The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1890-09-04
OCEAN VOYAGE ON ICE.
A NOVEL PROPOSITION TO CROSS
THE WATER TO EUROPE.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS That Present a.
Mighty Pleasing Picture-This Scheme
Would Do Away with All Danger at Sea.
Newton discovered that apples fall to
the ground because they are heavier
than the atmosphere, and Calico was
the hrst to find out that icebergs float
because they are lighter than water.
Many grand results are attributable to
the first of these Gvinations of one of
these long impenetrable mysteries. and
most astonishing consequences are about
to attend the application of the second
TACT OF natural philosophy. It is rather
extraordinary, when you come to think
OF 1t, that 500 years should have elapsed
between the discovery that ice would
float and the practical determination to
foat It. But man has way of making
nus unitarian purposes answer a CRYING
necessity, of doing things only when the
world seems to be able no longer 70 do
without them Railroad travel is little
more than hundred years old, vet we
wonder how mankind managed to do
without it for 5000 or 1000 years.
A NOVEL SCHEME.
1t is proposed to construct dozen
towing vessels of maximum power, to
De operated singly, in pairs, in groups.
OF all at once, as the circumstances NAV
determine. These will be constructed
with special reference to their uses and
VIII be in many ways unique. These
VIII be sent into the polar regions to
gather tows Of the greatest practicable
burden that may be suited to traffic and
transportation. AS these vast areas of
ice become detached by force of winds
ana currents they have natural ten
dency toward warmer latitudes. and
move with such readiness that no great
force will be required to give them reg
ular direction along desired course.
Unassisted these monster bergsfrequent-
~ approach to within 40 dogs. of the
equator, and by expediting their speed
they could be got to that point with per-
feet security and with little dininution
of their original bulk.
These lows, ranging in extent from
one to five acres and in height above
water from fifty to three thundred feet.
will be brought into direct competition
with the English, French and German
lines of steamers plying between New
York and European points during the
summer season. On these floating Islands
OF ice will be every imagined corven-
fence for the comfort and pleasure of
passengers and the rates of passage will
be reduced to the minimum Of profit. In
this latter particular the projectors of
the scheme seem to as to have made a
serious mistake. The indueemsnt to
travel by this means will be sufficient
without making any sacrifice of passage
money. 1t is estimated that the trip
from Liverpool to New York can be
made within two days Of the best run
ming time of the ocean greyhoyads; but
this increase of time viii make no diff
ference to the passengers, who will find
the extra pleasure of the voyage more
than compensation.
LUXURY ON AN ICEBERG.
The appointments will be luxurious.
rugs, cushions, awnings, easy chairs and
sofas, water proof mattings, and to secure
privacy unique arrangement OF screens
for those who do not care to pa$ronize
the berths will be hewn in the side Gle
vations of the berg. One part Of the ice
palace will be reserved for skating and
shedding, another part for various games
and sports, while near the ee1%sr. So
Guided from one another, viii be two
basins cut into the ice and filled With salt
water for the benefit of those who NAV
wish to take plunge baths All the cook
ing for the passengers will be done ON
board the tugs, end will be txanAEe4rsd
s to the ''island" inemaN boats The tables
win be simple lodges of ice ct short in
terva@. There viii be pxoznsnaAss and
climbs" and one Of the favOxits under
takings with the advextareeoxne will be
mounting to the unexp4ored regions OF
the masses that tower 900 feet above the
mean level of the island
There will be no danger of any one
freezing to death as the supply of rugs,
blankets, ETC., win enable each person to
control the temperature to suit himself.
and it is estimated that the average tenn
perature will be eboutt0 deg. The pom
dsrosity of the ice mass win greatly di-
minish the rolling motion incident upon
ordinary travel, and win corrsspondingly
AVSAScSO NA4O AoeNAA1SJ w b6tsSACA1fEnSSs u
very grave consideration withmany who
are deferred from ocean voyaging
through their horror Of nal de n&er, and
in ease of STERN it can be understood
what great advantages the passengers
would enjoy in comparative freedom
from disturbing pommotion.
AS only about the eighth part of the
entire bulk of one Of these masses of ice
shows above the water this new style of
ocean sailer would be most substantial.
and it is even believed each island might
be used to tow cargo back to England.
At any rate the quality of ice brought
into New York harbor each trip would
revolutionize the ice traffic in that city.
The prospect held out by the Chicago
man is delightful to contemplate, and
we can imagine the joy of 800 persons
sailing the ocean blue on an island
of ice, reclining upon hammocks of
crystal, laughing in the face of bafaed
Sol, and calling down blessings on the
clustering frost king of the frigid north.
All! the ineffable bliss Of freezing and