PREPARATIONS 13 



Arctic Club, who had contributed so generously to 

 my former expeditions, and in whose honor I had named 

 the northernmost point of land in the world, lati- 

 tude 83° 39', Cape Morris K. Jesup. He said, in so 

 many words, that he would "see me through" on 

 another journey north. His promise meant that I 

 should not have to beg all the money in small sums 

 from a more or less reluctant world. 



The winter of 1906-7 and the spring of 1907 were 

 devoted to presenting to the world the results of the 

 previous undertaking, and to the work of interesting 

 friends as far as possible in another expedition. We 

 had the ship, which had cost about $100,000 in 1905; 

 but $75,000 more was needed for new boilers and 

 other changes, for equipment and for operating ex- 

 penses. While the bulk of the necessary funds was 

 furnished by the members and friends of the Peary 

 Arctic Club, a very considerable amount came from 

 all parts of the country in contributions ranging from 

 $100 to $5 and even $1. These donations were not 

 less appreciated than the big ones, because they 

 showed the friendliness and the interest of the givers, 

 and demonstrated to me the general recognition of 

 the fact that while the expedition was financed 

 by private individuals, it was in spirit a national 

 affair. 



At last the funds, actual and promised, were in 

 such amount as to authorize our contracting for new 

 boilers for the Roosevelt, and ordering certain modi- 

 fications in her structure which would fit her more 

 effectively for another voyage: such as enlarging the 

 quarters forward for the crew, adding a lug sail to 



