SCHEME FOR DISCOVERING THE NORTH POLE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3485, 7 September 1882, Page 4

SCHEME FOR DISCOVERING THE NORTH POLE.

A Canadian engineer has some new ideas On the subject of discovering the North Pole, which he explains as follows: —I would have constructed immediately 200 sled huts on an improved plan, and have them delivered by steamer at the north-west angle of Hudson's Bay, lattitudo 64 N., longitude 9 _ W., at a point known as Chesterfield Inlet, not later than August. This point is distant from the Pole 1565 miles. Now, from Chesterfield Inlet to the north end of Lake Winnepeg, where supplies could be delivered by boat, is but 600 miles. This distance I would overcome permanently by building a system of relay stations 20 miles apart, and connected by a through telegraph line to Winnepeg city, at a cost of 120,000 dollars. This work would be carried on by Government, and would eventually pay, connecting as ifc would Churchill Harbor, tnouth of Nelson River, and west coast of Hudson Bay, where, in future, will be the great emporium of the North, thus neutralising this expenditure by the great advantage of a telegraph system for the purpose of emigration and trade. These relay stations of block huts Would be stored with all necessary supplies for the undertaking, together with sleighs, dogs and men in charge for purposes of transpartafcion from Lake Winnipeg to Chesterfield Inlet, which latter place would be the headquarters of the expedition, in daily communication with the outer world. These sled huts would be constructed of paper board of the lightest design, and frost proof ; each sled would be about 6 feet wide and 10 feet long, neatly rounded afc the top, and about 5 feet; high, with a hole down through the centre for a signal pole or anchor, to avoid drifting while resting in a gale. Each sled would be steel shod, shaped somewhefc like a toboggan, rounded up at either end. Each sled would contain a kerosine stove, oil tanks, and lamps, as well as a complete supply of preserved food, medicine, axes, and ice-shovels, sufficient for six men for six months, together with fur trappings and other clothing. When complete, each sled hut would weigh about 1600lbs, or a little more than 2501b3 per man. Thus equipped we would commence the forward march by moving ten sleds at the time, manned in the following order: —To each sled, one practical engineer, one doctor, and four able-bodied men —all thoroughbred Canadians; thus ten sleds would comprise 60 men. These would advance in order afc intervals, all keeping the due north course, and any deviation would bo reported hy a halt; from the advanced shed. All tho sheds would be advanced in this order until a complete chain' of communication was established. I would commenoe this movement about the Ist of December, or as soon as the ice forraod on the more southern rivers. Our route would lie by the west coast of the Gulf of Boothia to Barrow Strait and Jones' Sound, having land the whole distance, except Barrow Strait and Jones' Sound, which would bo frozen. At North Lincoln wo would bo distant from Chesterfield Inlet 786 miles, and from the Pole 780 miles. To North Lincoln we should push all the sheds, except 78, which we would leave by relays of ten miles, all anchored with signals, so as to ' form a complete chain of refuge in our rear, and, if found necessary, would establish a system of telephones from each sled by means of tripod poles. This would give us daily communication with Winnipeg, and govern onr dog transportion trains, which would be in constant attendance throughout the whole line. Whon this was done, we would commence our advance along the

(bird or polar division in the same order as before, only by shorter relays, as we would have 122 sled huts to station over 780 miles, or about six miles apart, so that each hut could be seen or reached with safety. Ifc mighfc be necessary to have some of these sleds constructed upon a boat principle, in case open water was reached, which could be used for towing others, as they would all be watertight and capable of being floated. But as I do not contemplate finding open water, this latter point would not offer any serious difficulty. The only obstacles likely to be encounted are rough and irregular ice ledges, which might have to be levelled or tunnelled in places. In this manner I would expect to overcome the whole distance from Chesterfield Inlet to the Pole by the Ist July, 1884, that being the best season for observations at the Pole. The whole cost of the expedition in this way, not including the telegraph line to Winnipeg city, would be about 70,000 dollars, and is "only a matter of dollars and cents.