The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1910-02-04
OUTHPOLEQUEST
Pedry Makes Offer TO Geo.
graphic Society.
WILL LEND SHIP ROOSEVELT.
Arctic Club Will Also Pay Valf
Expense After $4,000 Has Been
Contributed For American
Expedition.
WILL LEND SHIP ROOSEVELT.


Robert e. Peary. discoverer of the
north pole, has made a proposition to
the National Geographic society,
which If accepted will mean that an
American expedition will be on its
way TO discover the unconquered
south pole next fall.
On behalf of the Peary Arctic club
of New York Commander Peary sug-
society fit up joint expedition to
reach the south pole.
The club, he says, will contribute
the steamship Roosevelt, which could
not be duplicated for $150,000. pro-
vided the society will assume the re-
sponsibility for the first $4,000 to-
ward the cost of the expedition.
According to the plan suggested, all
expenses above that sum are to be di-
vided equally between the two organ
izations.
Commander Peary estimates that
the total cost would be from $4,000
to 100000. The expedition would
start next fall and would reach
Coates Land about March, 1911.
The proposed American base is di-
rectly opposite the base of the British
south polar expedition. The two
camps would be about 1000 miles
apart and approximately the same
| distance from the pole. 1t is esti-
/ hot hA
| the south pole about Dec. 81, 1911.
rThe plan can be presented very
briefly said Commander Peary.
"Send an expedition south next fall TO
| Punta Arenas Coal there and replen-
ish supplies; then proceed as condi-
tions may indicate to Coates Land or
down the east side of antarctic or
down the center of the Weddell sea.
| Obtain winter quarters as far south
as possible and from there sledge to
| the pole. using the equipment and
methods OF the last polar expedition.
"The Roosevelt is suited for this
work as she now stands. Coates Land
! is about the same distance from Cape
! Horn as Cape York is from st. Johns.
| This expedition out Of the way, then
build ship on the same general lines
as the Roosevelt. but somewhat larger;
arrange and fit her with accOmmoda-
! tions and laboratories for a second
! Challenger expedition up to date; give
her a complement Of specialists and
send her south for two, three or If
necessary four years Of modern sci
entific work around the antarctic cir
Gle and the delimitation OF the entire
circuit to the antarctic continent, com
| ing up at the end OF each seasons
work to Cape Horn, Cape of Good
Hope. Australia or New Zealand to
communicate with home. ship back
specimens. replenish supplies and per-
sonnet
"Such an expedition should have a
specially built ship, its route and de-
tailed program should be determined
by n commission OF the highest naval
and scientic experts in the country,
and il might be under the auspices OF
the government or the government
and the scientific organizations jointly
or under the scientific organizations
only.
The society and the club could take
up the first part of the proposition AT
once. They are in position to do so
with the ma ximum degree OF certainty
and effectiveness aud the greatest
economy of time. money and effort"
Commander Peary's proposal was re-
ceived with enthusiasm by the board
OF managers Of the Geographic society.
The matter was referred to the finance
aud research committee. with instrue-
tioRS to report at q special meeting. 1t
Is believed that the society will accept
the proposal
Commander Peary said that he could
not conduct the expedition IN person,
as the sledge work required 50 much
physical exertion that II needed q
y0unger man than he TO undertake It.