The Nome nugget., 1903-05-09
TO DRIFT
 TO POLE. in a Chain of Ten or
 More Ships. BUILT FOR PURPOSE The Arctic Goal Can Be Reached Through Boring StraitS--
 Plan Proposed.
BUILT FOR PURPOSE

It might be thought that the race for the north pole had received d decided setback in the year of 1902. Three of the best equipped expeditions ever sent on this bold errand have failed of the ultimate aim. Peary got very little nearer to the pole than before. Sverd- rup returned in the famous Tram with out reaching the magic mark. and the win-Ieigler expedition, with its vaster financial resources, did even less The record dash to date iS by he Duke d'Abruzz, q whC got within POT miles of the pole. Nansen comes next with 226 miles, then the Fran itself, that Nan sen left drifting, came within 244i miles of the pole. Peary, on bis last expedition, was 343 miles from the pole at his farthesl north, says the Boston Herald.
 With all this sdiscouraging retrospect, however, the polar problem will un- dOubtedly be attacked again, for of all explorers. the Arctic adventurer is one who knows not the word discourage ment. Geographers interested in the icy riddle will only cast up the sum of accumulated experience and proceed to new expeditions. until at last the north pole becomes only d way station.
 The conditions of the problem have been summarized in the light of col lected data by Calt. Arthur McCiray iu the National Magazine for February. His solution is to place 10 vessels, built by American milliona ires, in the ice. ofr the New Siberian islands, where Belongs party came to grief in the Jeannette. These vessels should be bull; much like the Tram, able to with stand the enormous pressure of the ice pack. They should be provisioned for several years stay in the ice; be placed at the start about 30 miles apart, and be in constant communication by wireless telegraphy. The vessels would then drift with the ice-pack toward the pole. Some one of the vessels would, inev- itably. approach near to the pole, for no exact route for vessel can be fore casted in this polar ice drift. A party would leave this particular one, re-en- forced. if need be, from the others. who would be apprised of the opportunity and in short dash attain the coveted point.
 The proposed expedition would follow the general lines laid down in organiz- ing the Jeannette expedition. The whole matter of construction, equip ment and personnel, to be placed in the hands of a naval commission of which the secretary of the navy should be the chairman. Every feature of the expe- dition would necessarily be submitted to this body for approval.
 Upon the commander of each vessel should be conferred special power for the government and discipline of his ship: the same as those given DeLOng by the then secretary of the navy. A commodore should accompany the fleet, invested with power to shift his flag at will from one vessel to the other.
 There are quite number of exper- enced men who would probably cheer fully offer to be drawn upon tor valu- able suggestions and advice respecting the equipment of the various depart ments into which such expeditions must be divided. Melville, NaIsen, Lord Kelvin and many others could be mentioned among their number.
 The 10 small ve,,els, having set out, after the initial difficulties of financing, construction and organization, would enter the Arctic ocean by way of Berlng sea, accompanied by two powerful steam ice breakers. Their function would be to tow the fleet, assisted by their own power. and place them 30 miles apart as far north a steam power can penetrate, between the longitude of 40 and l55 east. The approximate position of these vessels would be along a line drawn from Cape Chelyuskin on the Taimur peninsula to Cape Prince of Wales in Alaska.
 Communication by wireless telegra- phy between the ships and with the ice | breakers in the rear could be main tained for long period and ultimately be resumed between the drifting ships and station on Franz Joseph Land, afterward possibly with station on Greenland.