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kind. And my faith that this thing can be done is stronger now than it ever was before. The task is not an easy one. I never thought it was. Attainment of the North Pole by any method is extremely difficult. The best proof of this is that the brave and resourceful men of many nations have been trying it for two centuries, without success. It has seemed to many of us the time has come to adopt new methods, to make an effort to substitute modern science for brute force, the motor-driven balloon for the muscles of men and beasts stumbling along like savages in their heroic struggle to accomplish the almost impossible. All such effort is worthy; but not the least worthy, I think, is the one which tries to take a step forward from barbarism and make one science serve another.

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[[caption]] WORKMEN PREPARING THE CANVAS SKIN FOR THE AIRSHIP'S HOME. [[/caption]]

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