The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-01-31
And He May Send Message to
Congress Urging an Expedi-
ton to Chart Lands in Ant
arctic Region.
PROPOSED ACTION TO
END AN OLD DISPUTE
Claims of the American Ex-
pIorer. Wilkes. Have Always
Been Disputed by British
Naval Officials.

Washington, II. C, Jan. :sl.-Presi,
dent Taft may send To congress q spcs
cial message recommending an appro.
priation To pay the expenses OF an ex-
ploring expedition into the antarctic
regions
So far as can be ascertained the pur.
pose of the administration is not to
attempt TO rival the expedition under
Lieut.. Robert Shackleton of the En-
glish navy. which will make another ef.
fort to reach the south pole. II any
thing of this kind be proposed. proba-
bly, the United States would be disin.
ciined TO have anything to do with II,
since it would be certain to arouse re-
sentiment among the English.
The main object of the American ex-
pedition will be to relocate the land
which was chartered by Lieut. Charles
Wilkes of the American navy. who was
sent to the antarctic under an act OF
congress passed in lS3si The work OF
Wilkes has been attacked by succeed
ing explorers. and even Lieut. Shack
Teton seems to have cast doubt upon
the correctness of the Americans con-
clusions.
Seek to Verify Claims.
In view OF the fact that an American
naval officer. Commander r. r. Peary.
succeeded i'm planting the flag at the
north pole. it is deemed proper that
the achievement of another officer
three centuries ago. performed only
| after suffering incredible hardship,
would be verified and its place In his
tory made indubitable
President Taft and the secretary OF
the navy are taking personal interest
in the matter. At the suggestion OF
the latter. Rear Admiral John +. Pills
bury. who is a member of the National
Geographic society and was one of the
committee which considered the claim
of DR.. Frederick A. Cook to the discov-
cry of the north pole. has been prepar-
ing estimates as to the cost of the pro-
posed expedition. He has been ar
ranging also for the purchase of the
necessary ships.
There are no vessels in the naval SER
vice fitted for cruising in the ice fields.
Iron or steel ships would be quickly
crushed in as a result Of the enormous
pressure exerted by the ice packs.
1t is realized by the officials OF the
navy that it would be useless to at
tempt the expedition in any except es-
pecially prepared vessels. The best
to be used for this purpose are the
heavily built wooden vessels, rein
forced as are the whaling vessels OF
the northern seas, and those vessels
which we're used by explorers in the
arctic.
Peary's Ship 10 Sought.
Rear Admiral Pillsbury. therefore.
has been endeavoring to get the
Roosevelt, the ship used by Comman-
der Peary. and has obtained a prom
ise that the government can have IL
for the purposes of the expedition.
Another vessel will be needed and
probably a whaler will be bought IL
necessary funds shall be obtained.
The whaler will be reinforced with
bulwarks just as the Roosevelt il.
II has not been determined who will
command or take part in the expedi-
tion. Commander Peary regards his
work as a polar explorer ended. He
is advising the navy department as
TO the proposed antartic expedition.
and his suggestions are valuable be-
cause OF his experience. and unques-
tionably will be adopted
If the success which is desired IN
to attend this antarctic enterprise
young officers and young seamen must
be found. II is the intention OF the
department to ask for volunteers and
then to subject the applicants for
service to a rigid examination to de-
termine whether they are fit, physical
ly and mentally. to undergo the tre-
mendous hardships involved.
History Of Wilkes Expedition.
The Wilkes expedition. whose track
will be followed, consisted of one fri
gate. two brigs Of 200 tons. one schoon-
er OF 110 tons. and one small store
ship. Congress appropriated $3.50. 900
to pay its expenses. The expedition
sailed from the Chesapeake capes un-
der the command of Lieut.. Wilkes on
Aug. 10, 1898. The first port touched
was Rio Janeiro, and thence the CON-
mand sailed for Patagonia Way was
tueO uidQc luSo t1S uuhoOWu 0O0Sn.
The first land discovered below the
antarctic circle was In longitude 160
degrees east and latitude IS degrees.
80 seconds south. This II at q point
southwest of Patagonia and south by
east from New Zealand. and ID In the
neighborhood of South Victoria land.
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