Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-02
SOUTH POLE QUEST
PLANNED BY PEARY
Offers Geographic Society Use
of Roosevelt and Backing
of Arctic Club.
WOULD NOT TAKE LEAD
OF EXPEDITION HIMSELF
But Would Give Society Full Benefit
Of His Experience.
COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER
Proposal Made at Dinner Given by
DIR. Alexander Graham Bell Re
ceived With Enthusiasm by
Board of Managers.
But Would Give Society Full Benefit
Of His Experience.
COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER

Board OF managers.
An American expedition will soon be on
its way in quest of the south pole if the
proposal of Commander Robert E. Peary,
made to the National Geographic Society
1T a dinner given by DR.. Alexander Gra-
ham Bell last evening, is accepted by the
/ members of that society. DR.. Bell enter
I tanned the board of managers of the So
ciety, and Commander Peary was a guest
at the dinner.
On behalf of the Peary Arctic Club the
commander suggested that the club and
\ the society fit up Joint expedition to
reach the south pole. The Peary Arctic
\ Club. he said, would contribute the steam
ship Roosevelt, which could not be du-
plicated for sl5O,OO provided the Ma
tional Geographic Society will assume the
responsibility for the first $4,000 toward
the cost of the expedition. According to
the plan suggested all expenses above
$4,000 are to be divided equally between
the two organizations.
During the Informal discussion of the
subject several members of the board
expressed the opinion that If Commander
Peary would lead the expedition in per-
son there would be absolutely no diff
Guilty in raising the money from among
the members of the society. Comma nder
Peary. however, said that he could not
conduct the expedition in person, as the
sledge work required SO much physical
exertion that it needed a younger man
than he to undertake it,
According TO- fpA estimates of Com
mandsr EseF. he 4xr4a.ses Of the ex-
ped3tion would be between $4,000 and
10000. The proposed expedition would
start next fall, and would reach Coates
Land about March. l9l1. Coates Land is
that part of the antarctic continent d.
fectly opposite Cape Royds, the base of
the British south polar expedition. The
two camps would be about 1000 miles
apart, and approximately the same dis
tance from the pole. 1t is estimated that
the expedition would reach the south
pole about December 81. 1911.
Referred. to Committee.
Although Commander Peary's proposal
was received with much enthusiasm by
the members Of the board of managers.
their meeting was an informal one and
no formal action was taken. The matter
however, was referred to the finance and
research committees of the society with
instruction to report at a special meeting
Of the board to be called at an early
date. The members of the board express
ed the opinion that IL the members Of the
society win support the expedition fran
cially it ought to be undertaken in .he
interest OF science and of America.
All members of the board who are In
the city attended the dinner at DIR. Bells
The National Geographic Society has
grown rapidly that II requires addi-
tional quarters for its large clerical force
1t has just expended $4,000 to purchase
frontage of ffty-six feet on 18th street
the south side of its present home An
office building for the society will be
erected on this site and will take prac-
tcally all the available funds of the So
ctety.
Commander Peary's Statement.
At the dinner last evening Commander
Peary made the following statement in
explanation of his proposal:
'"rhe time Is now ripe for antarctic ex
ploration by this country. II was nearly
ripe a year ago last May. when l gave
commission of intentions in that direc
ton.
Antarctic work naturally divides itself
into two parts. namely:
First an attempt to reach the south
pole, with such scientific work as may be
undertaken in that connection. Second
scientific work pure and simple, Withou,
any attempt to reach the pole
Either of these parts may be taken III
independently of the other, or they may
be combined in a single comprehensive
homogeneous program.
Conditions seem particularly favorable
row for the latter 10 be done in d way
commensurate with our national dignity
The plan. condensed from notes and
studies made by me during the last ex-
Dedition north, can be presented very
briefly.
send an expedition south next fall tc
Punta Arenas, coal there and replenish
supplies, then proceed. as conditions may
indicate, to Coates Land, or down the
east side of Anartica, or down the cen
Ter of the Weddell sea, obtain winter
quarters far south as possible, and
from there sledge TO the pole, using the
equipment and methods of the last polar
expedition.
For Scientific Research.
''The Roosevelt Is suited for this work
as she now stands. Coates Land is abou,
the same distance from Cape Horn as
Cape York is from st. Johns. The cost
of such expedition would be about S15. coo
This expedition out OF the way. then
build a ship on the same general lines as
the Roosevelt, but somewhat larger. ar.
range and tit her with accommodations
and laboratories for second Challenger
expedition up-to-date, give her com
pement of specialists. and send her
south for two, three or. if necessary
i four years of modern scientific work
laround the antarctic circle and the de
limitation of the entire circuit of the
antarctic continent. coming up at the enc
of each seasons work TO Cape Horn
Cape of Good Hope, Australia or New
Zealand. to communicate with home
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