[. A, Citv limits These Holf-Century of Antorctic Blizzords Foil to Domoge Wood

Huts crt Sourh Pole

Three unpainted wood houses in the Antarctic have withstood wincls of hurricane velocity and repeated blanketing under snow for half a century-and "look good for another 50 or 100 years."

'Ihis is the leport of r.nerlbers recently returned from the Operation Deepfreeze expedition to the Antarctic led by Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd.

The houses stand as historic monuments to two British ex..plorers vu-ho built them as headquarters and subsequently lost their lives on polar journeys. All three houses are on Ross Island, which is about 800 miles from the South Pole. The oldest house was built 54 years ago by Captain Robert F. Scott at Hut Point, the next was built by Sir Ernest Shackleton 48 years ago at Cape Royds, and the third 45 years ago by Captain Scott at Cape Evans.

Dr. Paul Siple, director of scientific projects of the latest expedition and a veteran of all the Byrd explorations, describecl the houses as in sound condition. "We saw both the interior and exterior of the Shackleton hut," he said. "The other two were cornpletely filled with snow. Down there, an opening as small as a lieyhole will permit drift snow to filI a room in due time.

"The soft grain of the wood on the windward side of Scott's