Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-02-24
BIG POLAR AUTO RACE
Advice For Contestants From
Experienced Arctic Travellers.
USE OF sLEDs SUGGESTED.

Harry q. Mclean OF Vancouver, Is.
c., who was interviewed at New York
on the overland automobile race from
New York TO Paris. which has been
arranged by the New York Times and
the Matin OF Paris, says there are sew
eral things necessary for the comfort
OF the men on the trip to which atten-
ton might well be called.
Mr.. Mclean has spent great deal
OF time in British Columbia and has
also been In the arctic sections Of Alas
ka. having made several trips to Point
Barlow, the extreme northern point
where many Of the whaling fleets make
their headquarters during the whaling
season. He has Travelled quite extern
sIvely by sled and knows many Of the
most obscure paths and trails OF the
country that Is never without It's Gov
ering OF snow, and therefore his views
may be considered as helping the solu-
tlon Of the problem that faces the men
who will undertake to drive the ma
chimes across Ice and snow, says the
New York Times.
'srhe more ! think OF the trip, Of
which have been reading In one sec
ton OF the country and another since
its inception. the more am convinced
that II can be made. but II will DO
made under conditions never before
met by men. In the FIRST place, the
trip cannot be made unless aecompa-
MED by guides and sleds, so that every
possible bit OF weight can be taken
from the cars-that is to say, that all
camping material. all food and extra
clothing should be hauled on sleds.
'sThese sled trains can then serve two
purposes-first, to take weight from
the cars and then as scouts and trail
breakers. 50 TO speak. going ahead OF
the cars and, to q certain extent, pick
ing out the best way for the machines
TO 90 and In a very small way break
ing the trail Of the snow.
1.-THE aleds more commonly In use In
the arctic regions are from nine to ten
feet long and twenty-five inches wide.
the runners about twelve inches deep
ana the sides about eighteen inches
high. The sled proper II an open
framework OF oak or hickory, no more
wood being used than Is absolutely
necessary. All the parts are dashed to-
gether with strips Of sealskin or walrus
hide. Few or no nails are used; 80,
while the sled Is very strong, II Is also
flexible and able to withstand the
rough usage to which II Is constantly
subjected In travelling. In passing
might interject that the automobile
construction should receive thought
In this direction OF elasticity, for there
are some terrible wrenehes 10 be under
gone. Tho sled cover. OF light drilling.
= made large enough to spread all over
the whole length OF tho sled on the bot.
tom.
Incidentally. Harvesting the dogs to
the sleda. which II IL well 70 know
about. for the natives cannot be en-
tirely depended 70 stick TO the Job, Ii
quite an interesting undertaking. The
harness IL made OF strips OF heavy
ticking. canvas. sennlt or seal hide and
is all IN one piece for each dog. A
strip goes around the dogs neck and
crosses In front OF the chest where the
two parts are fastened together to
form collar The ends then 90 under.
meath the fore legs and lead up, one on
each side. to the dogs back. Another
strip Il fastened to the top Of the col
lar az the back Of the neck and leads
along the back to meet the other two
ends. and here all three pieces are 80
cured together and made fast to a
small piece Of rope about two feet long.
'In Harvesting dog the collar Is put
on over the head. each OF his fore feet
put through one OF the loops formed
by the ends coming together. and no IL
ready to b. made fast 10 the sled. A
larger rope. the length OF which do
ponds upon the number OF dogs to DO
used. Is made fast to the front OF the
sled. and 10 this Is secured the small
RIPE Of the dogs harness. the dogs be-
NJ yoked In pairs. one on each side OF
TIE central rope The team generally
consists OF an odd number OF dogs. the
odd dog being hitched to the central
limo In front Of the other dogs and acts
as = leader. This plan Is used by the
white people In the lower Yukon aud
is considered better than the plan OF
tho natives Of hltching the dogs one
ahead Of the other.
Another thing Of Importance next
q the food Is the camp guar TO be
used when stops are made for the
night where there are no native huts
o. other shelter: Of course. tents to
accommodate each party-that Is, the
party In each machine. But this Is
added weight to the equipment TO be
carried on the sleds and can easily be
done away with The fayorlte way OF
the Eskimos for camping Ia that part
o. the country Is to build snow houses
e night when they get ready 20 stop.
'-rhe wind packs the snow so hard
that Il can easily be cut into blocks
with q long knife. From those blocks
IN = short time can be constructed
small strong house. the cracks being
stopped up with loose snow. which
freezes quickly. and for the door
large block OF snow can be used. In
this way the house Is made practically
cir tight. Soon the warmth Of the
bodies Of three or four peonle viii