MYSTERY LAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 613, 15 March 1929, Page 1

MYSTERY LAND

What Treasures or Minerals Do Byrd’s New Mountains Hold ? EXPLORERS SPECULATE BY RUSSELL OWEN Copyrighted, 3 925, by the “New York Times” company and the St. Louis “Post-Dispatch.” All rights for publication reserved throughout the world. Wireless t<» the “New York Times.” Received 9.5 a.m. DAY OF WHALES, Wednesday. WHAT the new stretches of land and the mountain ranges already discovered by the Byrd Expedition may contain has been the subject of much speculation since they were found, particularly as the region east of the Ross Dependency has been claimed for the United States. It is known that there is a wide belt of low-grade coal in the mountain range on the western side of the Barrier; but there is nothing to tempt anyone to mine it yet awhile.

Only most precious things such as jewels, or rare elements like radium, would repay the expense and difficulty of extracting them from Antarctica. There is no doubt that such things exist here, but finding them would be a mere chance, and it would be a hardy soul indeed who would go out in this country on a prospecting trip. But if anything worth the trouble and danger were found, there is no reason why it should not be taken out. Spitzbergen, where coal is mined, is nearer the North Pole than the Bay of Whales is to the South Pole. On the other hand, Spitzbergeu is easily accessible for several months of the year, due to the Gulf Stream and the proximity of Norway, only 500 miles away, whereas Antarctica Is cut off from the world by a raging ocean and a belt of ice through which ships may pass only about two months of the year, and then only with difficulty. Yet, granted that cargo sufficiently valuable could be secured, there is no reason why it should not be obtained, as men could live here and work under proper protection. They certainly could work in mines, although the lowest average temperatures in the

world are in Antarctica. The lowest recorded temperature here is either 74 or 76 below zero, and except when the wind blows, the members of the expedition work outdoors at 15 to 20 degrees below zero without great hardship. Nevertheless, it Is unlikely that for many years anyone will attempt to export diamonds or pitchblende from Antarctica. WIND-POWER WASTED There is one thing which goes to waste here, and that is wind power. There is more power blowing somewhere about here every day than is generated in all the central stations of the world. If ive had proper equipment we could harness the wind and generate all the electricity needed for power, light and heat. It may be taken for granted that future expeditions will do this, for it would be a comparatively simple matter. The dog teams are still going south on the Barrier, having laid one base; and Larry Gould, our geologist, with Balehen and June, is still at Rockefeller Range, having been delayed by bad weather. Both parties report that they are getting along well.