The Detroit times., 1910-12-30
Geographical Research
By FREDERIC J. HASKIN

/ 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
a 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
discharglng 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
mo In xtytth ha
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
ment amounting to a mile within
few months while others move so
slightly as to seem almost stationary
for years. When IL is considered that
railroads are being built which will
cross directly over some of these
glaciers the practical value of glacia.
ton study becomes apparent.
well-equipped ship In command
of Captain Scott, under the auspices
OF the Royal Geographical society OF
Great Britain, started from New Yea
land for the Antarctic regions last
month. While the discovery OF the
South Pole was formerly considered
of small moment, it's discovery has
now assumed paramount Importance
and the different nations Of the world
are vieing with each other In their
efforts to send exploring expeditions
10 the Antarctic regions. The Ger
man government is considering plans
for the equipment of a thoroughly sci
entifc outfit to be sent south next
year. japan has been lured into the
race; the first time in history that she
has ventuIed into foreign research. A
15O.ton schooner called the "Kaiman
Maru' under the command OF Lieuten
ant Shirasi. sailed last month from
iokohoma for the conquest of the
South Pole. The Japanese govern
ment has no official connection with
this expedition. but the fact that IL is
being made by that nation through
private interest, proves that Japan
Is fully alive to the importance OF
Antarctic exploration.
The progress made by the United
States towards the development of the
bne-in.a-million map Is i'm advance OF
that OF other countries This map
viii be great geographical achieve
ment and will make the map-making
system OF the world uniform. Through
the utilization Of material already I'm
possession OF the United States Geo
logical Survey IL is expected that
within two years maps from this sys-
tenn will be completed to cover the
entire country.
The movement for a uniform inter
national map was first introduced by
Professor Penck. OF Berlin, at the In
ternational Geographical Conference,
held I'm Berne. I'm 1891 After some
discussion the matter was referred to
committee which represented ten
countries and included the leading
geographers OF the world. At first the
difficulties OF adjusting national diff
ferences seemed insurmountable and