New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-18
HOW TO EXPLORE GREENLAND.

ENGINEER PEARY THINKS 1T MUST BE DONE BIZ
TWO DETERMINED MEN ON sNowsHoEs.
To TIE Edttor oJThs Tribune.
SIR The editorial In your valuable paper recently
upon DR.. Nsnsens Greenland expedition, and the
falling interest The Tribune takes in this and kindred
subjects inpels me to trespass upon your time.
Whatever Dr. Nansen may may not have dis
covered In nnutiae. It appears clear to me that his
work possesses much value. He seems to have shown
that two or three men with snowshoes and sledges
can carry without serious trouble supplies sufficient
for at least two months Hs has emphasized the fact
that with gnowshoes and snowskates results can DO
obtained that would be absolutely impossible withous
them. and that any attempt to travel In Arctic
countries without these indispensable adjuncB is like
going cunning without gun He has ENTHUSIASTICALLY
added another to the list Of examples which 20 to
show that the Arctic exploring expedition Of the
future will be composed of two or at most three
determined men Of perfect physique, aided under
tain circumstances by few natives.
The results obtained by Graah. Hall, I'm his earlier
explorations Sehwata and others that might be men,
toned, compared with those obtained by many
expeditions a grander scale. almost lead TO tho
assertion that the results nvorsey the Size OF
the expedition To such typical party of two three.
unhampeged by npedimenta, keenly alive to the im-
portanoe of the utmost In every smallest detail,
with overly ounce Of physique permeated and nered
by Intelligent WILL tho broad unbroken fields OF
northern inner Greenland present imperial highs
way.
That Nansen's Journey, as accomplished, should add
much to our knowledge OF the interior Of Greenland
was hardly be expected. 1t Is generally accepted
that at least the southern portion of Greenland is
archipelago of mountain peaks, cemented together By
the southern tongue OF the great interior ice-cap.
Nansen justly claim, however, to have travelled
further upon that ce-cap than Of his predeces-
That any journey across Greenland viii be likely
TO increase our knowledge of the interior by much
more than transverse profile Of the icecap Is
doubtful, but once It IS demonstrated (as demon
strsted to my own satisfaction in 1885 and hope
Nansens Journey will demonstrate to others) thai
the 625 mile journey from the northeast corner Of
Disco Bay to the head Of PRANK Joseph Fiord, or
from Whale Sound eastward to tho unknown east
coast Is possible Of accomplishment by party OF
two or three expert snowshoers IN summer, then
there lies within reach Of the Individual, or the
poorest scientific geographical society, the KEY to
the solution of the Greenland problem
Once such elevation the interior ice is reached
that the temperature rises above the freezing
point even at of the long summer day, then
the travellers have before them plain Of unchanging
homogeneous snow, across which they can strike
bees line In any direction, certain that no storm
viii destroy their road nor widening csevasse CON-
pop them 10 make . long deto'r In the in
terror ice is .cooxtsnsive with tho northern and
northeastern coast of Greenland, series Of expora
tons would I'LL out the incomplete coast-lne and
fix its northeastern limit-an achievement second in
interest only 10 the discovery Of tho Northwest
Passage and the North Poie-and complete our mowl-
edge OF Greenland.
To be more explicit the first step would be to cross
from the base OF Noursosk Peninsula to Pftermann
Mount, or the head OF Franz Joseph k1ord on he
east coast and return. Then with the training and
experience thus gained with Whale Sound as base,
and keeping the coast land in view the left STRIKE
northeastery the interior ice into the northeast
angle Of Greenland, thence down the east coast 70
Cape Bismarck. and then back 10 the initial point.
From the heights of the ice-cap, with miles Oh the
coast lying like map below as have seen the entire
circuit of Disco Bay and at another time NoursoaS
Peninsula Omenak Fjord, and svarten Hulk Peninsula,
i can be charted with an accuracy and rapldiy un-
known 10 one tong from headland 10 headland along
he sea coast II 70 the above be added pronie rom
DISCO Bay southeast to Cape Dan 10 show tne INFERIOR
,eIlef of the southern Ialf OF the continent there
would be nothing more to desire
Once the idea is grasped of exploring Greenland
rom the inside from the smooth, serene heights Of
he Interior ice instead OF from the outside, through
grinding ice-delds, It will be seen how simple and
sasv M e. 1t Is like exploring an at0ll around the
arein OF the always placid central lagoon instead OF
,long its outer shore, among reefs and breakers.
r. f. PEARY, U. S. Navy.
Brooklyn. Jan. 80 1889.