The Washington times., 1908-03-01
Cars Must Reach
Siberia Before Sum-
mer Season Makes
Going Impossible.

The New York to Paris automobile
race Is one OF the most daring and
hazardous expeditions undertaken in re-
cent years
Added to its dangers IS the novelty
Of the attempt Polar expeditions and
explorations of unknown countries have
lost their appeal through their common
placeneas-
The originality o. the traos-conti-
mental automobile idea should protect
it from hasty and nl-adNised criticism
Automobile experts and travellers have.
nevertheless, not hestated to point out
the difficulties to be encountered along
the route. Their arguments against the
Canadian portion OF the trip were ac-
cepted ard that part Of tie plan aban-
doned. For the rest they have mainly
confined their attention TO the merits
Of Alaskan travel.
The Weakest Link.
Eut all of them have missed the weak
est link. II other sections Of the route
are dangerous the siberian relay looms
up as well nigh impossible. The start
ers and the promoters probably realize
the risks they run better than those
who have not given their close atten-
ton to the project. But it seems hardly
possible that after q calm Investigation
they stiIl have hopes OF traversing the
Siberian wastes for dismal stretch CT
2.2OO miles
Climatic condition is the arch enemy
Of Polar expeditions and it would be
hard to pick a mode OF travel which
would be affected so Variously by tho
extreme colo as motoring.
Car Could Not Stand Strain.
Not only would the ignition system
be impaired, the oil be frozen, or con-
gealed If diluted with a nOn-freezns
solution. the tires lose their elasticity,
but the very body OF the machine would
be racized and torn to pieces by the
contraction and made friabls and brittle
by the temperature.
Assuming that human ingenuity could
surmount these difficulties, and half
baked schemes in abundance have been
proposed for each, there remain the
typographical difficulties which would
present an insurmountabIe barrier.
Find an automobile that can wend
its way down steep declines, over a
twisting and winding trail from two to
four feet wide climb almost perpeudicu-
lar hills- sEDD over EuIleys six or eight
feet deep, brave tempests- the like Of
which are seen nowhere except in the
Far North, and make SIS way through
thick underbrush and messy tundra, and
TIE feat viii be possible If drivers can
be supplied who can manipulate ana re-
pair the machines In q temperature
where to touch piece Of metal may
mean the loss of a hand.
Must Hurry to Reach Siberia.
To stand any chance at al the auto
lists must reach Siberia before .the break
of spring, because it is conceded by the
most sanguine that a car can push
across the marshy tundra Of Alaska
and the Anadir wastes about as easily
asttcould across the Great cypress Swami
From June until August blocks of ice
float loose in rivers so wide that the
traveller cannot see from shore to shore.
ana thin crusts over the haIf-melted
snow cover wide expanses of boys.
Therefore, 1t is assumed in this article
that the tourists win be able to start
on their journey across the Arctic re-
gion by March 1. as planned at the
start.
The least perhaps of the problems. but
those which have not been satisfac-
torily solved. are those relating to the
mechanical operation OF the autos Gas
oiene viii not freeze. and solutions OF
giycerine and wood alcohol will prob
ably be relied upon 10 prevent the
water used for cooling purposes from
becoming solid. But while the fluid may
not cake, that does not mean that II
viii not CONCEAL. and, as has been point
&c cut by Joseph Tracy and other ex-
F1Ar=ie74naN sHv
cltnging 70 the smaller pipes win Sc
riously interfere with the running of
the engine. Either a new piping svs-
tenn must be supplied for each car which
affords absolute drainage or some soIu-
ton obtained which will not CONCEAL
Steel VIII Break.
4 more serious contingency. is present
ed by Jefferson N Levy. OF the Hud-
son Bay Company. writing for the New
York Times, who says. AT 80 degrees
below zero. which is not the lowest
that will be encountered. steel becomes
so brittle that II viii crack like glass
Various parts of the machinery would
be broken faster than they could be
repaired. and the driver would have to
carry with him a good-sized storeroom
20 replace them. Which Is obviously inn
possible OF the present expedition" Mr..
Levy holds large interests IN several ST
berian railways. and speaks from ex-
perience. He goes on to tell of the
difficulty Of replacing the broken rails
in the colder winter months
The tire problem. bad enough over
American roads. would present addition
al difficulties If. when the temperature
dropped to so degrees below zero. they
lost their elasticity. Experiments held
in New York recently show this to be
the effect OF cold on rubber.
Provisions and Supplies.
Then there is the essential problem
OF provisions and supplies. "To carry
supplies OF food and fuel from East to
Irlzutsk." says Mr. Hansen. the eminent
Norwegian engineer, lit will be neces-
sary 70 make use of several sledges
These viii have to be towed behind the
autos" Whatever troubles the autos
rnfrht have IN traversing trac5less