The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-02-20
A Canadians New and Very Startling
Scheme to Reach That !
Far Point.
y Big Tunnel for That Purpose
Gould Be Built in Ten
Years.
The Route Would lie Exceedingly Popu-
lar with the Summer Tourist
Il 1t Practicable?

gentleman of considerable means, IL en-
deayoring to enlist the cooperation and
assistance of the dominion government TO
enable him to accomplish the dangerous
and oft attempted feat of reaching the
north pole. In laying his proposition be-
fore the government DIR. Martin says:
The moat direct route, and the most
feasible, is from Hudson bay direct to the
pole. 1t will not do to force u large vssse!
through the sea Of floating ice. rs she Will
often be held and drifted backward by the
ice. These delays make the season too short.
There should be no less than twelve boats
and four men to each with supplies for one
year. When the large vessel arrives at the
floating ice the men and boats should be
made ready to travel in q direct line over
ice u water to the true Arctic circle.
The large vessels could return to the hud-
son bay for more supplies-boats and men.
The boats cannot be frozen in by the ice.
/ am speaking of an expedition starting
in May from Hudson bay. At this time OF
the year the circle OF floating ice is not the
scattered foes of ice that are floating south
wards, but the permanent belt Of floating
ice that encircles the Arctic wall. This ice
ia kept in position by the whirling motion
Of the planet. By the accumulation OF the
ice the circle becomes 70 large that the at
traction is lost at tho outer edge Of ice and
it floats away.
This circle of floating ice, although per-
mauent, varies in extent with the seasons.
The variations of the seasons are: In Jan
ua.y 4OS miles, in March 304 miles, July ll5
miles. 1t will be seen that midsummer 10
the best time to approach the Arctic circle
with a large vessel, as the small boats would
have but lis miles TO travel. But prepara-
tious and calculations should be made to
winter at ths Arctic circle. In order
TO- do SO successfully they snoul
ice. Some of these bays are twenty miles
deep, generally ending. in . sharp angle.
Here the explorers could begin the cxcava-
ton of a cavern in the solid ice above tide
mark. They would nave q comfortable
shelter for themselves, their stores and
boats against the storms OF an Arctic win
ter, by closing the opening with blankets
or other materials, and here they could
work all winter excavating. In an ice cave
it is different from one OF rock. There Is 30
much more air In the ice, and always pure.
that no discomfort need be apprehended in
This direction. The ice can be cut with axeG,
picks and other sharp Instruments. Expe-
ditions could he made from this cave on the
plateau of the Arctic circle as practice for
the greet push to the pole IN July. Should
xQ6 6XDlOtcr6 De uuhDLt W 0CCOHIPitSu ~ IL
first time, they would have a place OF shell
ter to return to. They should not forget to
leave g trail behind them that would secures
safe return to the cave. There should be a
perfect understanding between the vessel
and the boats as regards the point OF meet
ing ard the time. There would be little diff
fculty in this, as the vessel would know the
whereabouts of the bay. In the spring they
would have a tunnel eighty rods or moro III
length, which would do as a storehouse
whore everything would keep for years.
The plateau 10 dotted everywhere with
peaks of ice. The distance from the wall
of ice to the peaks is about thirty miles.
When they arrive at these peaks they mark
the great center. The difficulty here will
be to keep in a direct line, rs they will be
Obliged to round one after the other to az
rive at the point OF center. This surface
ice is as difficult to cut as flint. therefore
the planting of a pole is not feasible, for
man c~annortarry ia that place long. When
the start ID made they must start with their
IRE and never allow it to go out, and never
venture fiOm the small circle OF heat and
Iiaht produced by it.
These are difficulties to overcome, bnr to
reach the pole. where observations could be
made at favorable times, the best way would
be to tunnel the whole distance, a distance
of about 20S miles. In Il oIrect line 1t
would take about ten years, but many i'm
portant observations would De made III the
msan time through the openings. In order
to be able to cut through the flint ice, Ham
beaux, placed in the direction where the
party wish to cut, will render the ice soft
enough. If the ice should be too bard, it
would facilitate operations to go deeper.
A tunnel in this ice will be as permanent az
in rock. AS for appliances to make OBJ
seryations WHEN openings are made. there
will always be scatroldings enough to make
an observatory IN the form of a funnel or
tube, surrounded by furs or WOODEN mater
isl, on which is fixed a glass globe large
enough to admit the observer with the cleo
trio light to his assistance. Many wonder
Iul phenomena will present themselves to
his observation.
la such a tunnel there can be q steam en-
CINE and all the appliances one might wish.
for let it be understood that IN order not to
sacrifice life TO gam experience theirs IL
mach danger III one moments exposure.
ever so well protected by clothing. A march
on the surface without a Constant hre would
De dangerous. with the tunnel all these
peculiar changes would become under
stood ana many volumes written. There
vii. be more difficulty in beginning the tun-
mel than after sufficient space has been
made to shelter the men. 1 believe that
such a tunnel would be seif-pHyIng. FOL
example. a yisIt to tie pole would cost
$500. IL would be astonishing TO see tnf
number of visitors every midsummer, II II
WAS only TO sse and have 1t to say that they
had been Ill the great Arctic tunnel wheL
DuCe ANCWu LIdL II CuUiA GE 0DuS Will
safety. all the prelimInaries of outfit ane
accommodation would be found in the tun-
mel chambers, for the scene IN the icl
region Is beautiful, Pictures from j
would be worth d great deal. The nation
that Will accomplish that first will have
reputation that will not perish. i tanne
would be permanent. The bay formed b.,
the ice sl:ke, or where tie great ice mas
broke off. has been the same for forty .fou
years There are points that have existe.
lO6, ITO and 1O4 years, have not yet broker
of.