The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-11-15

enough to give it speed of six knots, and,
besides, be fully rugged for sailing. The
most important thing about this vessel Is
that 1t will be built on such principle as
to withstand the pressure of the ice. Its
sides must be made so sloping that when
the ice packs 1t cannot get a fast hold of it,
as was the case with the Jeanette and other
vessels which have conveyed arctic eXpe-
ditions. but instead will raise IL up.
NO great change Of construction will be
needed. Notwithstanding the Jeannette's
absurd (unpract cal p form, she withstood
the pressure for about two years.
With such vessel and crew of ten, or at
the most, twelve strong and picked men,
together with an equipment for five years,
as good in every respect as can be procured
for love or money. it is my opinion that the
enterprise Is well assured. With this
vessel we shall advance through Behring
Straits and westward along the north coast
of Siberia toward the New Siberian
permits. Arrived at the New
Siberian Islands, time must be employed
to the best advantage in investigating the
nature of the currents and conditions of
the ice, and thus await the most favorable
m0ment for advancing to the farthest in
open water, which will probably occur in
August or the beginning Of September.
When the suitable time arrives we
shall piow our way into the ice nortkward
as far as we can.
''Then we choose a spot and moor the
vessel securely between suitable foes, and
let the ice pack around it as much as it
please-the more the better; the ship
will be thereby lifted, and remain lying
there. secure and fast, From
this moment the current will take charge
of the transport" AS regards the dura-
ton of the transit of the vessel from this
point, DR.. Nansen estimates it at two
years, based on the time the Jeanette
relics took to travel, and on the ascer-
tanned movement Of the ice-somewhere
about two and one-half knots a day. In
the event of the destruction of the vessel
DR.. Nansen has no fear OF the results of
taking TO the boats, and points out numer-
GUS Instances in which, under such cir
cumstances, but little risk was incurred.
The ships complement will consist of II
men. all told, of whom three would be
qualified to undertake scientific inyestiga-
tons, ETC., while Captain Otto Sverdup lone
OF Dr.. Nansen's companions through
Greenlandl has expressed his willingness to
take command of the vessel
DR.. Nansen, says the Baltimore Herald.
estimates the cost of the expedition at 800, 600
kroner about sS3, 500. of which the Storthing
has voted grant OF 100000 kroner about
S55,600), DR.. Nansen being promised the
remainder from other sources The pres
ent intention is to leave Norway in Feb
ruary next. so as to reach Behring Straits
by June of the year. The undertaking is
somewhat novel and bold one, deserving of
success. As regards the ship. Dr. Nansen
himself considered that vessel with
sides soping downward to the keel, like
the letter Y, would be one not only of novel
construction, but the only practical form
for rising or lifting when subject to side
pressure by ice. This idea has been over
ruled by the marine architects as unsuita-
BILE, and a design for more ordinary but
N ~ G frytNn - AL L.. 49,
approved, and the ship Is now under course
of construction in the yard of Mr.. Archer,
an English gentleman, at Laurvik. DR..
Nansen himself is occupied in making the
other arrangements, and there is every pros
pect of the expedition being fitted out In as
perfect manner as possible ere it leaves
these shores for the unknown world in the
arctic seas