The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-07-31
70 rHE POLE ~ BfLLOON.
VI. Andrcc Has Plan TO be rried-Ihe
Details of the Plan.

LONDON. July 90 Tho session yester-
day OF the international Geographical
Congress was occupied Hlth the discus
sion Of polar exploration. Dr. Neuamyfr
and Mr.. Joseph Hooker a. survivor or tne
Arctic expedition healed hy Sir j"nh
Ross $3.50. ui ged thai froSh eAi',H-
tions bc equipped. and Dr. Murray, leader
of the Challenger expedition. argued 90
support of the theory mat re Antaill'
continent was not a sucr .ssion or VOL
c1nic islands. and that Investigations I'D
the Antarctic Ocean ought 20 Boz under
taken hy the nayes of the Wofid, an.
not as a result of private enterprise. \
small committee was appointed To dlail
resolutions in favor of further cNvlofa-
tons.
The paper read 10y General a. W. Grcely
was too technical 20 boz popular. NJ. =
a. Androe read a paper proposing
balloon route 10 the North Pole lht
iIea seemed feasible as pr)p1unied '.
the explorer. The general impression 'l
the congress was that the proposal was
lacking in practical application
NJ. Andr'e has secured fhe sanctlon or
the British Scientific Society 20 MS hti-
Icon project and has received I hncrdl
donation 90 help defray expenses nom
King oscar. OF sweden. Sufficient iunis
have 90 fact. beer obtained, ana tu'
attempt Is assured but VI. Andre nainr
ally desired the approval or so 1tinoillN-
tive body ms the International congress.
lie explained that NJ NOn. OF Iaf.9'
has entered int. contract % make tnt
machine Of double silk, of which about hke
required. the boat being two thousand
two hundred pounds. The nallt on l7
capable OF carrying three persons WIN
the nece 3sary instruments ana ballast
and four months provisions. IL Va pe
gas tight. and able 20 hover IN the ar
thirty days az a hea.ght OF go metres
NJ Andree calculates that sew ,utreh
ht ndred 10 eighteen hundred cyhii i-rS
"a
or two hundred will be- required Tot
the expeditiOn, I'm order 10 refill the bal
loon from time TO tima lie believes ne
viii be able 10 guide the machine ny =
system of sails and ropes in case or
emergency in dragging the earth Inc
car Is spacious enough 10 contain
sledge a sailing boat. several weapons,
with ammunition and photograph
camera. Early next spring " Is proposed
10 erect "A balOOn-housc, ana, aItcf 'illihS
the balloon, TO start on the aeiidi Nof-
age for the pole In July with "A ilesn
south or nearly south wind. me dhi mon
OF the voyage must. of course. largely ut-
pend on the strength Of the wind. IL
might possibly last six or seven hours,
but NJ Andree expects IL viii last over
forty. Thirty days. he believes. Will
suffice for his trip 10 the polar r'gi )ns
The return journey is 20 be made low
ard the inhabited parts Of North Amttlrt
or Northern SIBERIA win Wind on
balloon can make nineteen thousand kilo-
metres I'm thirty days. whereas the dis
lance from Spitzbergen 10 The berins
Straits via the pole is three thousand.
DR. H. Wichmann. OF GOtha, one OF The
most eminent German gcogralher;, IN
commenting on tn project says.
"Thc execution Of this bold enter
pri fe may. of course. be materially IN
huenced by many Unforeseen c0ntineen-
ciss The project is oy no means IAN
tastic one, but has been naturally and
cautiously worked out ia the light of
science This Is proved hy the fact that
Or Elkholm. the eminent met 'orologist,
who was I'm charge Of the Swedish ohser-
vatOry. I'm Spitzbergen, in 1852 and 1883,
has announced that be viii take part IN
the cNn.ltlOn."