THE NORTH POLE

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2626, 7 October 1909, Page 5

THE NORTH POLE

CABLE 1 NEWS.

A CANADIAN ACHIEVEMENT

United Press Association —Copyright. OTTAWA, October G.

Captain Bernier, of the Canadian Government steamer Arctic, has arrived at Quebec. He announces that he has taken possession of Bank’s Land and many new islands for Canada. He discovered new lands, also a record left at Winner Bay in 1819 by Sir E. Parry. Captain Bernier’s third mate and six sailors last May conquered the North-West Passage, for the first time in 60 years. They travelled over the ice and regained the vessel after terrible hardships.

CHARGES BY COOK AGAINST

PEARY

Captain Bernier publishes a letter from Dr. Cook, written on May 15, giving full details of the journey to the Pole, and containing serious charges to the effect that Commander Peary had sought to deprive Dr. Cook of his stores, and had forbidden the Eskimos to search for Dr. Cook’s party. Captain Bernier himself left stores which enabled Dr. Cook to reach Upernavik.

VALUABLE INFORMATION

WHAT THE DISCOVERY MEANS

What does the discovery of the North Pole mean to science beyond the daring exploit of courage and endurance? What will science do with the Pole now that it has been found? What good is it? These are questions which have been widely discussed. The covery means (says the New York “Journal”) that for the first time m the history of the world an accurate chart of the globe can be fashioned. Until the exact shape of the earth is known no boundary line could be drawn with absolute correctness, and shoals and dangerous rocks along the sea coasts could not be plotted with unerring certainty. The discovery of the Pole will settle the great question of the earth’s ellipticity—whether or not there is a flattening of the surface at the Poles. At the present time, in all calculations, in surveying as well as charting’, there is an error to be figured upon. A mistake in making the proper correction on the sea sometimes runs the ship upon the rocks. The most decisive data concerning the elliptical contour of the earth can be obtained only through observation at the Poles. Man’s first arrival at the point where there is no North also means the discovery of the most valuable information regarding the origin and existence of the human race. All sorts of meteorological, tidal, and magnetic observations must be made at the Pole before a full comprehension of Nature’s laws and nrocesses can be obtained. Cyrus C~ Adams, a geographer, when asked regarding the value of the discovery, said: —“The value to the explorer himself from the purely personal 2)oint of view will doubtless be great, for in the popular imagination there seems to be no other terrestrial goal better worth striking for than, the Poles of the earth’s axis. Intrinsically, however, the value of the discovery depends upon the scientific results attained. Suppose he found land. That would be of the greatest importance. The prevalent view among geographers is that there is no land in the neighborhood of the North Pole. This opinion is based upon the fact that no Arctic land is known to rise, except from the continental shelf, or from comparatively shallow waters. But north and northeast of Franz Josef Land, the Fram expedition, under Nansen, found depths of 2000 fathoms or more, to the north of Alaska the NikkelsenLeffingwell expedition was unable to reach bottom with its sounding line, which measured 2060 feet. These and other ascertained facts have encouraged the belief that there is no land around the North Pole, and any one who should prove the contrary would link his name with a great discovery. The fitting out of Dr Cook’s expedition seems to have been an almost unpremeditated and casual affair. We do not know yet whether he had the means to ascertain with any degree of accuracy when he reached the Pole. However, that may be, if he has been to the Pole or anywhere near it, his feat is by far the most remarkable achievement in the annals of Polar endeavor.”