THE SOUTH POLAR EXPEDITION 



167 



thick red and yellow stratum lies on the 

 .surface and stands out in weather-worn 

 domes and spires that remind one of an 

 ancient Moslem city. 



In numerous places over these bare 

 cliffs large cisterns have formed, into 

 which rush the waters from the sur- 

 rounding rocks every time a storm 

 sweeps over this region. It happened 

 that in one place where a cave was worn 

 out of the side of the cliff one of these 

 cisterns formed back of it in the cliff 

 above. Gradually the cistern kept grow- 

 ing larger and deeper and the cave kept 

 •extending its area backward inch by inch 

 until the bottom of the cistern broke 

 through into the back of the cave near 

 its floor. The rushing of wind and water 

 with every storm has kept enlarging the 

 opening until the arch of the cavern 

 lias become a graceful bridge having a 



height of 49 feet and a span of 122 feet. 

 There are two other similar structures 

 near this where th« cisterns broke 

 through at the back of the caves near the 

 top so that you have the arch in front 

 and an immense skylight at the back. 

 The architect has not yet finished the 

 contract. Here natural bridges can be 

 seen in process of construction. 



In Dark Canyon, below the western 

 slope of Elk Ridge, is another arch that 

 has been shaped from the cliff under con- 

 ditions similar to those that produced 

 the natural bridges in Pritchett Valley. 

 Its span of more than 100 feet forms a 

 regular curve on the side of a slope 

 heavily wooded with pinion and cedar. 



The above are the most striking ex- 

 amples of the great natural arches of 

 southern Utah. They should be classed 

 among the world's wonders. 



THE SOUTH POLAR EXPEDITION 



"To the Members of the National Geographic Society: 



ON February i Commander Robert 

 E. Peary made a proposition to 

 the Board of Managers of the 

 National Geographic Society that the 

 Society and the Peary Arctic Club should 

 together send out an expedition to the 

 South Polar regions to explore the coast 

 of Weddell Sea and, if possible, reach the 

 South Pole via this route. The proposed 

 •expedition would leave the United States 

 in August of this year and cross the 

 Antarctic circle about January i, 191 1. 

 Commander Peary offered on behalf of 

 the Peary Arctic Club to place the steam- 

 ship Roosevelt, which it will be remem- 

 "bered was built by the Club specially for 

 polar work, at the disposal of the expe- 

 dition, provided the Society would as- 

 sume the initial expense of $50,000. He 

 also proposed that expenses above $50,- 

 'OOO be divided equally between the Peary 

 Arctic Club and the National Geographic 

 Society. He estimates the total expense 

 of fitting out and maintaining an expe- 

 dition in the South Polar regions for one 

 jear at between $75,000 and $100,000. 

 Commander Peary stated, moreover, 



that the Roosevelt was in very good con- 

 dition ; that she could not be duplicated 

 at present for considerably over $100,- 

 000, and that all the equipment of his 

 recent polar expedition, including sledges, 

 fur clothing, and camp equipment, would 

 be placed at the disposal of the party, 

 and that if funds could be found for the 

 expedition Captain Bartlett and the ma- 

 jor portion of the members and crew of 

 his last expedition, who were of such 

 invaluable assistance to him in his con- 

 quest of the pole, would be glad to take 

 part in the work. He himself was ready 

 to devote his time and energy to plan- 

 ning and equipping the expedition, but 

 could not take command of the party. 

 Captain Bartlett will command the 

 expedition. 



Your Board of Managers agreed with 

 Commander Peary that the present is a 

 most opportune time for an American 

 expedition to the Antarctic. A British 

 expedition under Caj^ain Scott will leave 

 England about August, 1910, and spend 

 the year of 191 1 in Victoria Land and 

 will attempt to reach the South Pole 



