The Detroit times., 1910-12-30


ant matter to be
considered Is the 49,.
election of dele "a
gates TO attend the
tenth international Geographical Con.
gress. which will meet in Rome next
October. Among the delegates likely
10 be sent are Professor Henry c.
Cowles OF the Chicago university ana
Professor r. s. Tarr, OF Michigan.
Professor Cowles Is the president or
the American Association OF Geograph-
ers. and Professor Tarr was the lead
er OF the first expedition sent out by
the National Geographical society for
the study Of glaciers in Alaska
There Is no country In the world
where greater interest has been man
ifested In geographical research ana
the exploration OF unknown territory
during the past year than In the unit
ed States. American money generous
ly placed at the disposal or scienti-ts
has provided the means for expeui'
tions to all parts or the earth. ne
enormous sums OF money spent our
ing the past year for this purpose can
not even be Appropriated, coming as
they do through so many channels
Most of the important research by
Americans. however Is being oofe
either under the auspices, or by those
affiliated with the National Geographic
society. This great body OF Ameri'
cans with scientific interests now
numbers over 67 900 members ana
the increased interest In It's work can
be proved In no more pracuoal man
ner than by the addition OF 1000 new
members per week, which has been
the average rate during the past
month.
This year has been the most fruit
ful ever known to American explor-
ers. II began with the official recog
milton OF Peary's achievement in the
conquest Of tie North Pole. 1t de-
rived additional laurels from the
proves of Colonel Roosevelt in Africa
and from the remarkable work accom-
plished In terrestrial magnetic in
vestigation. especially that made by
the non-magnetic vessel Carnegie
under the direction OF the Carnegie
Institution OF WASHINGTON
AT the November meeting Of the
National Geographic society, resolu-
tions were passed expressing the APP
probation OF the society OF the re-
suits OF Colonel Rooseyelts trip and
recognizing II as an expedition OF
great scientific value. The collection
of natural history specimens secured
by him and placed at the disposal or
the National Museum has made that
institution superior In its equipment
in this respecr to any other in the
world. Many OF the fauna secured by
Colonel Roosevelt are now almost ex-
tinct so that the value or the speci-
mems will increase in the future.
Since much of this expedition was
made into comparatively new territory
its geographic importance Is hardly
secondary In scientific value 70 that
OF the remarkable collection OF Nat
ural History specimens secured.
The Carnegie" built for terrestrial
magnetic research is the only boat OF
any size ever built OF absolutely non
magnetic material The Carnegie In
stitution has undertaken a complete
and systematic magnetic survey of
the world. During the past year the
entire survey OF the magnetic condi-
lions Of the Pacific Ocean has been
completed. The Carnegie" and its
staff OF explorers is now engaged in
similar survey of the Atlantic
ocean. While a better understanding
Of the powers Of the terrestrial magno
force upon the ocean Is OF prime i'm
portance because of its direct bear
ing upon the courses Of navigation.
the research survey Is being carried
over the land as we'll A party from
the Carnegie" crossed Africa within
the past few months and established
systematic chain of terrestrial mag
no stations through hitherto unknown
territories.
The same course has been pursued
In parts of South America, Asia Minor
and other localities. The geographic
information thus secured will be of
interest when placed at public dispos-
al through the next printed reports.
The National Geographic society's
last expedition to Alaska for the study
Of glacial conditions, made under the
leadership Of Professor Lawrence
Martin, has returned after several
months research in this difficult field.
The Alaska glaciers make those Of the
Alps seem Insignificant in comparison.
Their immense height, the vast terri
tory they cover. and their capability of
discharging huge icebergs into the
Pacific Ocean, render them an import
ant factor to be reckoned with in con-
nection with the development OF
Alaska. These huge ice fields. which
at places rise to the height OF great
mountains and one of which covers
an era equal to that OF Rhode Island,
are constantly changing. The causes
for their movements, their PROBABLE
ity OF continuance and the results to
be expected from them are important
matters In connection with the geo.
graphical conditions of the country.
That these glaciers are affected by
earthquakes and volcanic disturbances
has been indisputably settled but TO
what extent has not been yet satisfac-
torily determined. There are some
glaciers which have an advance move