The Value of Arctic Exploration 



433 



Petermann, one of the greatest of 

 geographers, proved conclusively, in a 

 theoretical way, that Greenland was one 

 extremity of a great Arctic continent 

 extending across the Pole, and Wrangel 

 Land the other. Later the Corwin de- 

 termined Wrangel "Land" to be an 

 almost insignificant island of contracted 

 dimensions, and we know now that 

 Greenland ends 450 miles short of the 

 Pole. 



For years Franz Josef Land was sup- 

 posed to be the southern extension of an 

 Arctic continent, yet the Fram drifted 

 across its meridian north of it, seeing 

 no land ; so the instances could be du- 

 plicated. 



As a matter of fact, there may be 

 land within 30 miles of Nansen's or 

 Abruzzi's farthest, and yet neither of 

 them the wiser for it. Until we reach 

 the Pole no one can say what there is 

 there, whether land or water. 



In the light of these facts, it appears 

 that one man's views are as good as an- 

 other's, assuming the men to be of equal 

 intellectual caliber. 



I feel, therefore, that the opinions of 

 Assistant Secretary Darling are entitled 

 to as much weight as those of Sir Clem- 

 ents or other geographers. To a care- 

 ful and enthusiastic study of Arctic voy- 

 ages, extending over a number of years, 

 Judge Darling brings deep thought, 

 clear perception, exceptional ability, 

 and the judicial bent of long legal train- 

 ing. He is strongly impressed with the 

 great probability of finding land in the 

 central polar basin. 



For myself, as a practical worker in 

 the field, taking what I find rather than 

 theorizing as to what I ought to find, I 

 recognize fully this probability ; and 

 that I have not urged it — in fact, have 

 leaned the other way — is due to the 

 confirmed pessimism which long years 

 of Arctic work and disappointments 

 have taught me — pessimism as to any 

 conditions which will simplify or render 

 easier the work I have laid out for my- 

 self. 



The existence of land anywhere be- 

 tween the northern shore of Grant Land 

 and the Pole would so greatly simplify 

 my work and reduce its difficulties that 

 I do not let myself dwell upon it. But 

 the possibility is there ; an isolated isl- 

 and continent, an Arctic Atlantis, with 

 a fauna and flora of its own, with one 

 day and one night in the year, lying 

 there through the blinding days and 

 opaque nights of countless geologic 

 ages, as completely isolated from the 

 world as if it were on Mars. 



Think of the satisfaction of lifting 

 such a land out of the heart of the 

 polar sea with the Stars and Stripes of 

 ' ' Old Glory. ' ' Think of writing upon 

 that land some name to endure indelibly 

 till that day when "the heavens shall 

 wither like a scroll," to show forever 

 that we own the top of the earth. Be- 

 lieve me, there is room yet in this pro- 

 saic world for a new sensation. 



NORTH POLE THE LAST GREAT GEO- 

 GRAPHICAL PRIZE 



My statement that the North Pole is 

 the last great geographical prize which 

 the earth has to offer has also been crit- 

 icised in some quarters, and it is claimed 

 that it is nonsense to say that the North 

 Pole is a greater prize than the South 

 Pole. I repeat advisedly that the North 

 Pole is the last great geographical prize 

 which the earth has to offer. 



That the particular mathematical point 

 of the North Pole possesses greater in- 

 terest or value than the South Pole is 

 not asserted, but the North Pole is that 

 apex of the earth which is in the center 

 of the hemisphere of civilization. The 

 North Pole has been sought by men for 

 nearly four centuries ; the South Pole 

 for less than a century. The North 

 Pole has a striking place in history, in 

 literature, in poetry, in romance. It 

 has been the subject of infinite specula- 

 tion, and, finally, when the North Pole 

 has been attained, the attainment of the 

 South Pole will follow naturally and rap- 

 idlv and will attract much less attention. 



