Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-07-08
THE LAC Ia BELLE.
Trial Trip Ofthe Propeller Lac La'BeI1e
Her Dimensions, Power, tEe.. &c.
Complete Success of the Trip.


The new and beautiful Propeller, Lac La |
Belle, built for Robert Hanna and Company
by Ira Lafiinaier, took a trial trip yesterday |
afternoon, leaving her dock at two P NJ,
and returning about six. Responding TO |
the invitation Of her owners, we joined the |
pleasant party who together enjoyed the
pleasant and highly successful trip. The
boat went down the lake toward Detroit for
some distance, afterward returning to port.
The engines worked admirably, and the
whole trip was completely success
full one. a high rate of speed was obtain
ed though not as high as after the ma
chinery has been running a short time.
Suffice it to say that the Lac La Belle pro-
misses to be one of the fastest boats on the
Lakes.
The Lac La Belle was built, as we have
said, by Ira Laffrinier for Robert Hanna and
Co., of this city, and will run in the regular
Cleveland, Detroit and Lake Superior Pas
senger Line. She has been in process of
erection during the last winter and spring,
and will take her place in the line on Mon
day next, the llth of July, when she will
leave this city for Lake Superior. She is a
magnificent boat, in proportion, size, en-
gines, and outfit, and has all the modern
improvements and luxuries, making her a
frst-closs passenger propeller.
Her length over all is 225feet breadth
of beam, thirty-one feet seven inches,
without guard, or thirty-fve feet six inches
in all; depth of hold, thirteen feet; ton
mage, s72 tons. She draws nine feet aft,
and four feet eight inches forward. Her
cabin is one of the finest and largest which
we have ever seen, the peculiar arrange
ment of the engines allowing it to run, IN
interrupted, nearly the whole length of the
boat It il also unusually wide for the
cabin of propeller. It is little over $50
feet long, and fifteen feet wide, inside the
| state-rooms. These latter are of the largest
size, forty-four in number. About one half
of these are arranged in such a manner as
to create double rooms, having door parti-
tions. This is an excellent arrangement
for the comfort of travelling families or
friends. There are spacious pantry and
cook rooms, and forward of the gentlemen's
cabin is an ample and airy apartment,
known as the smoking room, with facilities
for washing, etc.
The painting and decorating of the boat
has been most exeellently done, by that
experienced boat painter, Mr.. R. L. Will
lard. The upholstery work carpeting,
ETC., is from the well-known firm
of 7. s. Beckwith and Co., and the fur
nsture is from the establishment of
William Hart. It is matter
ofeome pride that the boat itself, its ma
chinery, furniture, decorations and all ap-
pertaining to it, is of Cleveland manufac-
ture, and done, too, in such excellent style
as to make the boat one unrivalled for its
beauty, convenience and luxury.
The total number of engines is five. The
main engines are A inches bore, "a inches
stroke, and are condensing engines. The
hoisting engine is u by u, and is high
pressure. This is connected with a line Of
shafting, running the entire length of the
boat, and is used for discharging the cargo
as well as working extra bilge pumps in
case Of necessity. The boat is also supplied
with steam duplex Worthington pump,
used for filling the boilers in port, or when
the main engines are stopped, and also, by
means of pipe and hose, to throw water on
all parts of the boat in case of fire. Prob
ably no boat yet built is SO well provided |
against accident from leakage or fire as this
one is. The machinery isvery massive,and |
substantially built, and extra care has been
taken to insure against any accident
As there are two seperate boilers and |
smoke pipes, should either of the engines
or boilers become disabled while under
way, they can at once be disconnected and |
the steamer keep on her way with the re-
one. Besidesthis new arrangement
of the smoke pipes, make it possible to
have an entire cabin through the whole
length of the boat.
The plan of working the engines in and
out of port is new, and taken in connection
with the means for doing it, is at once
convenient. The engineer stands
between the two engines, having before him
a stand or table, upon which are two steam
guages, showing the pressure of steam in
each boiler, also, a vacuum guage, connect
ing with the condenser, showing the
amount of vacuum. In front of this guage
is hand wheel which regulates the huan-
tity of water which flows into the channel
plate, and on the other side of it
a hand wheel for reversing the
engines, while lower down are two index
wheels that regulate the supply of water to
the boilers. On the front is a register for
noting the number OF revolutions the pro-
peller wheel makes, the whole being sur
by clock. This small though
beautiful piece of work is, so to speak, the
brain of the entire machinery. The design
1f the entire machinery is simple, vet
evinees a correctness of proportions, re-
gard for taste, and an arrangement of de-
tail highly complimentary to the designer,
Mr.. J. F. Holloway, who furnished the
plans and drawings, and to the Cuyahoga
Works, which, under the management of
It's very efficient Secretary and Agent, Mr..
Wm. B. Castle, have carried them out.
The boat will be commanded the present
season by Captain John SPEEDING, an old
ind experienced lake navigator, and
perfect gentleman. Many will reeollect
lim as for some time connected with the
Northern Light. The other officers are as
ollows:
Clerk-H. W. Davis.
Stewart--A. B. Bunker.
First Mate-Alex. McFarlane.