The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1919-12-12

The biggest feat left for q traveller TO perform in
Arabia, perhaps in all Asia, is to cross the Yemen,
then on to Nejran, from there along the Wady
Dauasir to A1aj and High Nejd. The southern
most provinces of these lands, noted for their
waters and comparative fertility, have still TO be
seen by western eyes, and it would now seem that
these eyes will be those of an airman, whose air
ship will be more than probably worshiped as a
miracle from the celestial blue. He Will have to
determine what becomes of the inland flowing
waters of weSt-central Arabia, and TO throw light
on the mysterious valley region which Moslems
in the middle ages said existed on the nOrth-cen-
trail fringe of the Great desert, and contained half
buried cities among whose ruins the Bedawis
found coins. He should learn much about the
mysterious Kahtan Arabs, and their possible
African origin.
But for the modern Investigator South America
still offers the largest field Of intelligent inquiry.
Regions near the poles and in the arid deserts can
only lend themselves to the progress of material
development in a purely auxiliary capacity, or
provide quaint lore of the customs and conditions
of effete. or almost nOneNstent, tribes. But South
America Is teeming with virgin riches that are
only waiting the magic sesame Of the aerial pio-
neer.
Equipped With powerful flying machines, the
work of exploration should proceed more rapidly
than it has ever done. and soon the unexplored
environs Of the poles, patches Of central Asia, a
large interior Of Arabia, especially of the Sahara,
spots In central Africa, large tracts Of South
America. especially between the great rivers, and
certain areas of Australia should be on the page
of accomplished exploration.
In the Next Decade.
To show the wonderful way in which the map
of the world has been filled, it has only to be
state5 that in 1860 % $50 square miles had
been mapped from route traverses and sketches,
whereas in 1916 this area increased TO 1850, $50
Souare statute miles. In 1860 no less than 3d.
oa7 OLA square statute miles were entirely tnsur-
vowed and unmapped, while in 1916 this had been
reduced to S,35O,794 square statute miles out Of
eO 600 600 square miles, the total area of the land
c,rface of the earth, together with the unknown
norts of the Arctic and Antarctic regions, which
NOV he either land or water. With the much
quicker means of investigation of today a decade
o. two should see the proper survey and mapping
of all parts Of the earth's surface that are likely
20 no Of any use to a man as settlements. or capa-
HE of his development.
Aerial science seems to be keeping pace with
Tho demands which will be made upon II. One OF
NO Ga the resistance of the engines to frost
rrhve inactive; otherwise there Is the risk OF
frozen engines and permanent stoppage upon
landing. This difficulty has no doubt been pre-
sortad between Vancouver and the Yukon, where
thare have been experiments with an aerial post,
hut avinr in this region Is comparatively simple
70 tho long distances to be covered in arctic ex-
p~loration. Already an aerial expedition 20 the