Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-30
A N D r e E'S T RIP
Details Of the Proposed Balloon Journey
to the Pole.
He Will Start From the Spltxbergen
Destination In Forty-FOur Hours.
From the Philadelphia Telegraph.

From the Philadelphia Telegraph.
The idea of trying to reach the north pole
in a balloon is not nav; but no enc, proba-
bly,, has SO thoroughly investigated its
practicability as the Swedish engineer. An
dree, who intends to make the venture
next Summer. The difficulty Of finding an
open sea, such as was once supposed to ex-
list up within ten or fifteen degrees of the
pole. has led to the abandonment, by most
explorers. of all hope of achieving the final
discovery in this manner. although such
means of transportation to an advantage
Gus base of further operations is, of course.
universally adopted.
Even Nansen, an apparent exception to
the rule. counts only upon a current not a
broad ocean, to enable him to reach his
destination Every bit of land within the
arctic circle, moreover, SO far as explored.
gives Indications of northern coast, SO
that an overland trip to the pole appears
to be out of the question; while, on the
other hand. the chaotic masses of icebergs.
aground or wedged into the pack of float
ing Ice in the furfhest seas attained, con-
vince experts that the sledge is not adapt
ed to the completion of this wonderfully
fascinating search. The balloon certainly
seems to offer q satisfactory method of
overcoming numerous difficulties which
conveyance although 1T may encounter en-
tirely new Giles.
The aeronautic details of the expedition
have been carefully pianred. The balloon
is to have covering that will virtually
preclude the escape of gas. A buoyancy
will he secured that is adequate to a burden
comprising three men. Provisions will be
taken for four months, together with scien-
tific instruments, life buoys. collapsible
boat, several drag ropes and quantity of
ballast in the form of metal plates. Nj.
Andree, who has had experience in balloons
before, has devised system of steering by
means of the ropes just mentioned which.
he declares, enables him to direct his
course at IN angle less than forty degrees
with the wind; and although the friction of
these guide ropes with the earth would
hinder his progress somewhat, he believes
that he could compensate therefor by using
a sail. The ropes are to be made of a ma
terial that will stand soaking in the sea, as
veil as dragging over the land and ice.
Why He Selects the Summer Season.
1t is easy to see that If an airship. fur
nished with the means of seif-propulsion.
such as we may possibly see in actual SER
vice before the close of our present GEN.
fury, were employed for this enterprise, the
chances for success would be greater than
they are now. A craft like NJ. Andree's
will be pretty much at the mercy Of the
winds and Gains. He means to wait for
day early next July when there Is a fair
south wind. Study of meteorological data
from the Spitzbergen Island, from which he
proposes to start leads him to think that
he can col mt on a velocity of sixteen miles
an hour. and if this were realized and main
tanned long enough he would traverse 100
miles between the archipelago and the pole
in about forty-eight hours. In midsummer
there is PERI etual day in the arctic region,
hence he could set sail at any moment, and
he would not be obliged to check his head
way on account of nightfall at any time
during his voyage.
The most critical questions that would
arise in connection with this undertaking
no doubt would relate to the frequency,