Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-20
THE ARCTIC PROBLEM
A CANADIAN LAYS PLANS TO
REACH THE NORTH POLE.
Will Use Automobiles and Keep in
Touch With Man by Wireless
Telegraph.

From the Literary Digest.
Andree tried to reach the north pole In a
balloon; Nansen tried to walk there: and
now Captain Bernier, a Canadian explorer
proposes to reach the pole in an automo-
bile. so we are told by the Marine Review
Says this paper:
THE automobiles in which he proposes
to make the last stages of his trip to the
north pole are adapted from a Russian in
vention. Instead of wheels they have roll
ers. Such invention has been used, 1t Is
SAID, with success on extensive ice-packs
similar to those Of the polar regions. The
nearer to the pole the closer Is the ice
packed, presenting after snowfalls a COM
paratively smooth surface for many miles
at a stretch. Rough masses of ice and
large spaces ~ open water are less COM
mon. The captains plan Is to place his
vessel in the ice-pack off the coast of ST.
IBERIA, at a point which he calculates will
drift him to the nearest point attainable to
the pole.
Wireless Telegraph.
When that point is reached he will dis
embark working parties, who will carry
wireless telegraph outfits. with which his
ship is also to be furnished. The parties
will drill holes in the ice and plant poles
as landmarks as they proceed and estab-
lish their first station and storehouse about
fifty miles from the ship. The road having
been made as practicable as possible, the
automobile sleigh will be put into commits
sion to stock the station with supplies In
the meantime other parties will be work
Ing on toward the second ffty-me station,
and so on. There will be a second automo-
bile in reserve or for use where two can be
uSefully employed. as well as dog SleighS
with teams of thirty dogs.
The sleighs on which the motors are to
De placed Will be so constructed as to be
capable of being used for navigating open
stretches of water. where such cannot be
avoided. In case rough ice Is met with
that presents an insurmountable obstacle
to the automobiles the machines will be
disconnected and taken to pieces and por-
tagged, work in which Canadians, such as
Will form a large proportion of the explor-
Ing company, have been familiar with since
infancy.
Power From the Wind.
Power for the electric dynamos will be
furnished when the conditions allow. by
windmills. and there will be electric light
Ing and heating. There will be regular
wireless communication with the civilized
world through Dawson City. Capt. Ber-
niers plan for drifting with the currents
that carry the pack ice to the coast of
Greenland is based on actual observation
by men experienced in the polar seas.
among whom are several members Of his
own family
The ship in which Captain Bernier is to
make the first stages of his trip is to be 1873
feet long. % feet beam. 10 feet depth of
hold, and little over 300 tons register to
run under both steam and sail. She will
have a perpendicular stern-post with out
side rudder, so that either rudder or pro-
peller may be unshipped at will. This will
prevent the rudder and screws getting fro
zen in the ice, as with other arctic YES
sells. Captain Bernier's ship will also nave
a flush deck, which will prevent her being
overweighted by flooding the forward deck
with water and slushy snow. To quote
again:
Stronger Than Fran.
The engines will be more powerful and
better protected than in any other arctic
vessels hitherto constructed. She will have
three masts. and her total sail area will
be loo feet more than that of the Fran
or 1000 square feet. she Will be provision
ed for six years voyage and will have a
company of fourteen. These will consist
of six scientific men. including a surveyor.
an astronomer, geOlogist, a biographist an
artist. photographer and doctor. There
Will be three navigatorS, all qualified as
captains; three sailors. one engineer and
one assistant engineer. who Will be me
chanic and electrician"