The sun., 1880-02-22
Bnlloouing To the Pole.

The new English scheme Of Arctic eSplor-
alton derives its interest from its proposed use
OF n new appliance-to Il steamer and sedGes it
adds balloons.
Tho possibilities OF aerial navigation in the
polar seas have been discussed for years but
only since the dishenrtcninc reports brought
by the expeditions Of Lieut. Wcyprecht and
Capt. Mares of tho impGnntrahle ice barriers
that blocked their way has bnllponing been
raised from the status Of n possible adjunct to
mn appliance ofprime importance.
Even now many OF the people who favor Com
mnnder Cheyno's expedition. which proposes
to leave England In the navy storeship Discov-
cry next June. provided tho money Tor prepa.
ration. $3.50 900. can b. raised. do not pin their
faith chiefly upon balloons. In the meeting re-
Gently hold at the Mansion House. London, to
forward the scheme. Capt. Bedford PIN limit
edhis belief in balloons to their manifest uses
in spying the condition OF the ice around and
ahead and thought It WIS idle to trust 10 any
thing but the sledEe for reaching the Pole.
So Mr.. A II. Beesly. who for twenty years has
taken an interest in polar exploration. and who.
should well-judged expedition be sent out,
will contribute to its funds, suggests to the
London Times these doubts about the uso OF
balloons
The Of balloons is it is stated to he OF the main
features OF the new expedition should like IA know
what the weight Of these balloons inundated will be.
The Tst requisite for seG.e travelling that the scdgc
shalt carry the maximum OF tonJ with the minimum OF
luggage Tor and do:. Would the carriage of a
balloon he practically mpoSSinc' Again. surprising the
balloon to have reached the North Pole with favorable
wind. how will its occupsnts hack NgaiH' How
less the wind veers just how and when they want It, will
they support lie when out of the baluun'
Nevertheless. it is undcniablc that much Of
the enthusiasm for the new project in En@land
l., 1
it in tho latter country has cnused it to he called
the British Canadian Arctic Expediton-is d-
recty due othe hope that in some way. smaller
or greater. balloons will add that now meehan-
cal element OF success without which there il
really very little ground for assuming that new
voyuGcrs will push much further than tho brave
and persistent men who have preceded them.
Commander Cheyne. who. by the way. is not
only an officer of the royal navy. but veteran
of three Arctic expeditions, is downright in his
reliance oh balloons |; Is true that he has also
other sources of hope. For cNHmuie he says
that the Inst British expedition came back
broken down wItA s"urvy. not ior want Of lime
juice. but Of sUili 'icut ventilation between decks
and sufficient exercise: and this he hopes to
change for the bettor. But his main reliance is
evidently in tho employment OF balloons. and
this was tho plan that he laid before the Man
He proposed balloons first for Ascertainng which
OF two channels most open, and finally reaching
III" Pole With three large balloons lifting a ton
each the start would be mHls from 'he shin uunn
the oil roughly asccraucG wnt circle betting
obtained hy mcte0rouscg oh~' taken three
points namely At the .hip and AZ stations twenty mics
each SHE hRvin- ,ln-raphir communication. Should
the wind curve hcct before arrival at the Pole then
by manpu alton OF ga between the balloons aul con.
denser tank they could choose The requisite altitude for
continued favorable air current. The Pole woUh! prob.
abiy he reached IN about trtv forty hour, time hills
benE surmouutcd by rracug with this gas After taking
the necessary observations lie proposed 10 wait tor
vorNhe wind. drop the same parallel Of latitude the
ship, and then reach 1t by scG-e.
SO it is clear that Commander Cheyne pro-
poses to take with his balloons n complete out
fit not only Of men, but Of dogs. sedSes. and
provisions for man and beast, besides his sci
entiilc instruments. H. would need. then: bal
looms strong and lar." enough to lift very heavy
weights. The general opinion OF his support
ers is that to get back from the Polo after reach
ing it or It's noghborAood Will be the hard
work and the labor. However. the new project
is likely TO be backed with the required funds
In that cnSe the uggracrdcntrd sight VIII b" ai-
torded Of Sweden. Austria. America. Holland.
Denmark, England. all together in Arctic
waters in u race for the Pole.