Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-02-22


ton. it is true. when we remsmoer the
but better than nothing, Tor we are
going to try to do her work somehow.
whether she herself sinks or floats.
Program Includes Mapping Work.
We shall, of course, try to make the
present winter as useful as possible.
and SO we shall attempt the mapping
Of the Mackenzie delta. The delta
Of the Mackenzie is one Of the largest
in the world. It is unmapped. and.
practically speaking. unknown. The
steamers Of the Hudson Bay Company
zoo miles Of its mouth now FOR sew.
eral decades, but none except small
boats has ever descended through
any of the many delta channels to
river of Canada, and its valley has
natural resources which are bound to
be developed gradually-uniess they
should be developed suddenly. as was
of the discovery Of precious metals.
But whether the development comes
soon or late. it will eventually become
matter Of the greatest commercial
importance to know whether there are
any ship channels that will enable an
ocean-gofng vessel of ssay seven-foot
drausht to ascend the river to Great
Slave lake.
We already know from the experience
Of the Hudson bay steamer Wrigley that
ship drawing six and one-half feet can
navigate without difficulty over 1900
miles of the lower Mackenzie. The upper
Mackenzie 0nown as the Slave river and
the Athabasca river. is in places inter-
rupted by rapids. Should 1t ever become
necessary to ship q large quantity Of
freight either to or from the lower Mac
kenzie 1t could be most cheaply done by
the way of the Arctic ocean, Boring
fore. employ the topographers Of our
party this winter In making q survey Of
the delta, which, on account Of the multi
tude Of islands and channels, u no small
task
Boats to Be Used In Spring.
When the ice breaks up soon after
the middle Of May they are to continue
their work by boat charting and sound
ing as many as possible Of the more
promising channels to determine how
large a vessel can descend the river to
the sea. While this work will not be,
IN certain respects. as interesting as that
WHICH we had planned to do In Victoria
Island and around Coronation gulf, it will
probably be of greater commercial i'm
portance and of more immediate utility
The main purpose Of our expedition
was to be the exploration Of the region
lying west of Banks and Prince Patrick
Islands. glance at the map will show
that from the winter quarters Of our
two schooners we are in a position to
explore certain part of this area by
sled over the ice in winter No shin
has ever been over fifty miles Off shore,
so far as know, in the vicinity Of longi-
tude 145. We expect. accordingly. to
make sled journey north from Barter
Island in February or March, going as
far north as possible.
Even should We meet rough ice we
ought to be able to penetrate to a point
at least 100 miles from shore, or fifty
miles into the region at present unex-
plored. Should we meet comparatively
make two or three hundred miles. Even
should no land be discovered. such a
journey would be of geographic impor-
lance, or we should take soundinss to
determine the edge Of the continental
shelf and the character Of the ocean
bottom
Plans Journey by Sled.
Under certain circumstances I may
decide to go by sled this winter to Banks
Island or Prince Patrick Island, leaving
the vessels to attempt following in the
summer. Such journey would be made
for the purpose Of the geological and
archaeological study Of these islands in
the summer while the snow is away, rs
well as to complete the mapping Of Prince
Patrick Island. II this journey is under
taken. we shall depend entirely upon our
rifles for our food, for it Is manifestly inn
possible to carry pemmican or other pro-
visions such distance.
We are, OF course. assuming that the
Karluk will survive the winter and be able
to proceed to Prince Patrick Island next
the Mary sachs will take upon herself
the work OF the Karluk. II. further the
Mary Sachs should arrive at Herschel
Island ahead of the Karluk. and while
the coming of the Karluk is still doubt
full. she would precede the karluk 10 Prince
Patrick Island. The Alaska will, Of course.
try to carry out next summer the plans
with which she sailed this year. That is
she will proceed to the vicinity Of Coro-
hation gulf to establish there base for
the work of the following year.