New York. May 13.—(AP)—The Norge‘s feat in sailing over the North Pole has once more brought the possibilities of a trade route over the top of the world into discussion.
The hours necessary to fly from Spitsbergen to Alaska over the Arctic eliminate many weeks of time and a voyage half around the world on the part of a ship.
Vardo, Norway, whence the Norge sailed to Spitzbergen, is approximately 2750 miles from Point Barrow, Alaska, by way of the North Pole. Vardo is in the 70th latitude. If a ship were to follow approximately this latitude halfway around the world it would eventually reach Point Barrow after traversing some 10,000 miles.
For commercial purposes, however, even this course would be impracticable. It is doubtful whether this course could be made by water under 20,000 miles.
Daily Kennebec Journal, Augusta, ME, May 14, 1926