The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-07-17

LIE NEW fARKEABuho PACKEf.--Ihl
Trial 1ftpto MoundSuille Yeteridy.-LatelS
the building OF fast boats has become
more OF study with our steamboat build
ers. The slow and clumsy crafts, which
answer ordinary purposes, are going out
Of fashion, and fast packets are taking theil
places, meeting rs II were, the require
ments Of this progressiveage The Dur,
ma, the new packet built by the Wheel
ing, Parkersburg and Cincinnati Trans.
portation Company, 10 run between this
city and Parkersburg, made her trial trip
yesterday to Moundsyille and return, per
forming very satisfactorily for the lirst
trip Of o brand new steamer. For some
time back the Wheeling, Parkersburg and
Cincinnati Transportation Company had
been contemplating building steamer to
replace the Ragon, which boat has seen
It's best days, and not until last winter did
the Company decide upon anything def.
mite, when they resolved 10 enlist the ser.
vices Of Capt. John;McLure, the veteran
steamboatman, and taking him into
their councils they finally matured their
plans for building the "Diurnal."
They wanted a fast boat, and the
Captains success In building the
phaeton, assured them that he was
the proper party TO model one for them.
The hull ofthe Diurnal was built by Knox
4 Son, at Harmar, o., near the mouth oil
the Muskingum River, and was fashion.
ed after drawings and specifications fur.
nished by Captain John Mcclure, and It's
erection superintendent by him person.
ally, the Captain every little while taking
a run down to Harmar 10 see how the
work was getting along. Owing to severe
weather and other hindranCes, the work
on the hull was not completed until about
six weeks ago, when It was towed 10
Sweeney's Landing and the work on the
superstructure begun. The model Of the
hull Is somewhat after the style OF the
Phaeton, and indicates speed in every
point from the bow to the stern. II
measures 30 feet in length with 2l2 feet
over all; "a feet inches beam, 4 feet 0
inches depth OF hold, and when finished
will draw 2 feet OF water, light. She Is fur.
nished with three steel boilers, SO feet
long, IS inches in diameter, Of 8 lues each
0 inches In diameter. The cylinders are
% inches in diameter, 4 feet stroke, with
double slide valve and two port openings
at each end, and large exhaust, having
link motion, with eccentric cams, which
gives 1t somewhat OF the action OF loco.
motive engine. The engines were made
and put up by those sterling machinists,
Messrs. A. ]. Sweeney & Son. The wheels
are II feet in diameter, II feet inches in
length Of bucket, and OF "a inches width.
The wheels are to make from 80 to 50 rev.
olutions per minute.
The cabin is built after new departure,
being full cabin above, with the dining sa-
loon on the lower deck, by which the own
ers OF the boat intend to carry out the Eu.
ropean plan OF entertaining passengers,
charging them for only what they get.
The cabin was built by Hanes 4 Wilson.
The painting Is being done by the owners
under tho superintendenCy OF James How
ard, OF Cincinnati. Tho deck outfits were
furnished by Jerry 0rran and James Riggs.
The boat will have her cabin outfit from
the well known furnishing establishment
Of G. Mendel & Co., OF this city. The
sheet iron work was done by Samuel Kug.
len, and the steam fitting by Messrs.
Trimble & Hornbrook.
When ready for the trade she will be
commanded by Capt. ]. G. Muhleman,
with Mr.. Alex. Voegtley as Chief Clerk,
both popular and accommodating officers.
The rest OF the crew of the Ragon will Gil
the remaining positions. When the Di-
urnal left Sweeney's Landing yesterday
afternoon she had on board about three
hundred people, comprising many Of our
prominent citizens. The trip was eX.
tended TO Meundsville, and was without
particular incident, The steamer behaved
nobly, running very smoothly, without
the slightest Earring or shaking. Some
trouble was experienced in making steam
fast enough, due to deficiency in her
draught, which will be remedied. Max
ing allowances for certain stiffness man
ifest in all new steamers, 1t can be said
that the highest antiCipations Of her per-
Torrance and requirements were realized,
and with two or three weeks limbering up
she will be able to skim the waters at the
rate OF 10 miles per hour down stream aud
IL miles against the current.
Among the many on board were the
following steamboatmen: Captains Char
ley Muhleman, Asa Booth, G. H. Booth,
John Mcclure and the pioneer engineer,
Mark Lester. Also accompanying the
party were Mr.. A. j. Sweeney and John
Sweeney. The Diurnal will be ready for
business in about two weeks. There is a
mistaken idea abroad about the Diurnal
being built for daylight packet. Our re-
porter in conversation with Captain Nc
Lure, sometime ago, was told that she was
not built with any reference to accom-.
plishing the distance between this city
and Parkersburg In daylight. II she can
do 1t and attend to her business properly,
all well and good; but If she don't the
owners will not be disappointed. One
fact remains, however, and that is, she
will be fast and able to meet all tho re-
quirements Of the trade, May she have a
long and successful career.
Dup1oNy,,