New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-10-16
PAPER ROW BOATS.

Among the many peculiarly American ideas so
prevalent at the present tme very notion OF
moldng from paper is deserving Of especial
attention. In 1867 Mr. George A. Waters, while expert
mentng with ,aper conceived the idea Of preparing
1t that 1t CO.. nodded forms in single sheets
to make 7ery light strong, durable and usefrh
boat In 1865 le with his father, Mr. Elisha Waters OF
Troy, n Y, took out patents for this purpose In the
United States and England. Soon afterward company
was formed, entitled Waters, Balch Co.. con-
sisting Mr.. Elisha Waters, Col George Balch, late
Chief OF Ordnance and the two Of Mr. Waters, for
the manufacture Of Paper Boats Of every description
The mandatory situated the banks OF the Hudson
River about mile above the City Of iroy near the State
Dam. The slack water created by this dam extends back
nearly five miles, making of the finest boating
in the country Over this every boat tested by
the Boat Club composed OF Mr.. Waters and his work
men, who have become experts in their sxoared shell.
in which they exercise every week
Great improvements have been recently made in tho
preparation of the paper which enables the workmen To
make the sheets OF any required size and thickness
for kind Of boat, from single shell to whale
boat ships launch, while 1t is absolutely impervious To
the action OF water, and much stronger lighter. and
tougher than any wood Mr. Waters has also succeeded
in preparing paper for barrels that 1t will resist tho
action petroleum gasoline He has also succeeded
in making and water proof burial initiating rose
wood mahogany and other woods at less than half the
cost Of wood, and much more durable.
The method OF designing and modelling Paper Boats re-
quires high mathematical knowledge and rare mechan
zeal skill the proper lines and proportions and
balance for carrying The paper sheets are nodded
wooden forms in moist state, and, when dried.
taken off in q single piece without joint seam ON
the outer inner surface thus giving the most erfecs
condition easy and rapid through water With
the rapidly increasing interest felt In all parts OF the
country in rowing, the number OF boats and practical
oarSmen and oarswomen will rapidly increase. To meet
this impending demand, Messrs Waters Balch & Co.
have designed various elegant styles OF boats for exercise
and by ladies and families also for duckshootng and
fishing. we'll for racing and other purposes,
Piles OF which to be at the exhibition OF the
American Institute where Mr.. E. Waters is in attend
One very stylish and tasteful Gig for ladies is
fitted up with alright compartments, which may be
fitted with handles, that il be taken
from the water and carried the handles be used
in emergency, the boat itself is complete life
preserver The first OF these beautiful ggs weighing 80
pounds especially designed for young lady resid-
ing the Hudson, and named Ida Grace, in honor
Of Ida Lewis and Grace Darling. Messrs. Waters, Bach
Co. have made arrangements TO secure the most skill
full Japanese workers. with view to perfect and
extend the OF paper In this country indefinitely
few days since the boat storehouse Of the Com.
pany, with 5000 worth Of Paper-Boats and
stock, was destroyed by fire. and in future all
boats Will DO made from the improved paper on the
newest models and no boat will be allowed TO leave
the mandatory until IL has been practically tested and
all OF the metal work will be nckelplate prevent cor
roson Ducking boat, TO be propelled by screw.
being made for prominent journalist OF this city,
has for this kind Of sport The following sketch
gives interesting information regarding this
manufacture:
In the Fall Of or three Paper put
into use at Troy and late In the rowed
by Nickel in with Coulter at Pittsburgh 1t
not however until the of 1868 that the inventors
the uafas oofT oil d.
per Boats regular article OF manufacture to oars
men. Although such q radical innovation, and so op-
posed to everyday ideas Of the OF paper they
have rapidly grown In favor and at this Paper
Boats to the number of about ioc about
in the United States. from the Mississippi River TO
Maine
The manufacturers have this season supplied orders
from st. Paul. Chicago, Pittsburgh Savannah and nu-
merous Eastern cities, and have orders for number to
90 abroad. and find their trade constantly and rapidly
developing During the season OF 1868 these Boats were
rowed by the winners in fifteen races and during the
present boating have been by the OF
eleven among the latter that of the Mdshipmeu
at the u s. Naval Academy June in their foaroared
SHE'LL in which they distanced sx-oared wooden SHELF
three races, won by Walter Brown, in l2inch single
shell. June u.s. IT. and July % and Henry Coulters
with Hamill the 10th August at Pittsburgh Pa in
which the contestants both used Paper Boats made on
the same FORM and precisely alike thus afordpg much
where the boats are different In dimensions and lines
No better evidence OF the estimation In which these
boats are held by prominent American can be
adduced than the fact that such sculers W. Brown
g. Coulter. j. HaInil John Tyler, jr j. w Randall and
j. Fay Jr prefer them TO wooden ones and prove tho
sincerity OF their preference by rowing In them All the
races rowed and won by W. Brown. j. 8. Fay, ir John
Tyler 1r and Randall IN 1868 and 1862 have been won In
these boats.
As regards their durability, Messrs. W.. b. 4 Co. point
10 poats made In 1861 and which have been used con-
stay Tor two seasons and to-day as stanch aud SER
Nceaoe as when first put into the water. The boats
ae nov are improvements on those manufactured last
year ana II the first rude experiments have sue
cesslul, we may safely trust those built now.
waiter Brown. who recently sailed for England TO train
LOT MS proposed race with Renforh, Champion OF tho
Inames, took three Of these boats with him.
", Messrs W.. H. ~ Co. have just completed New.Yor
WORKING Boat IL feet long and 81 inches wide weighing
- pounds complete which has excited the admiration OF
every oarsnan who has it. They are also building
small gig Tor ladies' use, capable OF carrying two young
persons II weighs but As pounds, and hence does
uulre the alu OF q man 10 handle and launch IL,
messrs W., b. Co. make claim as has been asserted
shaI because boat Is made OF paper it necessarily
faster han any other Fhe speed OF boats depends In
rge measure ON their models Ii is claimed and expe-
onco mas demonstrated that the boats OF this material
ere dk hence take In water only orer their gunwaes
40 .ot Increase her ceight ty absorbing raer as all
wooden ones do cannot be cracked or splu A fertile
source OF expense and with boats OF wood and
lor VIC same dimensions can be made 20 per cent tighter
aG" Ve neh sDer Man wooden boat fitted up i'm
where speed at issue there only left the question
Tue oost INES on which 10 build boats of this material
Even mere the Paper Boats have an advantage over
Us the paper can be nodded into warped surfaces
anu ~ aae 10 Jake shapes which weed cannot Tho
ahuiacturers express their determination 10 perfect
ther lines after tho most approved models and intend
spare no expense to take the first nnk among builders
AVA" A<us' auo siesaut RACING SSA sxeEciso boatA