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everything, fully realizing the difficulty of the task.  Down to the smallest item we have tried to be cautious, practical, to introduce none but sound engineering and thoroughness of plan and execution.  In this task we have had the assistance of the best engineers and mechanics, and the great advantage that the leader of the enterprise is familiar with every detail of Arctic work, equipment and conditions, having taken three expeditions to that region and spent five summers and one winter north of the 80th parallel of latitude.

Often the questions is asked, Why do you not try out your airship in Europe or America before going to the Arctic regions?  It is a fair question.  We fully considered that.  Our first plan was to have such trials in Europe.  We knew trials must be had -- that it would be madness to start in an untried ship.  But upon full consideration of all the factors of the problem we decided to have our trials at our own headquarters, for these reasons:

First -- Every trial of an airship, whether

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[[caption]]THE AIRSHIP OUT OF THE HALL -- FORTY MEN HOLDING HER. [[/caption]]

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