The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-03-06
FAR NORTHERN HOUSES.
IFrom the New York SUM

IFrom the New York SUM-
Mr.. Walter Wellman wrote from Cape
Tegetthoff, in Franz-Josef Land, last
summer, that he had erected his house
on that cape in so degrees minutes
north latitude, within 594 geographical
miles of the North Pole, and that it
was the most northerly inhabited house
in the world. Cape Tegetthon is the
southwestern extremity of Hall Island,
about 100 miles east of Jackson's camp
at Cape Flora Wellnan probably Sc
lected this site for his camp because
directly north of it opens the best known
SIedglng route IN that nelghborhood
toward the pole. It was down this
channel that hansen came when he met
Jackson. Sir Clements R. Markham
president of the Royal Geographical So
ciety, does not think very faYorably of
the purpose of the Wellman party,
which, he says, has for its avowed
object a struggle to reach the pole, or
at least to get beyond Nansen's fur
thest." Sir Clements said in a recent
address to the society:
THE council of this society has al
ways consistently maintained that
merely to reach the poles or to attain a
higher latitude than some one else are
objects unworthy of support or en-
enlargement. In our view the objects of
arctic and antarctic exploration are to
secure valuable results in all branches
of science, and particularly in geo.
graphical science. Much arctic geo.
graphical work remains to be achieved,
including the discovery of the northern
side of Greenland and its off-lying is
lands; the examination of the palace
crystic sea from Aldrich'S FurtheSt to
Prince Patrick Island; the discovery of
the unknown region between Prince
Patrick Island and Siberia, and the ex-
ploration of Sannikon Land as proposed
by Baron TOLL
Wellman intended to go as far north
as he could last season, winter in a
stone hut, and again push northWard
next spring. 1t is not at all unlikely
that Mr.. Peary is wintering at least 100
geographical miles further north than
Wellman's house on Cape Tegetthoff
Peary'S plan, if possible, was to attain
at least the latitude of Sherard Osborn
ford, a little north Of the eighty second
parallel before making his winter camp.
There is no telling, however, what pro-
greSS he was able to make in this direc-
ton, for Smith Sound and the channels
north of it are open in some seasons and
in others they are utterly Impractical BILE
for navigation. If Peary was not able
to reach his proposed destination last
summer, he may have landed ,as he in
timated in his address before the Amer
lean Geographical society two years ago
he would do, at Hayes Sound and de-
vote the first year to the exploration of
the unknown region northwest of Smith
Sound, known as Schley and Arthur
lands. In view OF the fact, however
that he had Sverdrup at his heels, it is
not likely that he would turn aside for
anything that would prevent him from
making every mile toward the north
that could be achieved
1t is now certain that Sverdrup adopt
ed every feature of Peary's plans, in
Guiding the North Pole as his chief aim.
Sir Clements Markham said twice in his
recent address that SVerdrup intended
to make push for the pole. Sverdrup
has a scientific staff with him which
Peary lacks, but he '"borroWed'' from
the American explorer every idea which
he will try to carry out.