The Osceola times., 1876-03-25
THE GRAND REPUsLsc.
Mammoth saesmer -Storage Reem for
l,se0 Bales Of Cotton.

VIM. II. Thorwegan, will, when she com.
mences her career of usefulness, create
sensation along the western and southern
waters. Much interest already centers
in her future, and therefore the follow
ing particulars of her construction and
programme of retrospective travels will
he read with pleasure by the friends Of
the gallant captain and his enterprise:
The dimensions Of the steamer are
Hull, $50 feet in length, l01 feet width
beam, SO feet inches; 54 feet 6 inches
floor; hall, l04 feet deep in the clear
bottom plank, 4lc inches; floors, 1l4 by
Al inches binding streaks, 8 by 10 deck,
inches; entire deck frame, outriggers
and beams, oak all butts are plated and
double bolted; frame is double fastened
with and inch square bolts; knuckle
kelsons, ~ by l6 6inches; main kelson, ii
by "a inches.
The engines are Hartupee compound
engines. The two large cylinders are 56
inches the smaller ones are 26 inches
diameter, with 10 feet stroke. Connected
with them are two Of A. +. Blake n Co.'s
Boston) improved air-pumps, which are
l2x2Sx30 inches. These pumps, in case
of accident, can be used to take water
from the hull, and are capable of throw
ing 5000 gallons per minute, throwing
a 20inch solid stream each. They are
the largest and finest wrecking pumps in
the western country.)
There are two doctor engines, with
two 6-inch pumps each. There are two
fire engines, one midship and one for
ward, which throw 4.inch stream each
TO any part of the boat There are two
engines to the forward capstan, one en-
gine to the after capstan and one engine
to the freight elevator, making fourteen
distinct engines.
The boilers, seven in number, are 2S
feet long, AZ inches in diameter, and
have two return fues Is inches in diam
eter. They, with the steam drums, are
made of the best steel. The fire fronts
and doctor engines rest in boiler-iron wa
ter ways.
The chimneys are 72 inches in diane
ter, 76 feet high from the hurricane
deck, and ll3 feet from the water tothcir
tops.
The shafts are 26 feet long, 1Sl inches
in the journals; four flanges ON eacl:, 90
arms in the fanges wheels, 3S feet in
diameter, Is feet bucket.
The main saloon cabin is 270 feet in
length, 30 feet in width, and Is feet in
height has so 10-feet rooms and 2 10
feet bridal chambers.
The cabin is very handsome, being in
the Gothic style, ornamented with col
tilated, with extra skylights, with many
passageways from the cabin to the main
and upper decks.
The texas or upper cabin is large and
roomy; has accommodations for one hun
dred passengers, and will he thoroughly
furnished for our coiored friends.
The steamer Grand Republic, built,
commanded and owned by Capt. VIM. II.
Thorwegan, is the largest steamer ever
built in the world to navigate inland wa
tiers. She has capacity for 5000 tons Of
cargo and stowage room for $4,000 bales
Of cotton; will accommodate 400 first
cabin and 500 deck passengers. She is
elegantly furnished and outfitted for the
travelling public, is first class in every re-
without doubt, the finest steam
boat ever built. She has all the late i'm
provements to secure safety known at the
present day. She was built to run be-
tween st. Louis and New Orleans. Her
draft of water is very light, drawing but
thirty-three inches forward, and four
feet two inches aft. In consequence Of
her light draft, she will run regularly
between the above named cities, leaving
st. Louis about every twenty-one days
during tine entire year, except when the
river is obstructed by ice. She will be
completed about the 25th Of this month,
and Immediately enter her trade, paying
a visit to the Eads ietties, at the mouth
of the Mississippi river. On her maiden
trip, she will carry full string and brass
band, and make this excursion trip one
of pleasure 70 all on board. She is to be
the first boat formally through the jetties