The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-10-21
NEW SCHEME TO
REACH THE POLE
The --latest Idea of 4 French Explorer
Is to Reach the Frozen Regions
by Rapid Transit.
AT BERRYS,
Main and 18th Streets

Rapid transit to the North Pole by tun-
mel is the astounding project of Captain
Louis Launnette, formerly of the French
Navy. and an Arctic explorer OF repute
Not a tunnel bored through the earth.
but a tunnel built of ice, in 4 region
where fee never melts, and is therefore the
the best and cheapest for building ma
terials.
That ice IS a firz:-class building material
is proven by the E$quimaux when they
construct their domed winter dwellings.
and their white imi5ators or S. Peters
burg, Montreal and Toronto who rear
gorgeous palaces of the same material
Cdptatn Laun1ette's idea IS that by
building, tunnel of closely cemented ice
blocks and lightning it with electricity hc
would establish q route TO the pole per-
fectiy protected from the elements and
available for travel a5 all times, with bases
of supply at convenient Intervals, an
abundance of dogs for traction ana con-
slant communicate on throughout its entire
length.
The disturbances of such tunnel is
Sett-eviient. Its practicabiiiJy is anoth-
err question Emanat!ng from another
mind such q proposition might be receiv-
ed with an .ndulgent smile. But Captain
Llpnnette.s reputation. commands respgct-
ful attention far his utterances.
NO WILD DREAM
lie is no dresfTner. btIt & practical man
mar Of action. After Ittglng the French
Navy he entered The service. OF Ior,.
DunraTeH. who tnyrJlsteti him with !tnpur-
tant nautical ami scientific work
More recently he journeyed To Northern
Alaska ana engaged in exploration and
prospecting over u wide area within the
polar zone.
It yysl., curing this experience that ne
49, ia.
Pole by means Of nm ice tunnel. and while
or visit o America recently he G;vuIsg,t
his plans "a a reporter of this newspaper
He announced that the Prince ct Mo-
mace. the French Geographical Sae.etg
and q group of European capitalist mad
become interested in his scheme and had
appo.nlet a commission 90 t!ste-alt5Ee Is
practcabGsy.
Thoroughly spaeuuie tlr9t tbs commits.
sion wo;ltj pronounce u his favor, sIr
Captain expressed every confidence tiIit
ne would be called upon within few
months to organic aa expedition 70 start
next spring.
In this event he proposes to axe VIE
! him 4 corps Of engineers surveyors. eiec.
| tric:ans ard scientists. Wherein his par
! " will differ from previous polar aNT'e-
! ditions is that X VIII inciude number
(, of Italian Iaborers and-most important Gt
+; ala gang of skilled American iceneri-
hardy experts with thS ics-p.ouSh and
axe.
It is proposed to travel overland te
some point II Alaska whsre a vessel de-
signed for Arctic waters vii! sail wiki
the expedition to 4 noig- J.readv selected
, by Captain LaUnHet;e-a point rs sar
! north as Il IS safe o NAVIGATE
t, Thence. during ine shact summer. tie
expedition Will be rt1shea over q NJ border
of thc region OF perpetual lee wher'- the
main base of supplies viii. b. estahi!sles.
Then the .ceTnen ana laboEers Wiz an
pack their tools ard SIT TO work q sas,
tunnel road to the Eor:.t Pole.
1t viii have an ice floor. ice wa.s 1nd
an ice roof. According 10 Captain L.silr-
nsste's plans - interior With aad height
viii be eleven ard etsnt teet= respectively.
The walls Will b. SIX fec thick. ol2tl.
of bricks two fest long. one seot siE inch
IS wide and one foot thick. III plpuSE-ns
up ana shaping tIIess bricks the ski: ot
The American iceTeu VIII De c2listi into
play. They VII bs ceneated wtti. conf
pound Of salt. and II t.lat Climate Inc -e-
suit VII Be as durable as the best building.
store.
The .uure, VIII be bt:t!t in the form OF
AZ arch. and each Keystone VII he ice.
like re resi-
AS the buffers aavc1ce ,he electricians
vii follow. Installing !ar1ps at frequent
intervals The wire viii be laid under ice
along tpa side Of the tun,iei
AT suitable points provision Viii De made
j for food depots, repair shops. telephone
stations dog kennels ard the Ike.