The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-09-08
Crown Prince of Denmark Con- fers Honor J pOn Aneri-
 can Explorer
COOK WILL REAP LARGE :
 PROFITS BY DISCOVERY
Lecture is Delivered by Explorer Be- fore Geographical Society In Which Details of Trip Are
 Given and Facts Explained.

Copenhagen, September Lone of the most remarkable results of Commander Peary's rivalry with Dr. Cook for the discovery of the pole Is that Dr. Cooks profits from the enterprise are likely to be largely increased. He received today offers for his books and lectures at twice the figures previously rendered. One American of the highest standing ca bled terms almost startling, and it is believed, far beyond any sum hitherto paid for such work. pr. Cook is likely to accept his offer.
 The controversy is beginning to wage warmer here. Commander Pearys state- ment Is unanimously accepted as true. but there Is a very large following faith ful to Dr. Cook
 His lecture before the Geographical so- ciety tonight, however, added little to the information he had given out with reference to his expedition, aud he re- peated the declaration of his intention to withhold details until the publication Of his book. The king and queen, Prince and Princess George of Greece and many members of the royal family together with large gathering of the most prom inent people in Copenhagen this evening witnessed the presentation to Dr. Cook of q gold medal by the crown prince and listened to the explorers lecture afterward. Standing in front of an im- mense map of the Arctic regions, which was surmonnted by the Stars and Stripes, Dr. Cook outlined his progress to the north pole. In introducing the explorer, the crown prince said that his reception in Greenland and at Copenhagen showed the way the Danes appreciated his won derful exploit. The prince then begged the honor of presenting to him the medal of the Geographical society. pr. Cook told his story coolly and without hesita- tion, but most of his statements had been given out before
 Results of Expedition.
 Tt is too early" said the explorer, ''to give the general results of the ex- petition. Time is required to digest the work of polar effort. You have not al- lowed time in Copenhagen. This north ward dash has occupied the minds of men for more than three centuries. Slow ly and surely. the ladder of attitudes has been climbed with various degrees of success.
 Experience was gained and each ex- petition prohted by the misfortunes of its predecessors. The failure of one ex- petition led to the success of subsequent efforts.
 '"rhe art of polar travel had been ere ated and this art was the nucleus of our equipment. We changed tactics to suit our purpose, but I am bound to acknowl- edge at the outset that success would not have been possible without the less for tunate forerunners. All honor to the pioneers, the pathfinders to the pole, the earlier explorers. We are particularly in- debted to Nansen and Peary and many Danish explorers for the last stages of polar progress. In my case I am especial ly indebted to Captain Sverdrup, who is here tonight. His work gave us a new road, which afforded us a chance to try the ice a little further west
 Although profting by other ventures, our expeditions differed In some important respects. The route selected I hadt planned out years ago as a result of read ing the splendid narrative of Sverdrup About the middle of 1907, when we started the pole was part of the programme which aimed altogether at study and recreation, with the pole possibly as q future problem.'
 Temperature at Pole.
 Then the explorer went over the prepa- rations for his departure and the journey, his recital being similar to that already published He cleared up the doubts about the lowest temperature recorded. which he reiterated was S3 degrees below zero. Fahrenheit He said he had no doubt that the observations made would prove that he had been on and around the 9Oth degree.
 ''If I had been within a circle kio- metre In diameter. where the pole is sit- uated." exclaimed the explorer, T am satisfied that it is quite sufficient for practical purposes. I will say no more until my book is published'
 When shown the dispatch which said that Commander Peary claimed to be the first man to reach the pole, Dr. Cook said:
 Commander Peary, of course can say whatever he wishes. I am not accus- toned to indulge in controversies. All I hsve 10 say about Commander Peary is that If he says he reached the north pole believe he reached the north pole.''
 With regard to the statement that he hed chosen the western route to avoid ob- servation by his competitors, Dr. Cook said that he could only repeat the state ment made ir ais speeches and lecture that he had sole,ted the western route simply es Q result of careful study of Svererups explorations which con- vrced aim that that was the most feasible road to the pole.
 Speeches at the dinner were made by the secretary of the Geographical society. M. Oafzi President c. H. Scharling and Prof. Valdemar Schmidt of the University of Copenhagen and Com,as ndsr Hov- gaard At the conclusion Of pr cnoks lecture the rector of lh- ,lrIvarsity ssyn.a- ly reaffirmed his tels>; tnss th, Journey had been accomplished ss dec<aihse
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 Contracts for Dry Docks.
 Washington, September 7-Cont-acts with the San Francisco company for yhe construction of the Pearl harbor dry docks. Hawaii, at t1.7so.OOo. and with the