The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1859-08-24
The Detroit and Milwaukee hallway
n Steamers.

Lake Michigan, have received the finish
ing touches at the ship-yard in Buffalo,
and are now ready for service. They are
in every way frst-class steamers and
cost large amount Of money, the de-
sign being that they should fully equal
ocean steamers in strength, model and
equipment. The trial trips were made
on Thursday and Friday, resulting to the
entire satisfaction of both builders and
owners. They will leave Buffalo on Mon
day and arrive at this port on Wednes-
day, having on board an excursion party
en- route for Milwaukee. While at this
city the Detroit will be presented with
suit of colors, and the same compliment
will be rendered to the Mitwaukee at
the city whose name it bears. AS these
boats are identified with one Of our great
local enterprises, the Detroit d Milwaukee
Railway, they will be regarded with IN
terest, and we append description of
them taken from the Buffalo papers,
The Courier has the following: bet.
Free Press, 21st inst.
"Tho steamships Detroit and Milrraukee are
exact counterparts Of each other, and resemble
ocean steamers in appearance. They were built
at the ship yard of Messrs. Mason Bidwell, un-
der the superintendent Of Julius Movius, Esq,
to whose active and well-directed efforts Buffalo
is indebted for the honor and profits of this time
ly Job. The following description Of the vessels
has been prepared by Mr.. Boole, who has been
master mechanic during their construction:
"Length over all, 247 feet inches: breadth
of beam, "a feet; depth of hold, 10 feet inches.
The keels are of white oak 12xl4 inches con-
ter keelsons 14x14 and 14xl2. The frames side
inches, are moulded Is inches at the heels and
: inches at the top height, and are placed feet
from the ccnters. They are diagonally braced
with iron straps 81 inches wide and inches
thick. They are placed the same distance from
1 centers as the frames. The space under the en-
!, gines and boilers is filled in between the frames
. forming n solid mass of timber 90 feet long, ant
bolted with iron bolts inch in diameter. Tit
, engine keelsons are feet inches wide and 4.
II feet inches high, securely bolted to the foo
h timbers with II inch screw bolts. There are 81!
side keelsons 12x12 inches square, running tn
entire length of the vessels, and square bote'
with inch iron bolts. Above these are six big
strakes 6x12 inches, and also square fastene
with I inch bolts. The clamps are inches thic
and 80 inches wide the ceiling between tn
'" clamps and bilge stralSes is inches thick, wei
81 fastened with inch spikes. Besides this, o
as the inside Of the ceiling six strakes of arch
70 cs inches thick and 81 inches wide, runnin
from the keelsons, at each end of the vessels
up under the beams amidships. These arc Sc
10 cured by inch bolts driven from the outside
u and rivited in the insides Of the arches III
ne bolts are as close together the frames will aC
nit. The deck beams are 9x9 inches square an
placed feet from centers. The wheel bean
vi are sided Is inches, and moulded 16 inches
so the center and IL inches Mt the ends. The guar
he beams will vary from 10 to IL inches square.
= The entire deck frame is secured to the hu
with 100 lodge knees and 122 diagonal knee
10 sided from 5 to inches, besides a large numb
|" of hanging knees, sided from 0 to II inch6
he These arc all fastened with iron bolts from to
rv inch in diameter. Under the main deck is a ii
of stanchons, running from the center keclso
to stringer fitted to the lower side OF the bean
ue These are securely fastered with inch bolts.
es, The lower decks are also secured to the hi
~ with knees, we'll fastened. The guards are bra
cd with heavy white oak timbers, secured to I
~ hull with iron straps, and, besides the usual 'h
braces they are well kneed on tho outside.
"The barband strakes are inches thick a
or, 16 inches wide and arc bolted through the kC
TO with l inch bolts. Between each frame {
,th plank on the bottom is inches thick, those
ar. the sides to inches thick all Of the best Out
eir ity of white oak, square fastened with lar
er, spikes, but bolted with inch bolts driven tn
lue the plank tmbcrs and ceiling and rivited
leu side. From the deck to the rail the frames q
ely the same as below, and the bulwarks, on the
Iie side and outside, are two inches thick. Unt
inc rail-, DOM llsluc OUT, anu INC
vi tire length of tho steamers, arc two oak strir
ers, inches thick and IL inches wide. TIT
9'A are bolted together through the timbers; and
o', rail, which is inches thick and II inches wi
0.' is securely bolted to the end of tmbers, and
~ so to those stringers, thus forming compl
arch, and adding 4 feet to the depth of the hi
This is an entire new feature in steamboat bui
ing.
ms "Thc engines were built at the Sheppard Ii
Iarf Works, under the direction of IL. o. Perry, W
me demonstrated that there is no occasion to 60
in New York, or elsewhere, for engines for the la
uilt est steamers. The diameter of each cylinder
ma GO inches and IL feet stroke; diameter of whot
riv- 81 fect diameter Of shafts 161 inches, (wroul
iron); beam strap 4lx6l inches; diameter of S
ing pipes 22 inches; diameter of air pump so in,
luis es length Of connecting rod 20 feet, and bin,
on, es in diameter. Stevens ut-off is used on b,
18th engines. They are upwards of 1000 no