Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-06-26
PONTOON LIFE BOATS.

We are this day highly gratified in witnessing
aho.r instance OF The success and Witty of inven-
i've genus IN our country We learn that, at the
commencement OF the late war, Col. Cslber.y,
brought forward and presented TO the consiiera-
ton ot government set OF pontOoG.s, which may
ne easily constructed by Our troops in the woods
capable OF easy conveyance without the use OF
wheel carriages, a'id suited for the transportation
OF an army, the annoya nce OF au enemy. in the
Shape OF boais, OF bridges, platforms Roating bat
terIes.
Ow'r5 TO some of these unfortunate causes which
probably led TO our national honodrs st Blade MS
bursh, the project seJecled. Col T.tbaru, an
oIer re- oiutionary officer, loHed Col, Carbrlry il
iuii confidence OF the correctness oil the principle
made some alterations III The mOdiii cation and fix.
ture Of the pontoous, and brought them again un-
der consideration oil the executive; when after n
tedious Pc rseyerance till the end of the war the
good SENSE aid patriotism OF the last and present
secretaries OF that department referred the prooo.
siuon to Col BOmord oithe ordnance, whose dis
eliminating eye determined the principle to be good
and ordered proof oft be given in the construc.
ton OF AN Orahiance GGrsiSou Bear which /, this
day completed, and may be seen in the river 20.
tornac tomorrow by all who feel a pride ia their
Country S prosperity, moving rapidly under paddles
We have seen this boat, and are much nleased
with her she is constructed wholly out vi light
Planks, without the usual security of timbers or
Knees. She IS composed OF eight water tight box
es, connected by nuts aud s, ia shape resem-
biing handsome batteaux has seven seats aud
She IS seventeen feet long, three feet wide, nine
teen inches deep, formed III pannel work hand
somely painted, and can be taken to pieces, con.
veJed across portage Oh boys heads, and easily
put together again. We have seen two common ST.
ZVd men take her up in their arms and toss her as
child /; and she IS designeG to carry II persons
w e are told that the Of this highly finished
boat will not exceed 100 dolars--sle is certainty
most comfortable one for pleasant party OF six
ladies', SIX gentlemen, ard two servants and in.
my vff Il.
Communications for clio axis and umbrellas lockers for
bottles, glasses and refreshments, coolers for all
Kinds OF liquor in cold water without Inconvenience
Ia the guests, and ice hores sufficient 10 enable bro
Their Jonathan to convey Reaumur's or Feranhe,,'s
freezing deg ees to the western Archipelago.
he patehtees state, and ask all men, endowed
with common sense 10 enquire and inspect, that
the principle promises to accommodate society in
the following particulars list, for fishing boats
because six kinds oil ish float aud alI) can come
into the market house alive and in their separate
elements /; and can be kept alive, for several
menths, till they gointo the fish kettle 2ndy, tor
all kinds Of market bosts cause each separate
article can be in separate divisions Of the boat she
come FIVE hundred miles by water, and ret
drsy to take her into the mark house for twelve
ami an hall cents certainly every house Keeper
can estimate the economy Of his table ia this parti-
cular.
We have, for some time past, seen young men
and boys associated perhaps in their several trades
and social intercourse, practising I on .Srnole,,s }
tue nautical art Of duck-pond navigation in !eaGy
boats. stopped with clay, sometimes hired from RI
yer craft, &c. We wish not 10 deteriorats de
naval spirit OF orr continent but we wish il SUI
peror IN naval architecture, in Hsval skill, in prac-
teal experience III all events ana in pacific djst,os,
ton towards the whole brotherhood OF mankind in
dependent OF the pidl divisions Of national or par
ty policy.
The Pafenfees tell us, that, by the use Of Dir
vessels Or tArpsuling, oil cloth petticoat trow-
sers, obey (who knew the Galpl, Stream IL beneh.
ing 10, from long practicsi experienced believe they
can, aId 4g1H, construct bfe-boafs at so cheap =
rate to ensbleev vessel at sea (from tie SIZE
OF an oyster boat to the size oflOur San Fernap-
d"s) To take aads OLA water-iog,cd or sinking
ship they purpose 20 prove this-and moreover,
ecOnofnisc tie timber contracts Of the United
Ststes, at least one-lOurth.
[Uastingtou Ijessengc~.