Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-07-02
Belle of Minnet0nka.


For the past three months or so visitors to
or passers-by Lake Minnetonka have had
their attention called to an immense vessel in
the course of building. Frequenters of the
lake have watched its progress, from the lay
ing of its keel to its completion, which took
place yesterday, and tomorrow il will walk
the waters OF Lake Minnetonka like thing
of life, perfect model of floating beauty.
Much curiosity has been excited as to who
was the owner of this large vessel, and who
the plucky individual was that had
the sand and the money to build
body of water in Minnesota. There is no
longer any mystery about the matter. It's
owner Is Capt. Payton s. Davidson, of La
Crosse, and he has given his beautiful boat
the appropriate name of the "Belle of Min
netonka." And she is a belle in reality. Her
model is perfect, every portion being marked
with lines of beauty. She was built expressly
for an excursion boat intended to meet the
wants of pleasure seekers at this popular
watering place. She draws only twenty
eight inches of water ard can accommo.
date $500 persons with ease and
comfort. Every part of her from the hull to
the pilot house has been built in the most
substantial manner and she is as safe as hui
man ingenuity can make steamboat. Some
idea of her proportions may be gathered from
the following figures: She is 2S5 feet in
length and IS fifty six feet over all. She has
two main decks and her plan contemplates the
setting aside of all available space for the
accommodation OF passengers. On her lower
deck from the foot OF the stairs at the gang
way to the boiler room there is al open airy
space capable Of seating LOCO persons. In
the after part of the same deck
there is another open space admirably fitted
for comfort that can be utilized either for
seating, promenading or dancing.
She has three 42-inch boilers by effect
long. These boilers are of steel, double riy-
eted, which have stood the government test of
inch cylinders, with fleet stroke. II er
wheels are 80 feet in diameter with buckets
- feet in length, and she is capable of making
twenty miles an hour. Her doctor engine is
SO arranged that the entire boat can be
flooded with water in few moments from the
water line to he roof of her pilot house in case
OF fire. There are three stairways leading
from the lower to the upper deck. On the
lower deck will be located both in the forward
and after part, refreshment stands and soda
fountains, where person can obtain anything
from ten cent sandwich up to dinner. to
suit the most exacting epicure. just forward
of the left wheel is the cook house supplied
with range, etc. Immediately over it is a
large and convenient pantry:
On the upper deck there is an open space
covered, 70 by so feet, next to that the
dining room, rs by 16, and then a ladies'
cabin 40x16 feet. Both of these large rooms
are finished in white and gold, with rich
stained glass windows, mirrors, and every
other appliance to make up most pleasing
effect. In the rear agian is another promen-
ade, 1OOX40 feet. There are two ladies' toilet
rooms and Mushrooms on each side of the
boat, and ladies' sitting rooms. The Texas
cabin is 7Ox15, with sleeping rooms for forty
persons, and dining room TO accommodate
16 persons at time. Above this is the pilot
house, large and com modious. Sixteen feet
above the pilot house is arranged
light with reflector, which will light up the
lake for from seven to ten miles around. The
whole boat is lighted with electric lights, and
when she moves through the water, particu-
larly on dark night, she must present sight
worth travelling many miles to witness. In
Drlef, IL is no eXaggeratiOn to say that the
Belle of Minnetonka is the finest excursion
steamboat now afioat in this or any other
state. She has been built and furnished at an
expense of 100000. Her construction has
been supervised by Capt. James Eldridge, an
experienced builder. Her officers are as fol-
lows
For the present her owner, Capt P. s.
Davidson, will be in command.
Pilot-H. M. Carrow.
Clerk-Daniel Garron
Engineer-Richard Finglar.
Mate-Vic Davidson.
Steward-Wm. Holmes.
All these gentlemen are old aud experienced
steamboat men, and individuals or excursion
parties. can enjoy the pleasure of trip upon
her with as much security as they can sit IN
their own parlOrs at home. Capt. Davidson
deserves the thanks of every lover of pleasure
for building such magnificent floating palace
as the Belle of MinnetOnka,