Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1859-02-12
Ice Boat for the Northern Rivers...
New Invention.

We have known for the last two years that
Norman Wizard, Esq, Of GAINESVILLE, Wiscon-
sin, has been engaged with the enthusiasm
Characteristic of inventors in perfecting plan
for an ice boat to be propelled by steam, to
navigate our northern rivers. Like many
others we confess to prudent scepticism in
regard to the practicability of the project; but
whatever views we or the public may choose
to entertain, the plan is soon to be put to the
test of practical experiment.
During the past winter Mr.. Wizard has been
in New York, and by the aid of some of the
largest mad most intelligent capitalists in that
city, has constructed an ice boat which is now
being put together at Prairie du Chen. In
two or three weeks it is expected that all will
be ready for the trial up the Mississippi.
The boat is built of iron and is seventy-two
feet long by twelve feet broad, with fat bot
tom and two keels running the whole length.
If it breaks through the ice or encounters an
air-hole, machinery is prepared, which, in a
few minutes, puts it again on the ice ready for
onward progress. The driving-wheel is near
the stern, and the inventor calculates the Or
binary speed on the ice at twenty to forty
miles an hour, and with clear, solid ice, he be-
lieves his vessel can easily be made to attain
a speed of eighty miles. The cabin is twelve
by forty feet, and the capacity of the boat is
rated at one hundred passengers and five tons
of freight. The entire boat, when loaded with
passengers and cargo, is calculated to weigh
thirty-two tons.
The managers of the st. Paul and Fond du
Lac, and the Milwaukee and Mississippi Rail
ways, we learn, have both manifested great
interest in the success of the enterprise. The
Milwaukee and Mississippi Road have fur
nished the motive power to test the value of
the invention. If it succeeds, it will very es-
sentially promote the interests of the roads
terminating on the Upper Mississippi, during
five months of the year. Every possible ef
fort is being made fully to test the value of
this novel invention during the next few
weeks, and if successful, the New York CAPT.
talists will at once contract for eighteen boats
of similar character and construction, to be
ready for business as soon as the river closes
next winter.
If even a moiety of the plans and hopes of
the projectors of this enterprise are realized,
it's value to the Northwest can scarcely be
over-estimated. It will at once connect with
this city the vast and important tracts of
country lying north and west of us, much
more directly and perfectly in winter than in
summer. As soon as the ice is formed in No
Vember or DeCeIuOcI, TIC Ice DOaC Will
have uninterrupted navigation for four or five
months from Prairie du Chen or La Crosse
up the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers to
Big Stone Lake, thence down the Red River
of the North, and up the Saskatchewan to the
base of the Rocky Mountains.
- "This ride" from this city could not be
much less than thirty-6ve hundred miles,
Only think of pleasure party starting from
Chicago by rail to Prairie du Chen, and then
by "Ice Boat" to the Rocky Mountains
trip of thirty-five hundred miles, the whole
with the return voyage to occupy from ten to
twelve days. Or If the Captain has taste
for more northerly tour, he can "steer"
down McKenzie's River for the Arctic Ocean,
and in a few days or weeks at most, launch
his adventurous craft "upon the sea" discov-
cred by DIR. Kane, and after few days sail
nail the glorious "stars and stripes" to the
"north pole" of mother earth herself
But seriously the North W est has a most
important interest in the success of this Ice
Boat project We shall take great pleasure
in recording its success. That it has been
seriously undertaken by the intelligent and
practical gentlemen who have it in charge is
an earnest Of its future triumph. Chicago
Tribune.