ipio.] MINUTES. ix 



The main object of the resolutions of the American Philosophical 

 Society, therefore, has not been accomplished as yet. Nevertheless 

 the resolutions have borne fruit. 



The National Geographic Society and the Peary Arctic Club 

 are preparing jointly an expedition to the Antarctic. The National 

 Geographic Society did not acquiesce in the request to urge the 

 Government to send an expedition to Wilkes Land. But General 

 Greely informed your chairman last summer that, after the resolu- 

 tions of the American Philosophical Society were received, he 

 brought the matter up at a Board meeting; that it was agreed that 

 it was of national importance ; that the sentiment was against ap- 

 proaching Congress for an appropriation ; that it was decided to 

 take steps to raise a national fund; and that General Greely himself 

 was appointed chairman of the committee for the purpose. Nothing 

 further appears to have been done after this until the Peary Arctic 

 Club suggested a joint expedition. While this latter expedition 

 therefore is entirely independent of the one suggested in the resolu- 

 tions of April, 1909, and has been evolved on different lines; never- 

 theless it is all an expression of a national desire and a part of the 

 same movement for Antarctic exploration, and your Committee 

 wishes heartily for its complete success. 



An important direct result of the movement has been the getting 

 of certain nomenclature about the Antarctic placed on the official 

 charts of the Hydrographic Office. Admiral Pillsbury brought a 

 preliminary drawing of a circumpolar chart of the southern hemi- 

 sphere to the conference with your Committee on December 20, 

 1909. The Chairman of the Committee had some correspondence 

 with the hydrographer, Captain A. G. Winterhalter, about this chart, 

 and suggested placing the names " West Antarctica," " East Ant- 

 arctica," " Wilkes Land " and " Palmer Land " on it. These sug- 

 gestions were accepted by the Navy Department, and the names 

 placed on a " Circumpolar Chart of the Southern Hemisphere " pub- 

 lished on February 21, 1910. 



Perhaps the most important result of the movement, however, is 

 the arousing of interest in America about the Antarctic. Since the 

 return of the expedition led by Lieutenant Wilkes, American interest 



