New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-11-18
QUEBEC IN WINTER.
THE 1cr R.RRIER TO BE BROKEN

THE BUILDING OF THE NORTHERN LrGIT-DESCkf
TIoN OF THE vEssEIl-A HOPE THAT coAhoNl-
CATION WITH THE SEA NAY BIZ KEPT THROUGH
OFT THE WINTER.
IRON An occA sIoyAL CORRESPONDENT OF TIE IkiBUNh
oUEBEc. Nov. 13.-Yolr readers have doubt
less noticed the question which for &c" !e"iS
past has agitatcd the Canadian mind, as to whcihcI TUG
navigation the 81: Lawrence River from Quepec u VI,
Gulf WAS POSSIBLE or feasible during the Winter n"hus
In ou,bec where the interest In IT. soluun naturally IS
GREATEST a very decided difference ~ opinion has eAis'cu
There is always party ready TO take the CONSERVATIVE
side of every question and this party mas c'ltnF Nv"
been wanting here But fortunately there are AWAY Us
many rart'es ms there sides ~ question: ana IN TINS
cas tat one favoring the belle; that the river eouh be
payigated at all Of the yea? was composed %
men who had energy and tact enough 10 light IL iouE
srst tho Parliament of Qnebec and then the Parliament
Of the Dominion Last Winter they received an app'o
nriston from the Dominion Government WHICH war
ranted the attempt which will this WINTER pe h""o "
convince the skcpca that the ice below quebec i o
seriou. hinder ance 10 navigation. -
II this can successfully be demonstrated-hd pceNe
., .antbis Winter viii be the commencement OF new
or, in the commercial history Of Canada idonp. il Hn
American from an Atlantic seaport could realize inc Ut
ter ,itcrton OF the barbor OF Qnehcc nohh ne"oo'
the last shin sails away and tbs smoke rom tne ids
going steamer drifts hack upon the emily ar tne sn
ing ice crccps out sealty from either shore; is eo'
intcrlaCe
ouebec and Lewis. look down upon dreary ""S'e Va
lee for five long months. wharves and warehouses hit
deaolate and closed. One branch OF business ahee'S
another and heness in one place forces IL INTO
untl IL has become the expectation OF large cSS "
busuess men and hundreds OF aborers that thcy mus.
make enough In seven months To live Twelve mat hh
this would change II river were kept open ana naV
rattan continued | need not explain Ana ~ u 10 pe
earnestly hoped this Winter will DC the last OF 'e 'o'
long series OF wasted Winter months.
The gentleman who IS foremost IN the moNeu'A' y.
which write il Mr. E. W. sewell Of Lewis The proposal
Of Mr. scweIl laid before the Dominion farhAhehl ny
his represe tative, Mr. Frecette, was Substantially "s
follows: lie proposed for $4,000 per sea on 10 run
steamer from the LIST OF December TO the 1st OF May De
tween the port of Quebec and Paspebac touching at All
,r,ortau pons for 1--WE years. And was desired that
an agent should be placed upon the steamer 10 sNeH
monthly report OF her trips, triumphs' or Alures AT
the end NJ that time, II Mr. sewe had proved MS scheo
practicable the Government was to offer SIooouo per
annum as subsidy TO the company that viii undertake
the carrying of the mails via the - Lawrence winter
and summer At the end Of three years, " the scheme
proye failure then the subsidy is 10 be Withdrawn
Ru Mr. sewell aud his friends have no intention that
their enterprise shall fail and he bases his hopes upon
these facts IN which he b supported by evidence o
number NJ pots aud other scientific lie has found
nv careful study Of subject that the foeee TO he
encountered in the river and Gulf is no serious
obstacle first because IL never covers the
water from shore 10 shore, and again, De
cause IT, for the greater part of the season. OWNS 10 the
prevalence OF northern winds, Hes against TIE sorh
shore thus giving an open channel TO the norm IN
which steamers could ply. All through the Ice regions
the yater Is perfectly smooth. and screw propeller
IL 10 be used hi, would be great advantage Focs are
very rare in the Winter and even ia SNOW storms hr
seveu holds that the navigator would have fewer d'
chimes 70 combat than n forbonn1 vessel usuaAy
has for he surc alway Ia have the ice between in
and the lee shore Aud there b. Is no rolling sea IA WIN
ter the waves being kept down by The aoaiing Ice.
Here Mr scW,l has almost "uLYcd The name or WIS
touary aud since ne FOR 'he last three Winters de-
mnnstr,ted so success iy his theory that thr river can
he kent omen between this city aud LcSi- by tho tso
powerful fer1yboats which crush through thr nintAr
ice he has gained many supporters nom aii c'hsc and
people are gradually coming 10 believe thai II De "c
right IN one instance he viii I've in another A. hi- ship
ward n Point Lewis his vessel the Northern 1Asht %
ccying s flashing touches and being put IN readiness
for It's tr1al trip about the harbor time In this
month To his little vessel, which wiz sail away 20 the
North iroghied heavily with hopes ana brght auIci
patious caunot close ms Letter without dcvotns few
pages ~ description.
To begin with instead OF running mp and down the
river ~ 1rst proposed. she will hAyea route Of
far greater difficulty and one likely TO test her abilities
to a greater extent, II being decided 70 run her be-
tween Pctou " e. and Georgetown. +. f. l., distance
OF about fortynye miles In the Straits OF Northunbcr
land will IN contact With vast dssr7 OF lc'
aud IL she outlvcs the Winter her triumph viii be COM
plete she has been accepted carry "a malls 10 Prince
Edward leland. A few days since paid visit to the
Northern Light and was shown over II by MI scTeil
who kindly gave me full description OF the manner IN
which she il built To the observer, not versed In The
beauties OF ship building the little vessel looking ai her
from the bow, presents the idea OF tremendous
cigar aAoat But looking ai her through pro-
fessonad eyes-and these Of course L had to
borrow-yOu "a vessel Of fine proportions: OF 400
tons register I45 feet length % feet beam, and 10
feet hold She propelled by PAIR OF compound engines
OF 7oOhoIse power Her strength Is Immense and her
horse power per foot Of displacement Is greater than
any vessel Of the kind built. The screw propeller
Is kept well under water II being intended that there
shall never be less four feet her upper blades
Tins nsrne less danger ice besides giving greater
power. The screw Is IL feet in diameter 19le feet
pitch Her draught IL greatly ynried. being only eight
feet forward while It Is double that aft This. II VIII
be easy 10 see gives extra power over the lee.
enabling her TO crush with her weight as
well as velocity and although solid ice three feet IN
thickness will not regarded exactly eggshell,
still neither f. IL regarded OF mTch consequence. The
rudGer although thing Of beauty 10 my unaccus-
toned e,es, is evidently JOY forever TO Mr. scwe 1t
ismassve and looks quite equal 10 Its duty and as
work in iron is quite remarkable being solid plate Of
wrought iron. The hull II fashioned 10 throw oil
all pressure ice Offering sharp angles OF resistance
but only by it's rounded sides reducing the pressure
The wood building the vessel has been carefully
scleced and very little iron is used The only iron
found her is plating Al inches in thickness for II