The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1913-02-20

JOINS ID April. mere are Hdil -uOZf'l
vessels fitted for that kind Of work
the Neptune, l0-knot boat that burns
Is tons of coal day; the Discovery a
912 knot boat that burns u tons day
the Eagle, a l3-knot boat that burns -
tons; the Diana, the Ranger. The
Southern Cross and the Roosevelt.
The Roosevelt is d 7i2-knot boat and
burns 20 to % tons a day.
There are two ways TO get into the
Polar sea-by way of Jones Sound and
by way of Smith Sound. We went in
the Roosevelt by way of Smith Sound
10 Cape Columbia. The advantage in
going by way of Jones Sound is you
can get into the Arctic Ocean a little
more quickly, and then you could sail
along the coast of Axel Heiberg Land
and Grant Land TO Cape Thomas Hub
bard or any of the stopping places up
TO Cape Columbia or even beyond
across Lincoln Sea to Cape Moiua
Jesup.
There is nothing very difficult
about taking one OF these boats either
way into the Arctic Ocean. 1t used to
to be considered difficult, but is all
charted and well known non, and the
trip could be made in a few weeks.
The trouble with going 10 the
North Pole always has been that YOU
had to wait for Winter until the sea
was frozen over and then make tn,
trip on sledges over the ice cap. Il is
only about 410 miles from Cape Co
lumba to the North Pole, but il took
us % days to make it and return III
sledges.
1t had to be done in the night, for
as you know, there are six months OF
day and six months of night up there
or course you can see all right i'll TIL
Arctic night. but not so we'll as you
can in the Arctic day when the sun is
shining continuously.
With one of these latest French
aeroplanes that 90 more than lol
miles an hour you could fly to thl
North Pole from Cape Columbia anc
return in about eight hours. Yor
could fly out to Crocker Land ant
explore il in a few hours.
My idea would be to take two OF
three hydro-aeroplanes that would fly
about 30 or 50 miles an hour and es-
tablish oil stations here and there OF
the foe ice and take a day or two lc
make the trip in midsummer There
are days and weeks when it would be
so calm there would be no difficulty
in doing this.
The thing to do would be TO fl;
from Cape Columbia across the Pole
to Siberia, the nearest point of which
is about 600 miles from the Pole. To
do ii right, a vessel should first be
sent around to that point from Ar
changed with provisions and supplies
That would be the great thing to dc
and if they keep on improving these
aeroplanes and increasing the speed
to 100 or more miles an hour, II
wont be very difficult trip with an
aeroplane.
But if you We're to fit up dirigl-
BILE like this German airship Hansa
that can carry oil and provisions lol
30 hours and go at speed oil 40 miles
an hour YOU could almost 20 ron
Point Columbia to Siberia and return
without landing and II there We're sup
plies in Siberia for such an airsh'p
there would be 10 danger that can
see in thu trip.
1t certainly is not as DANGEROUS a.
sailing over mountains and hills and
cities as they are doing III Germany
every day now and in almost all kinds
OF weather
But aside from the North Pole pa9E
OF il. what ann thinking most OF Is
the opportunity the ordinary aero
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