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During the summers of 1906 and 1907 efforts were made by the Wellman Chicago Record-Herald Polar Expedition to attain the North Pole by means of an airship. The first year was spent in the construction of the aerial craft and the establishment of extensive headquarters in Spitzbergen. The second summer and actual start from this base for the Pole was prevented by a series of accidents and delays due to an exceptionally unfavorable season. A thorough and satisfactory trial of the airship "America" was had in a voyage of about 20 miles. Inasmuch as this Expedition is to be renewed in the near future, I have thought it might be interesting to my personal friends, and to all friends of progress, to have before them a plain statement of facts as to this enterprise.

When the expedition was announced, nearly three years ago, its plan roused enormous interest throughout the world. Many men of science, particularly those familiar with aeronautics, commended the central idea. The National Geographic Society of Washington, ever ready to encourage sincere efforts to advance knowledge, generously endorsed the expedition and gave it counsel and scientific aid. Like encouragement came for the Academy of Sciences of France, before which I had the honor of being invited to appear, the French Society for the Promotion of Aerial Navigation, the Meteorological Society of France, and many other scientific bodies. Eminent aeronautic engineers expressed the opinion that the plan was sound and the object in view realizable, notwithstanding the very great difficulties in the way. Skepticism was, however, the dominant note among the general public, which is always skeptical as to ventures and experiments which it but little understands, and in this case skepticism found expression in my criticisms and suspicions unworthy those who voiced them. The prevailing popular belief was that the schema must be regarded as either foolishly reckless or deliberately dishonest. In other \

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