The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1918-12-27
A|RPLANE SURVEY
. OF THE NORTH POLE
NOTED EXPLORER TO HEAD MOST
COMPLETELY EQUIPPED Elk.
petition EVER SENT OUT.
Results OF lnestimabie Value to the
United States and to Science Ex-
pected to Be Obtained-Pian
Conceived by Admiral Peary.

New York.-An expedition to be led
BY Captain Robert A. Bartlett, noted
explorer, will be sent to the polar re-
! gions next June to survey the north
pole by aeroplane, according to an
nouncement here, December %, by the
Aero Club of America. The plan, it
was said, was conceived by Rear Ad-
miral Robert e. Peary, discoverer Of
the pole.
The purpose of this expedition,
which, it was said, would be the most
completely equipped ever sent out, will
be to explore, survey and photograph
the unexplored parts of the Arctic re-
gions and establish the existence or
non-existence of land or lands in that
region" 1t is also intended, according
to the announcement, ito explore the
upper air and the bottom of the polar
basin."
Results of inestimable value to the
United States and to science surely
will be obtained from this expedition,
said the announcement, which added
that the club would raise $25O,OOO to
finance the trip.
"The north pole has been discov-
cred, but the major part of the work
still remains to be done," the an
nouncement states.
"Both Admiral Peary and Captain
Bartlett want to do a great deal Of
scientific research in the polar basin,
of which over 100000 square miles
remain unexplored, and they would
want to have a laboratory on the ship,
where the flora and fauna from the
ocean bottom will be kept until the re-
turn of the expedition. Little or no
data has been received from the bottom
of the polar basin, and no meteoro-
logical surveys have been made in the
polar regions"
Asserting that with the co-opera-
ton of the leading geographical and
scientific bodies assured" it is planned
to have the expedition leave the
United States next June, the an
nouncement continued: "There are six
weeks of fair weather in July and
August, when, comparatively speaking,
the cold Is not extreme.
"The plans are to have a ship 60 to
Etah, about 600 miles from the north
pole, in June, when the ice Is suffi-
GENTLY broken to permit the ship to
cross Melville bay. The ship would
carry large seaplane or land air
plane for the final flight across the top
of the earth and for exploration Of tke
unexplored polar regions, as well as
smaller planes for the scouting flights.
Immediately upon arrival at Etah a
base would be established, and, while
waiting for the ice to break up far
Their north to permit the ship to go as
far as Cape Columbia, the small sea-
planes would fly to Cape Columbia and
establish base there for the large
plane which is to be used for the flight
across the top of the world, from Cape |
Columbia on the American side over |
the pole to Cape Chelyuskin on the 81
berian side, and for exploration over
long distances.
"For the six weeks after the middle
Of July, when the weather conditions
are best for flying in the polar re.
gions, the large plane, as well as the
other planes, will be put into service
and the important work Of the expedi-
ion will be DONE"
Asserting that only one-seventh OF
he earth's surface has been accurate
Y mapped, and two-thirds only mapped
rom rough sketches, officers of the
Tub stated that by use Of airplanes 1t
would be possible to do in twenty
Years what would require 200 years by
Usual methods.