Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-03-15
POLAR TRIP H.
NO HARDSHIP
At Least, Vilhjalmur Stef-
ansson Claims Arctic Ex-
ploration is Easy.

1t is very likely that a great many
people hereabouts will have thorough
ly revised their ideas about . the
"frigid north after hearing Vilhjal-
muir Stefansson describe his expert
ences and adventures as an Arctic ex-
plorer, in an address given at the
auditorium last night, under the aus
pices of the Alumni association of the
University Of North Dakota. Rev.
Mr.. Olafson of Mountain, N. D., in
troduced the speaker to the audience.
The distinct impression was given
that expeditions to the polar regions
do not amount to very much in the
way Of hardships-or rather, need
not amount to much. 1t all depends
o. how you go about it,, and Mr..
Stefansson apparently had discovered
some rather revolutionary methods Of
leading an expedition into the farthest
north. Judging from the description
Of his own system of exploration,
many people will be led to think that
Mr.. Stefansson's observations actually
cedures in Quitting and carrying
through future journeys into the Arc
tic circle.
Food is Plentiful.
After disposing of a lot Of popular
misconceptions about conditions at
the top of the earth, Mr.. Stefansson
in detail described the plan he per-
sonally had believed in. He said that
themost m form of suffering in
the Arctic was due to lack of food
and fuel, but explained that such lack
was only apparent, and therefore.
needless. Systematic search-and a
ing party with plenty of seal meat,
and the blubber obtained from the
seal proved excellent for heating pur-
| poses. Instead of the traditional
sleeping bag of former expeditions,
the Stefansson party had erected
snow huts constructed in a rational
manner, with the result hat it was
always possible to maintain a pleas
an summary temperature in the
Apartments" built.
Another widely prevailing idea Of
the north is that it is an immense
desert Of nothing but ice and snow
capability of a thermometer reigns
supreme. Mr.. Stefansson said that it
is often much colder in North Dakota
than it is directly north of the Ameri-
can continent, and during the months
of summer there are vast fields OF
grass and other kinds of primitive
vegetation.
The Results of the Expedition,
In discussing the scientific results
of the expedition which he headed,
Mr.. Stefansson said it would be rather
impossible for him to go deeply into
details as the complete reports would
fill about thirty octave volumes in
print. The expedition was well
equipped with experts, and much
valuable work was lone by ocean.
~ographers, marine biologists, meteor.
ologists and photographers. New land
and new, hitherto unexplored sea ter.
ritory. were found by the expedition
which drew exact maps Of everything
discoveredJ
OF the real hardships incident to q
polar expedition the speaker said very
Ilittle-and whenever he did refer t.
them, 1t was in a ~jocular way intend.
ed to impress on his hearers tina
the h%ardships were nothing but a lit
tie discomfort now end then.
With the assertion that the region!
in the extreme north Of the American
continent within the near fuure woult
become n of the worlds creates
supplies Of meat-reindeer and carl
bou-and that possibilities as yet un
dreamed Of were in store for the Arc
tic. Mr.. Stefansson concluded his In
teresting and fascinating address
which had been supplemented by
series of colored s~tereopticon views.
Just before the lecture last. nigh
Mr.. Stefansson was the guest Of hon
or at q Commercial dub dinner wher,
he found occasion tosspeak about hi
Grand Forks "reminiscences from tn,
days OF his attending the ~universit!