New-York tribune., 1906-12-01
IUUV WEILH4N IS HOPEFVL

The Arctic explorer who Is planning to seek
the pole next summer in an airship launched
from a convenient point in the Spitzbergen
archinelsgo is now in his native country for q
few weeks, and has discussed the project in the
columns of 1.-The Chicago Record Herald" Mr..
Wellman there answers, or attempts to answer.
some of the questions affecting his success which
have arisen in the minds Of skeptics.
The chief uncertainty about the feasibility Of
an aerial voyage twelve hundred miles long
springs from the loss of buoyancy which results
from the leakage of gas. 1t Is doubtful If any
balloon which merely drifts, but which also car
ries passengers has ever stayed up longer than
thirty-six hours. The Lebaudy arship, of the
same type as Wellmans, made flight the other
day lasting two and a half hours, and the per-
formance was considered q remarkable achieve
ment in France. Now while Wellman might,
under extremely favorable circumstances, make
his round trip in five six days, he frankly ad-
mits that twelve fifteen days may be requisite.
He insists however, that the leakage from the
reservoir of his airship amounts to only ~
per cent daily. If it were per cent the reduc-
tiOn in lifting power would be only $50 pounds.
he declares, whereas he expects to vaporize
400 pounds of gasolene every day in running his
engines. Inasmuch he proposes to carry
G,5O0 pounds of that fluid at the outset he is
confident that he can defy the influence of grav-
tatlOn Tor nearly, or quite, sixteen days. All tne
same, 1t will be judicious to verify his calcula-
tions by a trial trip of adequate length before
he turns his back SpitZbergen next year.
There has also been much speculation about
the influence of the wind upon Wellman's under
taking. Poor Andree, whose point of departure
was Identical with that selected by the Chicago
explorer, hoped that gentle sOuthery breezes
would watt him to his destination. Wellman
relies on engine power rather than wind, but
expects that the latter will help him to some
extent on the nOrthward part of his journey.
CuriOusly enough, Peary's observations in the
Arctic region do not coincide altogether with
those of Andree and Wellman. Peary reports
that in Greenland and Grant Land nOrtherly
winds predominant. and his experience last April
teStifies forcby to the occasional development
of westerly gales in extremely high ATTITUDES
So conflicting is the evidence regarding the d.
rectiOn of the prevailing winds over the circum-
polar sea, it would seem that Wellman would be
fortunate if he could eliminate that element en-
tirely from his calculations. At best there is no
real assurance of continuity, and any possible
advantage which might be gained during one
part of the voyage might easily be offset by re-
sstance at another stage of the undertaking.
There would be occasion for thankfuness If
there no wind at all. Wellman's engines he
says, assure him Il speed of fifteen miles an
hour in calm, or $50 miles in twenty four
hours. At that rate less than four days would
suffice if the air were motiOnless, and If the
skies were clear enough to admit of astronomical
observations On the other hand, sudden storm
might not only interrupt actual progress, but
hopeleSsly wreck a flying machine.