The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-01-11
SCHEME FOR
TIE NORTH POLE
Pointed Out How MilIionaireS
Could Reach 1t.
ONE LONG LINE OF SHIPS
In Communication With One
Another Could Drift There.
ONE LONG LINE OF SHIPS

What he thinks will be an absolutely
certain way to reach the North Pole is
| outlined in deaail by Captain Arthur Nc
Gray former navigating officer OF the
steamship st. Louis.
The experienced navigator and student
OF Arctic explora ton proposes that fleet
of ten vessels. built by and named for
American mjllionaires, and kept in con-
slant communication b wireless telegra-
ply, shall line up thirty miles apart and
emulate the Frams drift with the polar
ice. When the one of these ships in the
most direct lire with the pole shall
reach the nearest drifting point 10 the
pole, a picked expedition from the ships
nearest shall make a dash over the land
that intervenes.
The plan which is the most exhaustive
Of any proposed for reaching the desired
POINT, is fully set forth by its author in
the current number of the National Mag
aine.
Before giving the details OF the plan,
Captain McGray reviews the accomplish,
ments of former expeditions and shows
that the drifting plan is the only feasible
plan of reaching the pole because in
sledging over the ice il is possible only to
go north about as fast as the drift carries
the explorer south.
BY CAPTAIN ARTHUR MORAY.
The year 1902 has witnessed the fail
IRE of no less than three of the best
equipped expeditions which ever set sail
for the frozen north. The amount of in
80
for each was exceeded only by the cour-
ageous energy of those to whom the COM
mand in the field was intrusted. Peary,
Sverdrup and Baldwin have returned with
a record of success. so far the dis
covery of the north pole is concerned.
little better than that which they enjoyed
before
After long and close study of the SUBJ
ject We do not hesitate to hazard the
statement that onl ytwo routes and two
methods are open for reaching the pole.
/. The plan proposed by Admiral Mel
vile of establishing an elaborate depot at
thenorthern part of Franz Joseph Land,
where with abundant supplies of food
large reserves of men and hundreds of
dogs and sledges, an expedition could set
out northwordly over the so miles of ice
between this point and the pole, and by
pushing forward with this equipment
keep the vanguard of the expedition with
in easy distance of a continuous base of
supplies. Or. briefly, sufficient force
to keep pushing supplies forward con-
stantly in such quantities and to such
points as would relieve the main, or any
other portion of the expedition, from any
concern whatever as 10 food, and from
the necessity of performing any eXtraor-
binary manual la Dor thus keeping it free
from such hardship and fatigue as would
unfit it for the highest degree of efficient
observation and arriving at 90 degrees.
2 BY the organiza ton OF an expedition.
consisting of 10 small vessels similar to
the Fran, and placing them systematical-
ly in the icepack. north of Bennett Island.
so miles apart. east and west. and from
thence to be carried northward with ice
drift on the lines laid down by De Long.
and proven practicable by Nansen.
The first proposition could probably be
accomplished successfully. if the weather
conditions were favorable 10 holding to-
Land: but if the winds should continue for
any length of time from the northward,
wide lanes should open everywhere, prog
ress would be slow. and communication
with the base of supplies dangerously in
terfered with. or perhaps entirely cut of
The second proposition is the only one
that SENS to assure certain success.
1t is a long tedious and expensive exper-
iment to prove this by sending out one
little Fran at time, and perhaps no two
times would the drift be exactly the same.
although stating from the same point, for
the movement of the ice is always affect
eddy the wind continuing for any length
of time from one quarter.
Therefore, we say that any independent
expedition which sets out for the pole has
almost no chance whatever of reaching
there. 1t is only by concerted, harmonious
action between ten or dosen vessels. es-
peciaIy constructed for the purpose, that
the swift and certain discovery of the
pole is possible.
Naturally. the first requirement for the
organization Of such an expedition is TO
secure the necessary capital TO build and
equip these vessels. But this should not be
difficult in this age of colossal fortunes.
mostly in the hands of willing patrons OF
science and research. From time 10 time
during the past two centuries twhen i'm
rnense fortunes were in the hands of only
a few individuals have come forward and
volunteered the funds for the equipment
and maintenance of such expeditions. and
that in time when the most enthusiastic
hardly dared regard the discovery OF the
pole as more than 4 remote possibility
Now that reaching the north terminal Of
the terrestrial axis * a forgone conclusion
we believe the financial responsibility VIII
meet with cheerful and abundant re-
Spouse. We rather feel inclined 10 offer
The opinion that ten gentlemen will readily
come forward With an orer each 10 bear
one-tenth OF the entire expense. ~ con-
sideration Of each one having tha privilege
Of christening one OF the ships with HIS
own name; and We further venture that
universal interest would center IN so move,
and exciting race. il so indeed il might
be termed. The expense 10 each would
not exceed $50 cco. In fact the Fran e1-
yedition cost but sl2oVa which included
the wages OF the men and tire insur-
ance premium on their lives Bat along
with this twentieth century expedition
more elaborate eeuipm.n; would he then
h-cusht Into play. although every vessel
would be an exact duplicate % al the
others In construction. power and finish
irgs None must enjoy any advantage
over the others and esch patron should
not only have the privilege % naming one
ship. but its commander also. and would
be entitled TO place a representative on
forexosnx has been IN progress another