When Nansen's plans became public knowledge The New York Times was enthusiastic, deeming it "highly probable that there is a comparatively short and direct route across the Arctic Ocean by way of the North Pole, and that nature herself has supplied a means of communication across it."
Da Nansens plan blev offentlig kendt, var The New York Times entusiastisk og anså det som "overvejende sandsynligt, at der er en forholdsvis kort og direkte rute over Nordishavet via Nordpolen, og at naturen i sig selv har skabt en metode for kommunikation på tværs af det."