Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-12-23
WILL BALLOONS DO IT.:
The North Pole to be Reached by Isailo

LoTos CLUE. New York, Dec. -. 1881.
To the EtlitoJ ofthe Herald:
The in one sense happy but otherwise
unfortunate tidings of the Jeanette, CON-
bined with the driving back Of the Will
lam Barentz and non-intelligence of Leigh
Smith, bring up to latest date contirma-
tion Of the almost insuperable obstacles
necessary to be overcome by ships and
sledgcs ere the Pole can be discovered.
Are we forever to keep to one line of &C
ton while other untried paths are at our
disposal? declare, Sir, fearlessly and EN-
phatically, that the Pole can be reached by
the air path in balloons. This modus
operandi will be but traEsposition of the
dangers and hardships common to sledges
and ships to dangers of less degree,
without the hardshps. 1t has been too
we'll and too often proved that ships can
only advance 1T the rate of 4 mile per day
over the very rough ice, whereas balloons s
are not liable to ice crushing and an
easy advance to the Pole can be made at
the rate of thirty miles an hour without
hardship or suffering and as to
temperature, work can be carried on
in the balloon cars with our coats off to
keep us cool. This is no suggestion. |
speak from experience. | will not trespass
upon your space by going into balloon de-
tails sufficient to say that the plan has
been thoroughly investigated by many
scientific men in America and England,
naval and military officers. hard headed
and practical whaling captains, all of
whom have not only endorsed the project
but placed their names on Arctic commit
tees to carry out the organization of the
enterprise. | have just received letter
from E. l.. Garrold, secretary of the Arc
tic council in London, informing me that
an immediate movement in the United
States will bring about correspond
ing action and the collection of
further subscriptions in London. On
communicating this fact TO Mr.. Henry
Walton Grinnell-whose father SO gener-
ously sent out two expeditions in search
of Sir John Franklin-this gentleman,
himself noted traveller within the
Arctic circle, encrgetically responded to
the situation, and volunteered to become
secretary to a proposed Arctic committee,
to be as speedily as possible formed in
New York, for the purpose of collecting
the sum of $40, 900 rs the American quota
toward the cost Of this Anglo Anne rican
expedition. The other $4,000 will be
raised in England, the total cost being
$4,000 Of which the balloon will cost
$4,000.
Upon the invitation of Sir John Mac
donald and Sir Leonard Tilley l start to-
morrow for Cana'lo, going to Ottawa and
other cities, to gain cooperation of the
Canadian people. l expect to be back in
New York about January 20. During my
absence Mr.. Grinnell has kindly under
taken to watch the interests Of the organ :
ization in New York, and | will, rs having
lived twelve years on the soil of America,
appeal to enterprising and wealthy
citizens of New York and other places
in the United States to support Mr..
Grinnell, Lieutenant Schwatka, United
States army, and myself in 4 speedy
gathering in of the funds necessary for
the equipment of the expedition. The
funds will not be in any way under my
control, but will be at the disposal of the
New York Arctic committee, being prop
erly banked in the name Of 4 treasurer to
be designated by the committee. Asking
that no time may DC lost in this work, SO
that the Grinnell, the name determined
upon for our vessel, may sail from the La::-
Dor Of New York for Smiths Sound by
next June, l An, sir, yours obediently,
JOHN p. CIIEYNE,
Commander Il. n, T. Il. G. $.
P.S.--All reforms or novelties go through
three stages suggestion, ridiculc, adop-
tiai.