The Arctic region, bounded by the 84th degree, was put up for sale at public auction, many countries claimed rights to this region but America's bid won, a Mrs Scorbitt had put up the money and along with Mr Barricane and Mr Nichol intended to mine the area for coal, they raised money by public subscription and at a meeting declared they would move the Earths axis so the North Pole would melt, all the Earths seasons would change into one, many were against this thinking it would end in the Earths destruction. Mr Maston was responsible for the mathamatical calculations, Mr Barricane and Mr Nicholls left for an undisclosed venue to build a huge cannon which was to fire at the Earth and achieve this move in the axis, with the public outcry regarding the changes that could take place, countries becoming seas, oceans becoming dry land, the estimated death toll, Mr Maston was arrested by the Americans who tried to force him to tell the location of the cannon. (Goodreads)