The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-01-19
TO THE NORTH POLE.

Ieary by the American GeOgrapnlcsi So
ciety in recognition OF his services in
Polar seas in 1891 and 1895.
| The medal is tho institution of the late
vice president Of the society. General Cui-
lom, and Will henceforth be awarded BY
the society to American Arctic explorers
whose achievements make them worthy Of
It.
On the occasion of the presentation Lieu
tenant Peary said
History has been made rapidly In the
Arctic regions in the past few years. and
is apt to be made still faster In the next
| few.
My own reconnaissance OF the Greenland
inland ice In 1856 was followed by Nam
sens crossing OF the country in 1855 Then
! came my two expeditions Of 1891 and 1925.
| In each of which ! crossed the northern
portion OF the Great Ice Cap from Whale
Sound TO Independence Bay and the north
ern terminus OF main Greenland, reaching
an unknown portion OF the east coast. and
settling the question OF tho insularity OF
the great Arctic island.
simultaneously with my second expedi-
ton started the expeditions OF Wellman to
the Spitzbergcn region. jackson to Franz
Joseph Land and hansen into the great
blank OF the Siberian Arctic basin.
Now all these expeditions but one have
returned. leaving untouched or unfinished
several OF the most interesting problems OF
the North
hansen had wrested from the Stars and
Stripes the record OF highest north which it
had held for dozen years, and placed the
Norwegian flag far in advance He has
aso shown that the entire segment of the
polar basin north Of the Siberian coast is
not available for further poleward efforts
Jackson Is still in Franz Joseph Land, but
with all my admiration for the pluck and
energy of this gallant Englshman and the
free handed generosity aud public spirit
of his patron, Mr. Harmsworth fear that
conditions are against him now that 1t is
established that Franz Joseph Land is
merely an archipelago OF limited extent
with no land north. OF it.
POLE ATTAINABLE FROM INDEPEN-
DENCE BAY.
My own expeditions have satisfied me
ard equipment located in the latitude of
Independence bay the pole is attainable.
The results OF these various expeditions
have shown that there is left but one prac-
ticable route by which to attain the North
POLE and that route the one that has been
known as the American, viz: the route
through Smith Sound Kane basin, Roheson
channel and along the northwest coast of
Greenland. This route has been developed
almost exclusively by Americans-kane,
Hayes. Hall and Greedy.
The pole is certain to be reached soon;
1t is only question OF time and money.
and not so very much OF the latter, and
unless We are alert we shall be left In the
rear.
a SAFE AND COMMON SENSE PROJECT
l propose for your consideration now in
the simplest and fewest possible words. a
safe, common sense project for reaching
the pole by the only remaining practicable
route | have no theory TO advance (the
polar regions are peculiarly hostile to
theorlesl therefore l have no long array
OF arguments to marshal. | have TO pre-
sent simply plain statement of facts.
The conquest of tho North pole the
complete dslmitation of the Greenland
archipelago, the last of the circum- polar
island groups, and the elimination from
our maps OF the unknown area between
the eighty fourth parallel and the pole, are
important geographical desiderata
This work can be accomplished without
risk of life or health.
1t can be done at a comparatively small
cost.
The time for this work is favorable; the
probabilities OF success flattering; the re-
quisite experience and inclination to un-
dertake it available The one element
lacking is The necessary funds.
100000 NEEDED.
My plan. in fewest words. is to raise
fund sufficient to insure the continuation OF
the work of exploration for ten years, II
necessary. say $4,000, and deposit in
trust company; purchase a ship; give her
minimum crew; load with concentrated
provisions; proceed to Whale Sound. take
IN board several picked families of my
faithful Eskimos. with their tents. canoes,
dogs. etc. force way through Robson
channel to Sherard Osborne Fjord or
farther. and land people and stores; ilen
send the ship back.
As soon as the freezing of the ice in the
great fiords OF the northwest coast would
permit sledge travel, the work Of advanc-
ng supplies northeastward along the
coast would be commenced, taking COM
paratively short stages and light loads so
that the trims could be quickly made As
soon as the supplies had been advanced the
irst stage, the party itself would move
onward. leaving a cache behind and as
they would be following Eskimo customs
md living In snow houses, this could
Easily be done.
BASE OF SUPPLIES.
Then the second stage of advance would
,e taken up. and the work carried on un-
Ill the departure of the sun. Each OF the
brilliant winter moons of the polar night
would AFFORD opportunities for continuing
L, so that early spring should find the
party and the bulk of its upplies located
At the northern terminus Of the North
Greenland Archipelago, probably not far
rom the eighty fifth parallel, with caches
behind 1t at each prominent headland.
From this point. when the proper time
anne. with picked ogs, the lightest pos
'ible equipment, and two of the best OF the
Eskimos. the dash for the pole would be
attempted with strong probabilities of
successful termination.
Should the first season be unfavorahe ms
'eeards ice conditions, it could be devoted
o detailed survey OF the archipelago
Itself and reconnoisance of tho east coast
rs far south RS possible. and the northern
Journey reserved for the following season
~ the next.
Each succeeding summer the ship would
ittempt 10 establish communication with
he party's base. succeeding probably
very other year at first. then with in