The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1879-03-15
OUR INDUSTRIES, No. s
nniIdInr canal nonts.

ghNaA AhUtANhs
During this winter, and in fact every win
ter, the Lehigh canal is closed on account Of
ice Water will he turned into the canal on
the 25th instant, and the dredgeboat will be
put in ope ration, in order to clear away the
debris which has accumulated at the locks
during the winter. Over 500 boats compose
the hotlla on the canal, which is wholly
engaged in transporting coal from the
mines of the Lehigh Conl and Navigation
Company.
The building and repairing of this flotlla
forms a handsome industry in East Weiss
port under the superintendent Of W. c.
Weiss, Esq, young gentleman who, to use
quaint expression, has risen from the
ground TO the present position which he oc-
cupies-one Of the most responsible in CON
nection with the transportation of coal on
the Lehigh Canal. In a neat office in the
boat yard, which bears many evidences of
the taste and talents of Mr.. Weiss, he keeps
a strict account Of all the floating stock Of
its condition and capacity !; ofthe amount Of
coal it carries to market each year, leases, or
virtually sells to boatmen Contract boats"
SO called, sees that the whole are kept in
good repair, and is in addition commander
OF the TIVE" naval lines"-Philadelpha Line
and New York Line, on account of which
position, we hereby dub him Commodore
Weiss, 10y which title we hope his friends
may hencelorth know him; at least, until
in future years he becomes more widely
and popularity known as lecturer on the
subject Of the" Big Rrown jug" which wears
a hat and the "Mnle" which doesn't, it be-
comes necessary to promote him to the rank
of admiral.
A canal boat, with fair usage and occa-
sonal repairs, barring wrecks, it is said
lasts from ten to fifteen years, when it be-
comes necessary to rebuild it. Or account
Of the number which from time to time are
condemned and laid up" it is now sell
dom that boat is built entirely of new
timber. They are generally rebuilt, when
they are as good as new. During this win
ter, eighteen boats have been SO rebuilt at
the Weissport yard and three at a smaller
yard, also in charge Of Commodore Weiss,
at the Weigh Lock at Mauch Chunk. This
has kept from twenty to twenty-five beat
builders at work steady during this time,
and about this number are kept employed
at all times. These boats are all of about the
same tonnage, carrying an average of nine
| ty-seven tons Of coal. They are built in
two styles, the strait boat and the boat
which is built in two disrinct sections and
joined together by long wrought-iron hinges.
Each one is provided with a comfortable
cabin, which is intended to accommodate two
persons with sleeping quarters, but are Of
ten made to accommodate much larger
number, the boatman not unfrequently
taking his family with him, making his
boat his place of abode, and it also has q
small forcastle wnere feed for the horses is
stored. The boats are substantially. built
crafts, and costs when entirely new, about
81 900, but rebuilding is done at half this
cost on an average.
With the exception Of the so-caled Line
boats, and those rented from the Morris
Canal, which are run by the Lehigh Coal
and Navigation Company, the boats are
virtually, and sometimes wholly, the prop
erty of the boatnen, and these are called
contract boats. The New York Line, which
included 25 boats leased from the Morris
Canal, last year had 20 boats with an aver
age tonnage 9s, made an average of trips
forth and back, and delivered 20 ,45O tons OF
coal. The number of boats on this line will
be increased to 90 the coming season. The
Philadelphia Line, numbering G7, made an
average Of Al trips, with % tons, deliv-
cred 27,04l tons of coal. There were last
season 80 contract boats running on the
Canal, in which the Company own assets
amounting to $53,336. These boats are sold
10y lease to the. .boatnien, a fair price being
set upon the boat when the contract is made,
the boatInan runs the boat at his own ex-
pense and risk, and pays to the Company a
per Gentage Of the freight. When the ag-
gregate payments amount to the originally
stipulated price of the boat, it becomes the
property Of the boatman but in the past
years of dull business it is a great evil to own
Il boat, as it is struck from the list. and in
loading at Conlport it sails up to the pockets
at the rear end Of the line to be loaded, and
finds Nothing to load with, the freight on
which is paid in tat money. Hence the
boatman now often sells his boat for what
he can get for it, sometimes even for $40,
and buys another boat on the same condi-
tons that bought the first one. In view OF
this fact the Company sets a small price on
the boat, and often pays the faithful boat.
man good price for it in return, in order
to stimulate honesty IN the faithful perform
ance of contracts The written contract is a
very binding one, and the boat is badge OF
: honor to the boatman when paid for al
though it may be of little pecunary value,
thus being not unlike some political officers.
II was very different from this years ago
when Hon. Asa Packer, now President OF
the Lehigh Valley Railroad, was the Cap
tain of a canal boat mot Commodore, as Mr.
Weiss now is of aeet) and the present dis
tinguished banker and member of Congress
Hon. Robert KlotE was a tow-path boy
Then there was pecuniary consideration
in being boat-owner on the Lehigh Canal
Aud when this Cruel war" in busnes.
matters has collapsed, it we will, we sincere.
ly hope, be so again.
The Weissport boat yard was established
by the Co. ten years ago, although boat:
had been built there years before by Edward
Weiss, father of the present Superintendent
1t Is one Of those necessities which Goa
mining and shipping has called into exist
ence. There are many pleasant and anus
, ing memories connected with the location
In the first place it is located in the suberb,
Of Mackereltown, so named by the late Ed
r ward Weiss to commemorate an event YEAR
ago when one Of the present highly respect
able citizens OF Franklin purchased a lot o