The New York herald., 1868-12-16
UTAH..

Progress Of Civilization in the West-The
First Steamboat ON Great Salt Lake.
Description Of the Vessel.
CAMP DOUGLAS, Utah, Dec. T. 1868.
Yesterday in company with several gentlemen I
left the City OF Great Salt Lake to visit steamboat
which Is In course Of construction and intended
to ply ON the saline waters Of Great Salt Lake. Az
ter about two hours drive on teams consisting of
horses and mules not very speedy we arrived at
point on the Jordan river about ten miles from tine
city and about six from the lake. Here we found
very pretty-looking sidewhcel steamer In course OF
construction, nearly finished and with every pros
pect OF speedy completion. Although the dimen-
sions of 1t are not very large In comparison with
those bult where the facilities are Of the very best,
yet 1t is small undertaking here the midst Of the
great Rocky Mountain chains, where lumber and
material are scarce and many disadvantages are
to be overcome. The hull, which Is hfty-fve
depth, was built here by Mr.. Hayward, resident
mechanic Of the City Of Great Salt Lake, and, with
Its guards -four feet In width makes bgeadth on
deck OF eighteen feet II has one flush deck, u the
centre Of which space is left OF ten feet by SIX In
tended for the engine and boiler TO be placed below.
fees IN hernt neatly enclosed on the sides and ends
with doors and windows, which constitutes the en-.
gne room. The B0iier Is an upright one, full OF
small aues and similar % those used IN locomotives
with the furnace in the bottom OF It. The engine Is
horizontal one, high pressure, eight horse power,
while that Of the boiler is twelve The boiler smoke
stuck and other machinery were brought rom eail.
fornta. The engine was made In chicago anu was
overfh,ued and fitted up in the city here by MT N. D.
Silver, resident mechanic. II s proveu ~ MIN ~ yns
shaft, OF wrought iron, about two and n mcnl2
I'm diameter, running from wheel to Wheel, tie
power attached to tn the centre The paddle Tneels
are to be neatly enclosed and on the padosS
boxes Will be inscribed the name kate Connor)
or the pioneer steamboat OF Great salt Lake.
IL Is provided with two water tanks one placed on
each side OF the boiler, With capacity eacn OF 400
gallons IL has sufficient rake fore and at, and win
sharp bow and beautifully rounded stern the
model ia very pretty one VIII draw when lignt
five tons. 1t planned and constructed under the
immediate supervision Of Its owner, General r. e.
Ing IT'S progress, and who mas large contract with
the Central Pacific Railroad Company for furnishing
1t with ties; aud the steamer IL intended for the pre-
sent to convey them from tue south part OF the lake.
near where timber Is plenty, to the north sde-a dis
tance Of about eighty live miles.
General Connor. Il Will be remembered, was the
District Commander OF Utah, who arrived at this
point from California in the fall OF 1862 with his
regiment Third California infantry, aud the Second
winter quarters for his troops ard in the Following
spring laid out built win his troops, and named
the present camp from where write you.
MURDER ON TIRE HIGH SEAs.--In the Uuited states
District Court yesterday John Conroy. the sailor
charged with the murder OF Captain Low, OF the
ship Polar star, some months ago, on the high seas,
was put upon trial His counsel set up the plea or
insanity IN his defence. The case occupied the at
testimony before the United states Commissioner
showed that without any known provocation what
ever he came up behind Captain Low, while the lat
ter was talking with nrst occr Benson, stabbed him
fatally in the back and then ran out upon the bow
spirit 0 the vessel extending over the sea, and that
0incer Benson made him come back and surrender
by drawing gun upon him and threatening to
shoot MN. The case being submitted about three
O'Clock, the jury, after being out about hour aud
a nat returned WIN verdict Of guilty but win
recommendation to the mercy OF the c0urt-Heip
Ofhti1s heDnbtcdn Dec. Q.