Vlll 



MINUTES. [April 22, 



Professor Henry Fairfield Osborn. 

 Dr. Charles D. Walcott. 



The Committee met on Friday, November 19, 1909. Dr. Biimpus 

 suggested that the *' Albatross " might be assigned to work in the 

 Antarctic by the Bureau of Fisheries. Admiral Melville urged 

 trying to get either the " Bear " or the " Thetis " detailed for this 

 service. The Committee finally decided to approach the Secretary 

 of the Navy directly. 



Dr. Walcott arranged for a meeting of the Committee with 

 Admiral Pillsbury, representing the Secretary of the Navy, and at 

 this meeting, on December 20, 1909, Admiral Pillsbury advised 

 writing a letter, explaining the matter fully, to the Secretary of the 

 Navy. This was done, and on January 4, 1910, this letter, signed 

 by all the members of "the Committee, was sent to the Secretary of 

 the Navy. On January 15 an answer was received from the 

 Secretary of the Navy, stating that he would bring the matter to 

 the attention of the President at an early date. 



Admiral Pillsbury, at the direction of the Secretary of the Navy, 

 prepared estimates as to the expense of outfitting an expedition to 

 Wilkes Land. He made inquiries on the Pacific coast and in New- 

 foundland about whaling ships, but found none suitable for the 

 purpose. He also got estimates for building a ship. 



About this time it was reported that the " Roosevelt " was for 

 sale ; and from unofficial information received, it seemed possible 

 that her owners might be willing to loan her or rent her. The chair- 

 man, then, on January 24, 1910, sent a letter to her owners, the 

 Peary Arctic Club, asking whether the club would be willing to loan 

 her to the Government for an expedition to Wilkes Land. No 

 direct answer to this letter, however, was ever received. 



The American Geographical Society cordially cooperated to in- 

 duce the Government to send this expedition to Wilkes Land. 

 Messrs. Archer M. Huntington, .Chandler Robbins, Hamilton Fish 

 Kean and Cyrus C. Adams, especially, urged the matter on the 

 Secretary of the Navy. 



It was finally decided by the President that it was not advisable 

 at this time to ask Congress for an appropriation for this purpose. 



