Address by Commander Robert E. Peary 391 



ing stimulus to the interest of our peo- 

 ple in geographical and allied research. 



We need a vigorous stirring up and 

 awakening to the value of such work. 

 With our abundant wealth, with our 

 youth as a nation, our energy, push, 

 ambition, and adaptability, yet as a 

 country we have taken no part in large 

 efforts in the geographical field for the 

 past twenty years, but have allowed 

 you, our friends across the water, to 

 shame us by your splendid examples. 



There is ample room for a larger 

 force of active, able workers in the field 

 of geographical investigation. 



There is too much money devoted to 

 schools and libraries and too little to 

 the field of exploration and research, 

 which furnishes the facts for instruction 

 in the schools and material with which 

 to fill the volumes in the libraries. 



I sincerely hope that the stimulus of 

 this Congress, the breadth and strength 

 of the resolutions which it may pass, 

 and the union here at this Congress, for 

 a common object, of all the American 

 Geographical Associations, all com- 

 bined, will lead to such a general in- 

 terest as will enable us to take up some 

 broad scheme of exploration and inves- 

 tigation and pursue it systematically 

 and persistently, not capriciously and 

 spasmodically, to its ultimate end. 



Personally I should like to see such 

 an interest aroused as would enable us 

 to take up Antarctic exploration, which 

 our friends across the water have so 

 splendidly begun and prosecuted for the 

 last four years, and which I judge they 

 will not pursue further at present, and 

 with the advantage of their advice and 

 experience, carry it steadily forward. 



The whole history of Antarctic and 

 Arctic exploration has been a series of 

 eager spasmodic efforts, attaining a 

 greater or less measure of success, ac- 

 companied in many instances by semi- 

 frantic and lavish rescue expeditions, 

 necessary in some instances, not neces- 

 sary in others, followed by a reaction 



and apathy till the training and experi- 

 ence gained is forgotten, and a new 

 generation, making another attempt, 

 must begin all over again. 



This is not the way. Such spasmodic 

 efforts will never do the work in the way 

 science today demands. There must be 

 continuous work extending over a series 

 of years. The project should be taken 

 up with the understanding that it must 

 be carried on steadily for five or ten or 

 more years ; it must be handled like any 

 humdrum business proposition ; it must 

 be divested of any sensational tendency. 



The idea that as soon as a party enters 

 the Arctics or Antarctic circle prepara- 

 tions must begin for the rescue must be 

 thrown to the winds. 



The loss of a ship or a few men must 

 be discounted. 



Such things happen every day in the 

 maritime world, but it does not keep 

 other ships and men from continuing 

 the same voyages. 



The world is getting bigger and 

 wealthier every day. 



There are abundant means seeking 

 new avenues of expenditures if only 

 they can be interested. It is a time of 

 big things. Our friends over the water 

 have shown us an example in their mu- 

 nificent Antarctic Expedition. 



If our geographical societies and sci- 

 entific institutions and the government 

 would unite, such scheme of work could 

 be carried on at an annual expense not 

 more than a quarter or a fifth of the 

 annual income of some of our great in- 

 stitutions. 



I have taken Antarctic exploration 

 as an example. Personally I should 

 prefer to see that carried out, but it 

 might just as well be the continued sys- 

 tematic study of the ocean on a large 

 scale. 



The point I want to make is that the 

 time is ripe, and we should have some 

 broad national project of geographical 

 investigation, of general interest and 

 coordinated plan, on a continuing basis, 



