New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-06
SHALL PEARY GO NORTH AGAIN;

While Commander I'eary was in this city yes
terday he made revelation which will surprise
and pain millions or his fellow countrymen.
The full amount Of money needed for the pro-
posed Arctic expedition OF 1904-O1, under his
leadership has not vet been raised. One OBJ
stacle after another has been removed except
this. The plan has received the cordial ap-
prevail of the government and leave OF absence
has been granted to the explorer himself. AS
Secretary Darling remarked in his letter 70
Peary last summer, the Navy Department feels
that the national honor is involved In the en-
terprlse. 1t might be expected that an official
utterance OF that kind would inspire quick and
generous cooperation from men Of means III
private life. When. however, the little group
Of Peary's friends in this city who have hither-
10 backed him sought such help the response
was singularly disappointing. Only part OF
the requisite sum has been pledged. AS ade-
quate preparations would take AZ least six
months, the time has now arrived when the
question must he definitely disposed of in one
way or another Those who best understand
the situation say that the decision must come
before the end of the present week. Within
the next three or four days the project must
receive large financial encouragement or be
abandoned altogether.
One of the two sources from which aid might
he requested with proprety is the Navy De-
partment. If Commander Peary's friends in
NeW-York were 70 unite in buying the proper
vessel for him and were 10 present It TO the
government the latter might with good reason
undertake to give it the engines which il ought
to have. Indeed, so valuable would such q
possession prove that it might be wise for the
government both to purchase the ship and pro
vide the power. leaving it 10 Peary's individual
hackers 10 meet the other large expenses Of tho
undertaking. \ whalcr into which engines OF
10000 or 1000 horsepower had been introduced
would rival the most powerful tugs in the
navy. That type OF vessel Is much needed even
in warm waters. In TIE r-ture OF things. sew
eral such craft must bc buit anew or purchased
during the next few years. Moreover, a vessel
originally designed for Arctic service, and
capable Of being driven through $50 miles OF
pack ice along the west coast OF Greenland,
would be peculiarly qualified for naval work
on the Alaskan coast in coming years. We
venture TO hope that the Navy Department will
take these facts into immediate consideration.
The adoption OF either one OF these propositions
would seem to be sound business policy.
The other agency 10 which Pcary's friends
should urgently appeal IS the Carnegie Institu-
ton, whose headquarters are In Washington.
The annual revenue from its endowment Is
SJoOOOO. From tlat sum a liberal contribution
might easily be made to the cause in question.
Such support would obviously be in harmony
with the founders declared wish to promote
original research. Geographical exploration is
scientific work Of the highest order Positive
Information about the conditions existing at the
Pole would he OF immense value Entirely
aside from those purely popular aspects Of
peary's heroic efforts which have excited world
wide enthusiasm. his labOrs directed to the
advancement Of knowledge concerning an i'm
pOrtant matter. By Joining with the govern
ment and Pcary's personal friends too the
Carnegie Institution would be carrying ont its
own declared purpose OF utilizing as far rs
possible existing instrumentalties instead OF
creating new ones. What IS more the Oppor-
tunity now offered is unique. Nowhere In
America or Europe to-day is there a man whose
experience and courage give such promise Of
successful issue 10 the work in hand as do Rob
ert f. Peary's. Let President Gilman and his
associates open their eyes TO the chance thus af.
forded before it slips from their grasp!