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

| For the past three months or SO visitors ia
or passers-by Lake MiDnetonka have had
| their attention called to an immense vessel in
! the course of building. Frequehtcrs of the
lake have watched its progress, from the lay
| ing Of its keel to its completion, which took
place yesterday, and tomorrow it will walk
the waters Of Lake Minnetonka like a 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 plueky individual was that had
the sand and the money TO build
a floating palace of that kind on an inland
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 belle in reality. Her
model is perfect, every portion being marked
with lines OF beauty. She WIS 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 AID 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 hu-
man ingenuity can make a steamboat Some
idea OF her proportions may be gathered from
the following figures: She is 285 feet in
length and Is fifty-six feet over all. She has
two Elaln 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 az the gang
way to the boiler room there is an 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 rv-
eted, which have stood the government test of
l67 pounds of steam, Her engines are two %
inch cylinders, with fleet stroke. ii er
wheels are 80 feet in diameter with buckets
II 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 stalrwayS 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 a ten cent sandwich up to q dinner, to
suit the most exacting epicure. Just forward
OF the left wheel is the cook house supplied
with range, etc. Immediately over 1t is q
large and convenient pantry.
On the upper deck there is an open space
covered, 20 by so feet, Lext to that the
dining room, IS by 16, and then Iaties'
cabin 4Oxl6 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 a most pleasing
effect. In the rear agian is another promen.
ade, lOOx40 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
10 persons at time. Above this is the pilot
house, large and com nodious. Sixteen feet
above the pilot house is arranged
a COCO candle light electric
light with reflector, which will light up the
lake for from seven to ten miles aroupG. 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 10 witness. In
brief, it is no exaggerstion to say that the
Belle OF Mlnnetonks is the finest excursion
steamboat now a1oat in this or any other
state. She has been built and furnished at an
expense of $4,000. 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 8.
Davidson, viii be in command.
Pilot-H. II. Carlow.
Clerk-DAniel Garron.
Engineer-Rchard FingIar.
Mate-Vic Davidson.
Steward-Wm. Holmes.
All these gentlemen are old and 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