Napier at the Union Station this
morning. While slow to discuss the ultimate object of his trip Mr.
Napier talked of his plans in a general way.
"'I represent the Hydrographic Department,' he said to the reporter,
'and the journey I am about to make may extend from Clarkeville as
far as the Pacific. I hope it will accomplish what the department
has planned, but you know that we who are in this profession are
always prepared for failure. My assistant and I may easily have our
lives crushed out on the rugged peaks of the mountain chain we are
attempting to cross.'
"Mr. Napier suggested that some might conclude that he had been sent
out as a 'rain maker,' or 'cloud breaker' in an attempt to secure
rain for the arid plains, but he laughed at this idea.
"In the government's special car, carefully safeguarded, is carried
a large can of a new and powerful explosive. In exhibiting this to
the reporter Mr. Napier good-naturedly said:
"'I am sorry I cannot tell the public the exact character of this
new explosive. But the secret belongs to the government.'
"When it was suggested that the explosive might be destined for
certain elaborate experiments in the unpopulated wilderness of the
region to which the expedition is now hastening on the Limited, Mr.
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