Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1900-10-25
new SCHEME TO
REACH The POLE.
The Latest Idea of q French Fxplor-
er is to Reach The Frozen L g.
ions By Rapid Transit.
Through a Tunnel Of Ice Blocks.

"
Through a Tunnel OF Ice Blocks.
Rapid transit to the North Pole by
tunnel is the astounding project Of
Capt. louis Launpette, formerly OF tne
French Navy, and an Arctic explorer
of repute.
Not a tunnel bored through the earth,
but a tunnel built OF ice, in a region
where ice never melts, and is therefore
the best and cheapest for building ma
terials.
That ice is a frst-class building ma
terial is proved by the EsquimauN
when they construct their doned win
ter dwellings, a1d their white incita-
tors of st. Petersburg, Montreal and
Toronto, who rear gorgeous palaces of
the same substance.
Capt. Launnette's idea is that by
building a tunnel of closely cennented
ice blocks and lighting it with electric
ity he would establish a route to the
pole perfectly protected from the ele-
ments and available for travel at all
times, with bases Of supply at con-
venient intervals, an abundance OF
dogs for traction and constant COM
munication throughout its entire
length.
The d~esirab1eness of such a tunnel is
self-evideat. Its I~racticabllity is an
other question. E-manating from an
other mind such a proposition might
Be received with ,n iIdulgent sn-14e.
But Capt. I~-aunnette's reputation com
mands respectful attention for his u
terances.
NO WILD DREAM.
He is no dreamer, but a practical
man, a man of action. After leaving
the French Navy he entered the SER
vice of Lord DunTaven, who ~intrusted
him with important nautical and scien-
tifc work.
More recently he journeyed to North
ern Alaska and engaged in exploration
and prospecting over a wide area with
in the polar zone.
It was during this experience that he
conceived the idea of reaching the
North Pole by means of an ice tunnel
ard While on a visit to America re-
Gently he divulged his plans to a re-
porter OF this
He hat the Prince OF
Monaco, the French Geographical So
ciety and q group OF European capital,
lists had become interested in his
scheme and had appointed a commits.
sion to determine it's practicability.
Thoroughly %sanguine that this com
mission would pronounce in his favor
the Captain expressed every confidence
that he would be called upon within {
few months to organize an expedition
to start next spring.
In this event he proposes to TAX
with him a corps of engineers, survey
ors, electricians and scientists. Where
in his party will differ from previoui
polar expeditions is that it will in
cIude a number of Italian laborers am
most important of ala gang o
skilled American icemen-hardy ex
perts with the ice-plough and axe.
It is proposed to travel overland t
some point in Alaska where a vesse
designed for Arctic waters will sal
with the expedition to a point alread,
selected by Capt. Launnette-a poin
as far north as it is safe to navigate.
Thence, during the short summer
the expedition viii be rushed over tn
border OF the region of perpetual ice
where the main base of supplies Wi
be established.
Then the icemen and laborers wi
unpack their tools and set to work a
the tunnel road to the North Pole.
It will have an ice fioor, ice walls an
an ice roof. According to Capt. Laun
nette's plans, it's interior width an
height will be eleven n eight fee
respectively.
The walls will be six feet thick, bull
of bricks two feet lopg, one foot 81
inches wide and one foot thick. l
ploughing up and shaping these brick
the skill of the American 1cemen wi
be called into play. They will be &c
mented with a compound of salt, an
in that climate the result will be q
durable as the best building stone.
The tunnel will be built in the forl
of an arch, and each keystone will /
ice, k the rest.
AS the builders advance the e1ectr
Clans will follow, installing lamps {
AE NJ -saA I'LL L
laid under ice along the side Of tt
tunnel.
At suitable points provision will |
made for food depots, repair shop
telephone stations, dog kennels and Il
the like.