Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-03-28
Seven Million
Square Miles Of
Earth Yet To Be
Penetrated bv
Explorers.
By GARRETT P. sERvIss

THE brave death of Captain
Scott, more even than tho
triumph of Captain Amund-
sen, has turned mems minds toward
the regions of the earth which have
not yet been explored.
OF the Antarctic Continent itse,s
very little is known. BY pushing
straight to it's center the explorers
have obtained a better general idea
of its nature than they could have
got by merely studying its lev ont.
skirts. There is little doubt that Il
forms a vast tableland with a
greater mean elevation than anv
other large division of the globe
The evidences of the former. ex.
istence there of a climate capabla q,
maintaining forms of life now
found only in temperate. or even
tropical, lands give to that snow.
buried continent fascination that
will for many generations draw ad-
venturers to its storm-sVept
plateaus.
But nearer home Ito say nothing
of the surroundings of the north
pole) there are vast unexp'orsd
lands which promise discoveries of
the highest interest. 1t has been
estimated that out of the 56O00OOo
square miles of land that the earth
contains, about 100000 are still
practically unknown, except in out.
line.
Unexplored Antarctic Land.
OF this area, 100000 square
miles belong to Antartctica.
A popularity of some of the vet
uneXplored regions is that they
form parts of continents that have
been inhabited, from time immem-
orial. by peoples representing the
highest civilizations that the earth
has known. Take Arabia, for in
stance. 1t Is a land of superlative
mystery, lying in close touch with
the seats of ancient and modern
empires of the first rank.
II - III ecu udI ltlb tUtlIt.EQ pl
navigable seas and CULTS. It has
ports that are visited by the ships
of all nations. 1t has given birth 10
a religion professed by more than
200,O00,000 people. II is inhabited
by race possessing splendid phys
zeal and mental qualities. II once
conquered an empire wider than
that of Rome, wherein the torch Of
knowledge was kept burning dur
ing the Dark Ages Of Europe Its
area exceeds that of Europe west
of the River Vistula-and yet it,
interior is almost absolutely un-
known to the world.
In the heart of Arabia is a terri
tory, as large as Germany and
France combined, that has not a
single river. and yet it may not be
altogether a desert. Mounted on
his long-legged camel, the Arab
rides over his sandhills, disappears
beyond a horizon which he alone
transits, and is lost to all human
sight except that of his own tribes
men, visiting scenes Of which no
others of Adams descendants have
any knowledge. Those small por-
lions of the skirts of Arabia that
Europeans have penetrated are
among the most singular places on
the planet, but what lies back OF
them we can only guess.
Billions in Hidden Wealth.
South America, some Of whose
lands are coming so rapidly for
ward in recent years, is still tuD
of uneXplored mysteries.
In Peru, Colombia, and along the
upper waters of the Amazon
(mightiest of rivers) lie enormous
forests and jungles and mountain
Businesses, filled with rich ana
strange vegetable forms and WIN
animals vet strahger-gigantie
anacondas, 'carnivorous anls.
birds of marvellous plumage an"
wonderful vocal powers and store
of untouched minerals and metds
among which gems and gold ana
silver undoubtedly abound, anu
inhabited by tribes the names u
some of which are yet unknown
At least a quarter of the cont.
nent of Australia has never pee"
explored. Its neighbor, New Uu',
nea, the largest island IN I"
world. is known only in small pa''
although it may be filed with 'D'
developed riches.
The mighty mass OF the h..'.'
vas. the loftiest of all mooA''"
the roof of the world. a's .,.
been penetrated to its center ~
man has yet approached nea.u
than 100 miles from the foot o. w.
Everest. which lifts its snowy -'.
five miles and a half ABOVE
level. There are lofty Va"5.'
among the Himalayas of whose g.
istence and of whose inhaoI''"'
only traditions are known
Women Rule the AmazonS'
Such is the stored valley OIL u.
Amazons. said to he ruled pl VA -,
en-. and where the men n'''
suffrage at all. -
Even the open oceans. nov rt
versed in all directions. are ''.
mysteries. Among the sl-a"7 ,,s
- -. = rTaetor island. in us