St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1858-08-05
The Steamboat Cedar Rapids.

We have just received copy of
the Cedar Valley Times, from which
we CLEAN the following particulars in
reference to the Steamer Cedar
Rapids" The Times says:
Word was received yesterday after
noon that the new steamboat Cedar
Rapids, was below few miles, and
would reach here in the evening.
The boat left Pittsburgh about three
weeks ago and was at first expected
here, week or ten days since. But
in addition to the delays always Incl
dent to the first trip on an unknown
river, she had to encounter flooded
current under heavy load
Expectation was on tiptoc last eve
ming, and many were humbuggcd by
the cry of "a boat "a boat !" long
before the boat was in sight. About
ten o'clock, however, the Cedar Rapids
made her appearance, and as she
passed the lower bridge ruins, she
was greeted with hearty and pro-
longcd cheers from the crowd there
assembled. AS she passed up to her
dock at the foot of Market street.
rockets and Roman candles were sent
up from her deck, and the crowd upon
shore salutcd her with renewed cheers
of "anvils."
No sooner was she made fast to the
shore, and her gang planks run out,
than steady tide of men and boys
rushed on board. Judging from the
interest manifested in the project, that
our citizens wish to know the particll-
lars in relation to the boat, and her
first trip, we are enabled, through the
politencss of her officers, to give all
that is Of special interest.
The Cedar Rapids is l55 feet long,
% feet wide, and three feet hold She
has but one deck, or as steamboat
men call it, she is a lower cabin boat.
The engines were built by A.
Hartupcc, at Pttsburg, Pa. They
are II inch cylinders, feet stroke ;
two boilers, 3S inches diameter, 20
feet long, with IA inch hucs. The
thickness of iron in the boiler is
l34Sths of an inch.
She has stern wheel IA feet in d.
ametcr, and Is feet long, and buckets
Is inches wide.
She is provided with a "doclor," or
a small engine for supplying the
boilers with water. Also, with a
"nigger,' or smaller engine, for
sparring, hosting freight out of the
hold, raising smoke stacks, &c. All
four of the engines are separate and
distinct machines, finished in the
most workmanlikc manner. She is
also supplied with other appurtcnan-
ccs, such as watcr-gages, steam
cages, two of Evans safcty-guides,
one on each boiler, life preservers,
floats, force-pumps, five hose, and in
short, everything required by law, to
make her first class passenger boat.
The Cedar Rapids commanded by
Captain }. NJ. Andrews, gentleman
who has had large experience in river
navigation, having had command OF
the Thomas Swain and other large
boats. We are assured, Oh the very
best authority, that as gentleman,
and a commander, Capt. Andrews has
few equals and no superiors. The
pilot, Albert Wcnpncr, and also the
mate, I. Rely, are both men of large
experience. The engineers are j. b.
Fulton and w. n. Hunter, gentlemen
of the "r2al old stock" who have fol-
lowed stcamboating all their lives.
THE clerk or the craft is no other than
our popular townsman, J. G. Graves,
ESD, assisted by A. w. Lamb, who is
II thorough gentleman, as we know
from personal acquaintance in former
days at the east.
| The Cedar Rapids will carry 300
tons Of freight, down stream. With
this loading she will draw only about
three feet of water. She draws ten
inches, light, and will accommodate
81 passengers. She brought up near,
| ~ $50 tons of freight.
The Cedar Rapids was built at
Freedom, Pa, "A few miles above Pitts.
burg, under the supervision of Hon.
Geo. Greene, of this place, to whom
great praise is due for her prompt
completion and speedy arrival. 1t is
only about ninety days since the
order for the building of the Cedar
Rapids was given.