY.

The Norwegian Geographical soci.
ETY. held meeting Of historic signifi-
canoe Nov. 10 in the city Of Christi.
ania. call it historic, because of til.
distinguished body Of men In attend.
ance and because Of the Importance
Of the program presented. Cap:
Roald Amundsen, the explorer, out
lined his plans for the trip to the
North pole, delivering an address that
was heard with intense int crest by
such notables as King Haakon, DR..
Fritchof Nansen, many members of
the faculty Of the university, foreign
diplomats and scholars and others
too numerous to mention. Regarding
his program, Capt. Amundsen said:
with the Fran, equipped for
seven-years' trip, and with an able
crew, leave Norway early in 1910.
The route will be around Cape Horn
to San Francisco, where coal and 2!o-
visions will be taken on board. From
there we go to Point Barrow in
Alaska, which hope to reach in Julv
or August. From there the last re-
port will be sent home and the voyage
proper begun. Departing from Point
Barrow it is my intention to continue
the voyage with as small a crew as
possible. The course will be set
against the pack ice, in the direction
Of north-northwest. We then shall
try to locate the most suitable point
for our further advance northward.
When this is found, we shall try to
get as far into the pack ice as pos
sible, and get ready for drift of four
to five years. duration over the polar
sea. Throughout the whole Journey
I intend to make ocean-geographic
observations, and from the minute the
ship becomes embedded in solid ice
a series of observations will be be-
gun, whereby hope to solve some of
the problems about which we are now
In the dark. Regarding what l expect
to find I will say nothing at present.
Some have theories that great masses
of land are to be found there. others
that there are but small ones. also
ought, perhaps, to have made no r.
theory, but l find it better to postpone
80 doing until I have made my ill.,
vestigations at closer range"
When Capt. Amundsen had spoken.
Professors Mohn and Brogger and DR..
Nansen addressed the society, express
Ing their confidence in the soundness of
the explorers theories, and stating
that If any man can reach the pole,
because Of natural equipment and ex-
perience, 1t is Mr.. Amundsen, the
intrepid discoverer of the Northwest
Passage. The address of DR.. Nansen
was listened to with great interest,
owing to his high standing as soien.
fist and to his remarkable experience
IS polar explorer. He said in part:
Here, as always, when we stand
before a great proposition, we must
ask ourselves: Does the expected re-
81. :t".d IN proportion to the sacri-
fees required? The trouble is. how.
ever, that the ideas regarding the
value of certain result differ so
widely must here think of the
words of Milton regarding the first
polar voyages. the purposes OF which
we're to find new trade-routes through
the Northeast or the Northwest
passage to the treasures of Gina and
1ndia--whish they did not flnd. He
said that they would seem heroic, had
a nobler aim than intense love of
monetary gain and trade been the
moving spirit of these undertakings.
THE old Norwegian. who 600 years
ago wrote 'Kongespeilet' (the kings
mirror). said to his son, after speak
ing Of the Attic ocean and Green
land: When you want to know why
people try to go to that country, or
why people are willing to expose
themselves to so much danger in 60
Ing there, then let me tell you. that
1t is the triple nature in man that
draws him towards such deeds. One
part is the love of competition and
the desire to become famous, because
1t is the nature of man to 20 there
where danger invites, and to become
famous by SO doing. The other part
Is the desire to gain knowledge. be-
cause 1t is the nature of man to want
to see for himself that things are
really the way he has been told thew
are, or find out that they are other
wise. The third part is the desire Of
winning, because people search every-
where after goods; where they learn
there is something to be gained there
they go, even If such acts are coupled
with great danger.
This sage is certainly correct in
his views. But most important is
his point No. 2. the power of the I'm.
known over the mind of man, and as
time has clarified the human ideas
the stronger this power has become.
md urged men onward ~ the road Of
development, whether with or against
heir will does not matter
This power drives us into the hid.
len powers and secrets of nature.
The Skane coal mines produce an
lually about 100000 tons of coal and |
.mDlOy over 4. 600 men Tho vo1uo 10 |