The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-06-23
Winter Transit on the Ice.
From the n. Y. Times.

From the N. Y. Times.
More than ten thousand miles of the riv.
ers and waters Of the North and West are
frozen during from four to five months of the
year, completely isoIating the inhabitants
in some localities during the entire winter
months. The richest copper an iron mines
and the most valuable lumber regions, a.
those OF Lake Superior are cut off, not on.
ly from means OF transportation of their
products and articles Of consumption, but
even the means OF communication are want.
ing, SO that Tor months together the mails
are transported by halfbreed Indians NOV.
ing on snow shoes. Even along the course
OF the rivers where railroads are projected,
and already exist, the severity of the win.
terA often interrupts travel. The Illinois
Central road was blocked up by snow for
six weeks during the winter Of 1861. and
their machinery was broken by the frost
causing serious damage and delay. The en-.
banced expenses OF running the trains in
winter on some OF these roads more than
consumes the profits of the summer business.
On the Northern Railroad from Toronto TO
Georgian Bay, 10 Upper Canada, it has been
found necessary to suspend operations du-
ring the winter, and the government last
winter prohibited the running OF trains on
it's tracks. Much Of the damage arises from
the se we're conclusion which with the une-
quail contraction and expansion. breaks the
wheels and Injuries the rails.
The introduction Of the steam ice car
riage, moving on runners in place OF wheels,
upon the frozen surface Of the rivers and
lakes, instead Of the iron way, and thus
using the natural ice roads which are formed
and kept in repair by the Winter itself, will,
to great extent, obvate these difficulties,
and afford even better facilities To the trav.
eller in Winter than in Summer Impressed
with the value OF this new mode Of commu-
nication by steam, certain citizens Of Prairie
du Chen, in Wisconsin, have purchased the
right to use upon the Upper Mississippi
newly-invented steam ice carrisee, first con.
structed last Winter. In addition to this.
arrangements are making to open a great
northwestern route by the way Of the Mis-
sissippi, st. Peter, Red River Of the North
Lake Wibnepeg, and the Saskatchewan
river, from Prairie du Chen, through pas
of tbs Rocky Mountains, TO the bead waters
of the Frazer and Columbia rivers, the foun-
tains of which rivers. empty ing into the Pa.
eifie Ocean. are bat three hundred and sew.
enteen yards from the fountain Of the Sas.
katchewan and it, stfiuents. This iorms q
continuous and available ice road three
thousand miles in len9tb.
A continuous Railrosd OF that kngtb il
among the mave.s yet 10 be. These ice
carriages consist OF IN iron boat OF sufficient
capacity to sustain the whole apparatus in
the water in safety. They are provided
with a cabin, similar TO that OF q canal
packet, and with similar conveuiepcs~ and
comforts. They are propelIed by steam
applied TO single driving wheel, peu~tratiDg
the ice with an elastic graduated presssre,
and they are stesred by wheel, placed for
ward In p,lo,-house, 0y means which give
the pilot entire control Of IT, The Whole
structure rests upoo tso pairs OF runners, 20
adjustable BY screws that the whole nay h.
ral<d or lowered 70 pas snow aud Other
obstructlons wnetbrr IN motioo or at rest
The ealcuis,ed rate Of sp.ed d sbou, eqasl
10 tha, Of Railroad mail train. The sue.
osss os thi. invention. It = claimed. ~ii
or.n up a vas, field Of Wioier navigstiou
no, Ooly on thls Cootoen, bat also N the
frozen regioos OF karOg- soi ASIA
The inv-u,or, NJ Norman Ward, a.
emlnea, me hsaicai ,nsio-er e nO~ making
arrangsmsut 10 d.ve,of-s hs plsDs AMI tss
sub~c, d--eve 70 engsy~ more Of The pab-
be s,'eniiou than " has ye' reviewed