The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1912-05-31

That her ocean blowing titans might not break
themselves to pieces upon the ice derelicts that
come ont OF the far north the federal government
has for years been studying the problem OF
avoiding these dangers OF the deep. 1t has traced
the iceberg to its origin has followed ITS to-
borQan down the slopes OF Greenland, watched
il plunge with mighty splash into the icy
ocean, followed it in its erratic drift OF two
thousand miles to the south, and there witnessed
It's final melting. in the warm waters OF the gun
stream. For years past it has traced an mag
mary line off the coast OF Newfoundland, which
rspresents the point Of danger for ocean traffic
TO ali navigators the federal government has
extended a warning Of the constant danger OF
coming within this line particularly during April
season Of the year.
@1he soeed demon is responsible for another
great tragedy" said Captain John Knapp,
chief photographer Of the Navy department
when the Titanic broke herself to pieces on an
iceberg that fatal Sunday night. 1t is the ousi-
ness Of this office to warn navigstors OF me
dangers OF the seas. For years we have been
issuine maps and warnings to all the steamship
companies showing them just where there IS
ice and where death accompanies whoever puts
to sea in ships These warnings have not been
needed. and now the greatest marine tragedy
in history, has resulted This tragedy took place
within the region that we have been marking
az unsafe for years. The steamship companies
have been regularly running the gauntlet OF
the known dangers OF these eeiields tnat tney
might cit few hours off the time OF making
ths transatlantic trip. BY but slightly length
enine their journey they might nave maze "
entirely safe. The federal government has CIV
en- its warnings in vain.
II Is this photographic office OF the govern
rent that is the great authority upon iceoergs'
Particularly has this office made study OF me
ieeberes and the ice fields OF the north Auanti0
ocean. Here il has found much OF iascination
beeause the conditions are such IN this region
a. to breed the greatest icebergs tnst inc "o'Iu
knows. Greenland is the mother o. tnese mon
sters.
All the interior Of Greenland dips toward ner
western shore. Beginning at the water edge
the elevation OF Greenland rises steadily until II
has reached height Of 10000 feet. ms entire
mass ;s covered bv huge sheet OF ice iorneu
from cornpressed snow and is in reality one ehor
nous glacier which gradually creeps downward
to the sea. Along the coast OF DreehSnS wy.
is fringe OF islands which stick up nNe u,'
teeth OF saw and tear great rifts IN this peS0."
inc glacier The weight OF the trihons q uons
of ice crowds the nose Of the glacier between
these promontories and into the sea mere j.
thonsand miles OF water front that thus converts
itself into an iceberg manufacturing maenihe'
After the glacier is thrust between two OF
these pronontories and into the waters oil 'Ie
Atlantic ocean Il projects itself until ITS Vey
weight breaks II off. Then huge block OF 'ilis
glacier drops into the ocean and becomes ."
unattached floating mountain OF ice An ' u.s..
berg ha. here been born In the language OF inc
experts Of the photographic office this process
is called "csiving.' .,i. u..v
The size of the pieces set sdriit IN TINS va
vary greatly. In the Arctic an ieeoerg "ouu
be considered an average specimen Il ~ pc,
pendcuIar walls were hundred ieet n,sn a."
ts spires and pinnseles reached to TWO nIluas .t,
or three hundred feet in height and the leng.n
and breadth Of which was two or tn,ee 10y
blocks. The Capitol building at W'sning'on
would be about the size Of the portion Of an 81.
dinarv Greenland iceberg which may DC SCI
above the water. The portion OF the ieeDels
that is submerged IS eight or nine times as s.n
as that which appears about the water. Many
authors,Qive the depth under the water A. s, oeHs
eight or nine times the height above, ms
incorrect. however, As measurements 1'os 80
below water should be with reference to mass
and not to height II IS even possible 70 n~ a.
berg as high out az water as II IS deep DelyM ,
the surface. for IL We imagine isfse. son n,i
lump Of any regular shape which has very sl1n
high pinnacle IN It's center. The neient ~Do'e
water can EASILY be equal 70 the depth oelo"' ..