Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 May 1885 — A Norwegian Skee. [ARTICLE]

A Norwegian Skee.

It is very singular that the ingenious race that devised the toboggan did not cut it in quarters lengthwise and make pkees from it, and still more singular that the fun-loving Canadians have not,seen the possibilities that lie in a long, narrow, wooden runner, for straightaway work in the open. The fact is, however, that in America the skee is in common use as yet only in the-California mountains, where it was introduced in the days of ’49, and where it is still used by snow-bound miners and mountaineers for purposes of business and pleasure. These skates are as broad as the foot,, but six or eight feet long and pointed before. They are covered with sealskin, so that the smooth grain turns backwards toward the heels. In construction the skee varies considerably in different localities. For ordinary use six or seven feet in length, and not exceeding seven inches in width, is a fair average, but they are sometimes made ten or twelve feet long and two and a-half inches widp. Individual preferences differ regarding skees as regarding anything else. The sealskin sole cited above is useful only in going up hill, and tends rather to cheek speed on a level. The thickness is from one to one and a-half inches at the foot-rest, and ‘.is tapered to a-half inch at the ends. -The fore end is turned up about four inches from the ground, and usually its extreme end is pointed. With these snow skate's the Norwegians slide about bn the snow as easily as they can upon the ice and faster than a horse can go, and it seems to be well established that fifty or sixty miles a day on a tolerably clear Track is not extraordinary speed, while important messages have sometimes been carried as much as 150 miles a day fitom the interior toward the coast, where, of course, the prevailing slope wasTavorable.—A r . Y. Telegram.