The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1895-07-30
AN AERONABTS Plan.
He Will Start for the North Pole
in a Monster Balloon.
EMINENT SCIENTIST INTERESTED.

DIR. Eikholm, the Swedish Meteorological,
VIII Accompany NJ. Andree in His Bold
Enterprise, and Predicts Its success-The
Expedition wni Start Next July.
LONDON, July 80.-The session Of the
international geographical congress was
occupied with the discussion of polar ex-
plorations. DIR. Neumayer and Mr.. Joseph
Hooker, a survivor Of the Attic expedition
headed by Sir John Ross, 1S29-33, urged
that fresh expeditions be equipped, and
DIR. Murray, leader of the Challenger ex-
petition, argued in behalf of the theory
that the Antarctic continent was not O
succession of volcanic islands and that In
~vestigations in the Antarctic ocean ought
to be undertaken by the navies of the
world and not as a result of private enter
prise. A committee was appointed to draft
a resolution In favor of further explorar
tions.
Most Of the interest of the day conferred
in a paper read by NJ. S. A. Andree, pro
posing a balloon route to the north pole.
me }qeasseT ids Teasible as propopded by
the explorer. The only difficulty aPeeareu
to be how to make sufficient gas fS ene
balloon. Then, again, prominent geog'
raphists seemed to think the proposal
would fail without the use of boats, will
much provisions, to rely upon in case oil
accident. The general impression of the
congress, however, was that the proposal
was lacking in practical application.
NJ. Andree has secured the sanction Of
the Swedish Scientific society to his bal
loon project, and has received a liberal
donation to help defray expenses from
King Oscar of Sweden. Sufficient funds
have, in fact, been obtained, and the at
tempt is assured, but NJ. Andree naturally
desired the approval of so authoritative {
body as the international geographical
congress. He explained that NJ. Yon, Of
Paris, has entered into a contract to make
the machine Of double silk, of which
about $500 cubic meters will be required
the cost being e., 200. The balloon is to bC
capable of carrying three persons, witt
the necessary instruments and ballast
and four months provisions. 1t will bt
sufficiently gas tight to hover in the all
for thirty days at a height of $50 meters.
M. Andree calculates that 100 to 1906
cylinders filled with gas, under a pressure
of 100 to 200 atmospheres, will be required
for the expedition, in order to refill the
balloon from time to time. He believe;
he will DO able to guide the machine by {
system of sails and ropes, acting as {
brake in case Of need by dragging On the
earth. The car is to be spacious enough
to contain a sledge, a sailing boat, seyera
with ammunition, and q photo
graphic camera.
Early next spring it is proposed to erect
q balloon house, and after filing the bal
loon TO start on the aerial voyage for the
pole in July, with a fresh south or nearly
south wind. The duration of the voyage
must, of course largely depend ON thl
strength of the wind. 1t might possibly
last only five or six hours, but M. Andres
expects it will take at least forty. Thirty
days, he believes, will suffice for cruising
about the central polar basin in all direc
lions, and taking a compl te survey of it
The return journey is to be made to
wards the iphabited parts of Nortl
America OF northern Siberia. With
wind of average velocity, NJ. Andree say
the balloon can make 10, 400 Kilometres IL
thirty days, whereas the distance from
Spitzbergen to the Behring straits, viz
the pole, is only 300.
DR.. H, Wichmann, of Gotha, one of thu
most prominent German geographers, ii
commenting on the project, says:
The execution of this bold enterprise
may, of course, be materially influenced
by many unforeseen contingencies >"
project is by no means a + ,ntostio
but has been naturally@ond caotio
worked out in the light Of soionoa
is best proved by the ;ao+ tSo+ a.
holm, the eminent + oraIo
was in charge Of the . woJisb obsar,o
~ l1Soer in 1882 to 1888, has
noun9e u that he will take part in the
p9SHns; .t;tion, and he predicts entire succe
,6r Last evening Hon. and Mrs. George
Curzon gave a reception to the Int
tional Geographical society at their /
sion.
The Weather,