The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1909-10-23
WILKES LAND SEEKER
Philadelphia Plans Expedition to
Region Around South Pole.
HOPES TO GO IN SEPTEMBER

Or. Henry e. WetheriIi. Traveller and
inventor, Says It is Americas Duty
to Substantate Claim to Vast Terri
tory Lying Within Antarctic Circle.
Sow that the north pole has been
discovered the question is arising In
the minds of explorers. What Of the
south pole?
Among those who are planning to 60
south Is DIR. Henry B. Wetherill Of
Philadelphia, surgeon and inspector
Of rifle practice in the Pennsylvania
naval reserves, once a companion Of
Commander Peary in arctic travel and
an inventor Of scientific instruments.
DR.. Wetheril is preparing to explore
the region surrounding the south pole
known as Wilkes Land, which, he
said recently, was the most fascinat-
ing field for the explorer today. 1T Is
vast Territory. he explained, Lying
wholly within the antarctic circle and
In vastness can be said to be at least
twice the size Of the United States
Commander Wilkes of the United
States navy discovered It, approaching
from the south of Australia in 184O
Lieutenant Shackleton crossed a Sec
ton of this land on his recent dash to
ward the south pole, entering upon 1t,
as we'll as can understand, from a
poirt somewhat to the southwark Of
South America.
Fertile Field For Explorers.
.'This great waste affords fertile
field for the explorer because it Il
land and upon 1t there is a chance
Of discovering interesting conditions.
There is a comparatively small amount
of land in the north polar regions,
which makes that territory Of less i'm
portance, to my way Of thinking, than
this region surrounding the south
pole.'
DR.. Weshgriil pointed out the fact
that 1t had been question in the
minds OF some as to whether Com
mander Wilkes actually discovered this
continent which bears his name, and
he thinks that since the north pole has
been discovered it Is the duty Of Amer
leans to send an expedition south to
substantiatc the American claim and
In way to vindicate Wilkes.
"Such a PLAN" said Dr. Wether1ll,
.shas been taking shape In the minds
Of certain members Of American scien.
tific societies for years, but now the
matter seems to be taking definite
form. Edwin Swift Balch, member
Of the Philadelphia Philosophical so.
ciety and leading authority on south
polar conditions, has applied to the
Philadelphia Geographical society, and
l think, to two other societies as well
for support IN bringing the question
to the attention of congress during the
coming term. understand that con
gress will be asked to appropriate
money for the expedition, which
should think would require about $500,
COO"
Would Take Three Ships.
! DR.. Wetherill has made formal ap
plication for the command Of the ex
petition should one be formed, and
In the meantime he Is going ahead will
his plans, believing that the funds viii
be forthcoming. He would t1ke thre'
small ships, to be built after the mode
Of the magnet survey ship Carnegie
of the auxiliary type. One Of thes
would be used as supply ship, a sec
ond for cruising at sea out of DANCE
of the ice fields. but within call b,
wireless in case anything should har
pen to the third ship. which he woul
personally command and which woul
be used for the actual work Of e.
ploration.
DR.. Wetherill has been for years II
terested In inventing instruments fo
scientific use. He has recently inyen'
ed patent sextant, also table fo
taking Greenwich time by what b
calls a lunar declination--that is, I
determine longitude by an Observable
of the moon.
He explained that lunar observation
! for longitude were made in the pas
but the task was one of such compile,
ity that few navigators were equal