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Source: The Mining Journal
Marquette, Mi.
November 27, 1886

An Interesting Interview

The following is taken from a lengthy interview, had with Mr.
James McMillan by a reporter of the Detroit Evening Journal.

Upper Peninsula readers will find it of great interest. After
giving the details of the formation of the syndicate for the
building of The DSS&A, it says:

This syndicate consists of Calvin S. Brice, George I. Seney,

F. P. Alcott and General Thomas, of New York; Francis Palms, Geo-
rge H. Hammond, William B. Moran, John S. Newberry, Hugh McMillan,
and James McMillan, of Detroit and C. R. Cummings of Chicago, and
ten millions of dollars were subscribed to carry out these projects.
The DM&@ road was bid in by Mr. Hugh McMillan for this syndicate,
the sale being part of the scheme for the reorganization of the
road. It is proposed to have the "Soo" branch completed by July
next and the bridge finished by November. F. P. Alcott, George I.
Seney and James McMillan have been constitued a committe to handle
the money and complete arrangements. The cost of building will be
about $20,000 a mile. The Michigan Central will build a gigantic
ferry intended to run across the straits of Mackinac all season.

It will carry 30 cars and will give Michigan through connection with
the Pacific coast via the Northern Pacific, MH&O, DM&M and MC rail-
roads, as well as with the Canadian northwest, via the CPR, which
reaches the "Soo" by November next. Mr. McMillan will hold a con-
ference shortly with Mr. Hickson of the Grand Trunk, with a view

to having the Grand Trunk pushed through to the "Soo" also.

"I cannot say that Detroit merchants have been over quick to take
hold of this new project for increasing their trade in the upper
peninsula," said Mr. James McMillan, this morning. "Still, I have
been spoken to by many of them, and there is a decided interest in
the plan. Then, again, several Detroiters have put money into the
work - Hammond, Palms and ourselves, for example. The trouble all
along has been that the MH&O has worked in the interests of Chicago
and against Detroit. Now things will be changed. Then, again, there
has been trouble in getting freight up there in the winter; but this
will be obviated by the new railroad ferry across to St. Ignace. For
some time I have been trying to get Mr. Ledyard and Mr. Hughart to
build a boat that could get through in the winter; but until now,
they have not see their way clear to do so."

The boat will be built on the principal developed by Capt. James
Millen, of Parker & Millen, while superintending the transit of the
present ferry Algomah across the straits two years ago, when the ice
was piled mountains high. It was found that the ferry would run
one-third of her length into and on top of a deep floe of ice, and
that her engines were totally unable to pull her off or send here
further through. In such cases it became necessary to blast the ice
from under the boat in order to free her. It was under these cir-
cumstances that Capt. Millen conceived an idea that facilitated
matters greatly. When a floe of ice was met which was impassable
by ordinary menas, a stake or anchor was set firmly into the ice
some distance ahead.
p- 2 An Interesting Interview - November 27, 1886

The ferry was then turned around stern on to the floe, and a haw-
ser got over the stern, carried out over the flee and hitched to the
stake or anchor. It must be understood that these ice floes are com-
posed of great chunks and cakes of ice stuck, but not frozen together.
When the ferry was in position her engines were started and the boat
moved away a few inches from the floe, but as the hawser tightened,
came to a Standstill. The engines, however still run and the screw
revolved hurling circling currents of water back against the floe.
These currents lodsened the cakes and pushed them away from the bow
of the ferry, leaving a comparatively clear passage in front. The
ferry then went ahead, the slack of the hawser was taken in, and
another push was made. Capt. Millen at that time drew the plans

from which the plans of the new Michigan Central boat will be modeled.
The principle of the thing is simply this: A large, double-ended
ferry, with boilers, and a screw wheel at each end, the stern wheel
to have one-third greater power than the bow wheel. When running
through comparatively clear water or smooth ice the bow wheel will
pull and the stern wheel will push, giving the boat unusually great
power. Its crushing power will be immense, and it will walk through
ice two or two and a half feet thick with perfect ease. When she
meets the great floes, so common in the straits, the two screws will
show their power. It is expected that the front screw will push the
boat back and the rear screw will push her ahead. Were both screws
of equal power the boat would, of course, stand still, but the great-
er strength of the rear screw will push the boat up against the floe,
while the powerful currents circling ahead from the front screw will
wash a passage in the floe and allow the ferry to run through. Such,
at all events, is the theory. It is estimated that under the most
adverse curcumstances the boat will be able to make the passage in
one day where nine days has been no uncommon trip in bad times here-
tofore.

\BSSKA
SSM&M
DM&M - M&M
MH&O

Mt Co.