Ten Years of the Peary Arctic Club 665 



the; president bidding "god speed" to the intrepid crew oe the "rooseveet" 



Navy Department, 

 Washington, September 5, 1903. 



Dear Sir : In granting you leave of absence 

 for the purpose of prosecuting your Arctic 

 work, I am moved to remark that I believe you 

 are better equipped than any other person in 

 the country to undertake this work. You have 

 the requisite courage, fortitude, and physique. 

 You have had a longer term of service within 

 the Arctic Circle than any other explorer. You 

 have had large experience in sledge journey- 

 ing, both upon the land and upon the polar 

 pack. You are familiar with ice conditions 

 through the Smith Sound route and north of 

 Grant Land and the continent. You have 

 demonstrated your ability to maintain yourself 

 in this latitude for a longer period in health 

 and safety than any other explorer. You have 

 reduced the inconveniences and hardships of 

 Arctic service to a minimum. You are con- 

 versant with the language and customs of the 

 Whale Sound Eskimo and are personally ac- 

 quainted with every individual in the tribe. 

 They have become accustomed to your leader- 

 ship, and if you succeed in transporting the 

 selected hunters and the best families to the 

 north shore of Grant Land, as you propose, 

 you will thereby establish a base which will 

 enable you to live in safety and comparative 

 comfort for an indefinite period. 



Grant Land as such a base has great ad- 



vantages over Spitzbergen or Franz Josef 

 Land, or any other known point, in that it has 

 an extensive shore line, which a party retreat- 

 ing from- the Pole cannot fail to find, whatever 

 may be the extent of the polar drift. 



The attainment of the Pole should be your 

 main object. Nothing short will suffice. The 

 discovery of the poles is all that remains to 

 complete the map of the world. That map 

 should be completed in our generation and by 

 our countrymen. If it is claimed that the en- 

 terprise is fraught with danger and privation, 

 the answer is that geographical discovery in all 

 ages has been purchased at the price of heroic 

 courage and noble sacrifice. Our national pride 

 is involved in the undertaking, and this de- 

 partment expects that you will accomplish your 

 purpose and bring further distinction to a 

 service of illustrious traditions. 



In conclusion, I am pleased to inform you 

 that the President of the United States sympa- 

 thizes with your cause and approves the en- 

 terprise. With best wishes for your health and 

 confidence in your success, I am, 

 Respectfully, 

 (Signed) Charles H. Darling, 



Acting Secretary. 



Robert E. Peary, 



Civil Engineer, U. S. Navy, 



Washington, ~D. C. 



