Interesting traveling inventions were cropping up in the hustling atmosphere of 1840 in Missouri. 'Wind Wagon Thomas" promised if you put sails on your covered wagon, you could sail them at 15 mph...unfortunately while testing this boat, Thomas lost control and smashed into a ravine.
There was also the River Porter Balloon, which was a 1000 foot long propeller driver balloon powered by two steam engines. It promised to carry passengers from St. Louis to San Francisco in 24 hours with meals and wine for the one-way price of $50. Thinking Wizard of Oz here :) Technical difficulties with the steam engines took care of Porter's balloon idea. Porter, however, went on to found the Scientific American Magazine.
Next time...MIA?
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