The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-08-22

speed Of II miles per hour The aver
age wind OF the polar ocean i'm July
and August is 10 miles per hour. If
we are 50 unfortunate as to have Il
wind or average force blowing direct
" contrary to our course throughout
the entire time of the voyage, we
would sim make Roadway at the ra tie
uf eight miles per hour. which would
allow In the 100 hours travel permitted
by our fuel supply a distance covered
If about $50 miles. Now. as ! have
mentioned. it H. only 7l5 miles from
our base of supplies to the pole.
"GTnting these most unfavorab BILE
conditions We would find ourselves at
tn" pole with our fuel we'll nigh ex-
hau%tcd. but there is every reason To
believe that our airship would remain
in the air several days longer with a
large chance that in time the winds
would carry her as a free drifting bal
loon far toward some land. and of
course any land would mean safety for
all our crew. Even should this alter
native fail We would have no reason
To bu discouraged for we have not put
all our eggs In one baskqt or in two
baskets for that mattsr. We still
have recourse To the sledging scheme.
We go prepared not only for the sum
mer and autumn. bat with provisions
enough Ia enable US to remain in the
north. if need he, the entire winter.
~lcdgiug back the following spring
which i% the season When Arctic travel
may he pursued most ravorably."
Inn, in fu nf
Wellmar's success this season is that
he viii not hc compelled to lose much
tim" in experimental prrliminaries. on
the other hand. he has in readiness
carefully planned and fully equipped
hcaduuurterS. This base of supplies
known as Camp. Wellmnn." is located
on Danes island. SpitZhergen. AN I'M
inhabited and unclaimed country. Here
Is huge steel Framework NJ feet high
and more than 200 feet in length, Sc
curcly anchored and hrared To with
stand the severcst Arctic blasts. 1t is
but necessary to spread an acre of sail
cloth over this skeleton structure and
there is provided balloon house that
is adequate for all practical purposes
Machine shops ami other incidental
been constructed during the past few
years grouped Within IA stones throw
ri that rugged monument which
marks the spot from which Andree set
out on that tragic first attempt To
reach the pole by the aerial route,
This balloon station and the airship
itself We're provided ny the investment
of the Chicago capitalists who backed
Mr.. Weilman's aerial project at the
outset but the whole Installation was
this year turned over /" the explorer
as gift. and his present quest is
made With his own funds, supple
mented 10y the contributions of sew
eral men who are ambitious that an
American shall heat explorers of all
nthr, nati"ualitirs Il the pole.
While. a. has been explained. Well
man has headquarters ready to hand
In the Arctic, the airship must be
transported from Paris. where it has
been since the last ATTEMPT nj a polar
cruise, and a variety Of ather equip
Ineut must be assembled. For one
thing. complete new gasmaking
plant is to he Installed To- provide lift
ing power for the gigantic balloon.
This new hydrogen plant involves the
trans purtati"u To- Danes STAND of ITO
toms uf Sulphuric acid ana % tons of
iron shaNinss. This paraphernalia. the
ajr~hlp, and finally Mr.. Wellman and
the numbers uf his party are being
transferred from TrumSu North Nor
way, L. Danes island by the motor
ship Arctic, which viii h We to make