St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1859-03-03
~a.d'a s aam Ice Boat.

% aanlsy ,n,:aiog last We we're aston
ishel By annoanocments in orr. Milwau-
kea exchange, that a steam ice boat de-
signed 70 run during the winter months, in
connection with the Mississippi ana Mil
wsukec Railroad, to St: Paul, was now in
course Of construction in this city. ~1nqri-
y soon satisfied Us that W. were not so de-
rcl;et in our duty as local journalists as
circumstances made it aprcar. The 6rst
instal!mont Of material | a arrived on the
previous evening, after ous edition was cir
cula.ed, surprising our railroad officials as
auehsas the announcement did us. A
second installment arrived on Thursday
evening. Che remainder is expected to-
hi; h, } and yesterday VIC had tho pleasure,
Of making the acquaintance Of the inycn-
Tor, Mr.. Wizard, under whose Immediate su-
perintendcncc the boat is being put togcth-
", and Of listening to his history Of the in
sion, ana what that invention is proposed
= accomplish.
Some years ago, Mr.. Wizard, then resi-
dent Of GAINESVILLE in this State, commcn-
ced experimenting with view t, the con-
struction Of boat to run on the river,
when closed by ice, and has since labored
unremittingly tc meet and overcome the OBJ
1t -cles 70 the success Of his design, which
presented themselves to his own mind or
were urged by o:hc:s. In the pas: years
and since his Invention has been submitted
to tho scrutiny Of scientific men, 10 objec-
tiou has ben brought forward that he had
nut anticipated anu provided fur. If the
ice si:,uid fail, thc boat would rest upon
the water. ana By the power Of the engines
could be launched upon the ice with great
E. ease than locomotive could be placed
upon the track when of.
"Hammocks" that are impossible are
plaacd down in a few moments; and over
surface too rough for safe travelling, it
will plane its way, and make speed of
from four to eight miles All hour. It is
supported on skates or runners, so adjusta-
be, as TO pass through snow Eve feet in
depth without presenting any considerable
resistance. It can tc stopped Without dan
ger Of its freezing to the Zee. \ steam
break is attached, by whic4 its velocity
r,ay be perfectly controlled. The tcnden-
g to make 'leeway" on short turns has
been entirely overcome.
In his prospectus, Mr.. Wizard gives the
following bv;eff, and ineligible description
Of his boat:
The boat which / FIRST propose to build
will be twelve feet in width by seventy feet
in length, aud when resting upon the Wa
ter would d;splace about one foot in depth
1t will be propelled by pair OF locomo-
cs,sac:ing On single driving wheel, to
which adhesion is given by various devil
Co.'S. Tie button. ends ami sides of the
hull, for about three itat in height, are of
ison; the upper part IS iacloscd and flush
ed similar to passenger Ca, and warmed
~ steam pipes, and xii: accommodate one
hundred passengers; 1t is stc:rcd by pi-
lot familiar with ti:7 river By devices which
give him perfect >o:nmand over il:
He calculates s!l3 ordinary spec: Oh the
ice At 20 to ~ miles an hour, and with
clear solid ice, we believe his .ycsse: can
easily be made to attain q speed Of &c
miles.
We nave also bec RI us detailed iescrip-
t!cns Of the machinery; tut without the &C.
~om;:anying i)lust:@; ;cns, CUR readers would
xcarcc|y be the ~is::r f.. them.
31c. Wizard has now s3:.'c forty mcc|ian-
les employed in putting the boat together,
s1d eSree:s to l.a:s it completed in tBo
weeks. In the meantime We understand
survey o: the river is to lie instituted,
ana route ia::i down for the beat to fol-
lew. Ioarc Is therefore little danger but
the experiment vii! be Gs:sly*tastca before
IT,. ice breaks up. AMI ca tie failure of
ths southera ice r2ore no:thcrn routes naay
be of:snsl.
Should TIE hopes Of the in.cntor he re-
a}ized-ani Of this it would seem there is
scarccly-a doubt-its value to the north
west willexccei that OK any invention Of
rscou1 da:c.~-{rairis lu Chien Leadcy.
Az UHT1MELkY DEATH-SAD CASE CT
DlSsArOINTMENr.-TI does the heart