Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-02-22
THE NORTH POLE.
How a Canadian Proposes to
Discover rIt-TraVeliBg by Huts
ON Hleds-Laying a Telegraph
From Winnipeg TO the Pole.
Canada First, Bob. III

A representative Of Canada First
had the pleasure recently Of sscer-
tanning the views of Mr.. Okill Stuart,
an engineer, on the subject of discov-
ering the Pole. l would, be said,
have constructed Immediately 200
sled huts on an improved plan and
have them delivered By steamer at
the northwest angle Of Hudson's Bay,
latitude $40 north, longitude $40 west,
at point known as Chesterfield Inlet,
not later than August. This point is
distant from the Pole 1865 miles.
Now, from Chesterfield Inlet to the
north end Of Lake Winnipeg, where
supplies could be delivered by boat, is
but 800 miles. This distance would
overcome permanently by building a
system ofrelay stations twenty miles
apart and connected by through tel
egraph line to Winnipeg City at cost
Of $4,000. This work would be
carried out by government and would
eventually pay. connecting, as it
would, Churchill Harbor, mouth of
Nelson river and west coast of Hudson
Bay, where, in the future. will be the
great emporium of the North, thus
1eutralizing this expenditure by the
great advantage Of q telegraph system
for the purpose of emigration and
trade. These relay stations of block
huts would be stored with all neces-
sary supplies for the undertaking,
together with sleighs, dogs End men in
charge, for purposes of transportation
from Lake Winnipeg to Chesterfield
Inlet, which latter place would be the
headquarters ofthe expedition in daily
communication with the outer world
These sled huts would be constructed
of paper board, of the Gghtest design
and frost proof; each sled would be
about six feet wide and ten feet long,
neatly rounded at the top and about
FIVE feet high, with hole down through
the center for a signal pole or anchor,
to avoid, drifting while resting in
gale. Each sled would be steel shod,
shaped somewhat ike a toboggan,
rounded up at either end. Each sled
would contain a kerosene stove, oil
tank and lamps, as well as complete
supply of preserved food, medicine,
axes and ice shovels, sufficient for six
men for six months, together with fur
trappings and other clothing. When
complete each sled hut would weigh
about one thousand six hundred
pounds, or little more than two hun
dred and fifty pounds per man. Thus
equipped we would commence the for
ward march by moving ten sleds at a
time, manned in the following order:
To each sled one practical engineer
! one doctor and four able bodied men,
| all thoroughbred Canadians; thus ten
sleds would comprise sixty men.
These would advance in order at inter-
walls, all keeping the due north course,
and any deviation would be reported
by halt from the advance sled. All
the sleds would be advanced in this
order until complete chain of COM
munication was established.
| | would commence this movement
about the first of December, or as soon
as the ice formed on the more southern
4 rivers. Our route would lie by the
west coast of the Gulf of Boothia to
Borrow Strait, thence to North Devon
and North Lincoln by Jones Sound,
having land the whole distance, except
Borrow Strait and Jones Sound,
which would be frozen. At North
Lincoln we would be distant from
Chesterfield Inlet 786 miles, and from
the Pole 780 miles. To North Lincoln
we would push all the sleds, except
seventy-eight, which we would leave
by relays Of ten miles, all anchored
with signals, so as to form complete
chain Of refuge in our rear, and if
found necessary, would establish a
system Of telephone from each sled by
means of tripod poles. This would
give US daily communication with
Winnipeg, and govern our dog trans
portation trains, which would be in
constant attendance throughout the
whole line. When this was done we
would commence our advance along
the third or polar division in the same
order as before, only by shorter relays.
as we would have 122 sled huts to sta.
tion over $50 miles, or about six miles
apart, so that each hut could be seen
or reached with safety. 1t might be
necessary to have some Of these slods
constructed upon boat principle, in
case open water was reached. and
would be used for towing others, as
they would all be watertight and
capable of being hoated. But as |
do not contemplate finding open water
this latter point would not offer any
serious difficulty. The only obstacles
likely to be encountered are rough
and irregular ice lodges, which might
have to be levelled or tunneled in
places. In this manner | would expect
to overcome the whole distance from
Chesterfield Inlet to the pole by the
lst of July, 1884, that being the best
season for observations atN the pole.
The whole cost of the expedition in
this way, not including the telegraph
line to Winnipeg City, would be about
$40 1000, and is only matter of dollars
and cents.
For, if properly undertaken, as |
have pointed out, there is nothing to
prevent success, for all connected with
the expedition would be thoroughly
! Canadian, who are the only men capa-
Bile Of such discovery. This l have
always maintained, for Canadians are
the only men who can face the rigor
Of the North, being Injured as they are
to extreme cold, and quite at home in
ordinary clothing when the thermom-
eterranges down to forty degrees below
zero, at work in the open air; there
fore, when such men are properly clad
and fed, as | propose, these Canadian
1 young men would be at home on such
an expedition, and expert in all they
nIarknnl- - IL IL Al. MI Il