PLANS OF THE STEFANSSON EXPEDITION 



By Clark Wissler 



ANEW expedition to carryon the work begun in part by the Stefansson- 

 Anderson expedition was projected some months ago in the inter- 

 ests of the Museum. Immediately on the return of Mr. Stefansson 

 from his four and a half years in the Arctic, plans were set in preparation 

 in the Museum for this second expedition. The National Geographic 

 Society of Washington initiated the subscription with a large sum for the 

 geographic part of the work. This organization also agreed to cooperate 

 with the Museum in whose behalf Mrs. Morris K. Jesup contributed half 

 the funds required for the expedition. While arrangements were being made 

 for the expedition to set out in May of this year the Canadian Government, 

 which through its Geological Survey was a party to the original Stefansson- 

 Anderson expedition, made a proposition to take over the entire expedition 

 and to provide a large fund for its support as well as to make it a govern- 

 mental matter. While this is a great loss to the Museum, it is but fitting 

 that such an important expedition into Canadian territory should be con- 

 trolled by Canada. 



I quote the following letters by the Prime Minister of Canada and the 

 President of the American Museum: 



New York City, February 12, 1913. 

 Dear Mr. Stefansson: 



The offer of the Canadian Government, through the telegram of the Honorable William 

 J. Roche, Minister of the Interior, on Monday, February 10, to cover the entire expenses 

 of an expedition to the Arctic, places the plans you have made with us and with the National 

 Geographic Society in a new light. 



It would appear that this offers an opportunity of conducting your explorations under 

 the direction of a strong government which, through patriotic as well as scientific motives, 

 will take every possible step to insure success. 



We feel bound, under these circumstances, to relinquish the claim which our prolonged 

 preliminary negotiations and understanding may have given us upon your expedition. We 

 desire you to conduct your negotiations, therefore, with the Canadian Government, with 

 entire freedom. 



It is, however, with the greatest reluctance that, through our desire to do what seems 

 best for the general interests of science, we sever a connection established in 1908 with your- 

 self and Dr. Anderson, which has been animated throughout by warm personal regard and 

 which has been attended by the achievement of such notable scientific results. We desire 

 especially to make record of our appreciation of the heroic and self-sacrificing efforts which 

 you and Dr. Anderson made in carrying out the project of the first Stefansson-Anderson 

 expedition. 



In case you enter upon this proposed service of the Canadian Government, I am sure 

 that the entire Scientific Staff of the American Museum will unite with me in the expression 

 of our heartiest goodwill and of our desire that you may successfully accomplish all the ob- 

 jects that you have in mind in the way of further exploration. 



In view of our past friendly cooperation with the Canadian Survey, we trust that con- 

 tinued cooperation with this Museum, especially in certain lines of anthropology and zoology, 

 may be arranged for in connection with your expedition. 



Believe me, with the highest regard. 



Faithfully yours, 



[Signed] Henry Fairfield Osborn 



President of the American Museum of Natural History 



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