The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-02-07
THE JESSE K. BELL.
A Full Description of a Beautiful
Steamer,

When the famous Eclipse was built. It was
eRld she would be the last ane. fast steamboat
that would ever be built. During the latter
mart or the late war II was the current opinion
that the days or steamboating we're num-
bered. and that our rivers would run Idly to
waste on account of railroads that were built,
and others that were to be built In this coun-
try. In both cases public expression has gone
for nothing. On the contrary finer and faster
boats than tho Eclipse have been built and.
with all the railroads now In operation In this
country, we have more steamboats, plying
our great rivers and their tributaries than
were ever known before In the history of
navigation. Aside from this. with all the
railroads. river travel and transportation
ID such ia to give all the boats plenty to do.
and Ii IL On tho Increase. Consequently. the
more business the more boats. During
the past year or two a large number
OF steamboats, have boon built to ply the
various trades of the Ohio and Mississippi
rivers and their tributaries. most of which have
been built here, and all of which have been sue
cessful So far. we may mention among the
list such boats IA the Robert b. Lee. John w.
Cannon. ed Richardson. }. Nj. White aud City
OF Greenville. all of which have won for them
the Cannon and White being the two fastest
and finest steamboats, In this country. 1t Il our
that our builders aud mechanics ara now ready
to add another 10 the line Of fine. fast ones, Of
which they should feel proud W. refer g the
packet Jesse IL, Bell, now lying at the city wharf.
aud will leave here tomorrow afternoon at y
O'Clock for New Orleass direct. to meet with
such an ovation upon her arrival there as the
beautiful steamer and her gallant cautain and
crew are Justly entitled to.
The hull, cabin and painting OF this beautiful
steamer was the work of the famous Towards,
of Jeffersonvlle They have fully sustained
their well earned reputation Ia building the
durability. having been built for No. cotton
boat. 1t is 225 feet long. 10 eet hsam aud ~ feet
depth Of hold. The cabn Is full length upon
which Is a texas nearly as large as the cabin.
and upon that the ptlothouse. which puts the
finishing touch 70 her general outside beautiful
appearance. The entire boat ia painted inside
and out IN pure zinc gloss white. The, variee-
gated rays Of light stealing through the stained
9lass skylights aud doors add richness
To the inner or main cabin beautiful to
behold. The rooms are very large. aud
comfortable, the bridal chambers are beau
ties, the nursery large and comfortable;
and all tho conyenienees that could add
TO the comfort of passengers are to be found In
and about the cabin of this fine steamer. The
" lifted up. and the ,ors IN the forward saloon
barber shop. pantry. halls and gangways are
inlaid with OAK aud walnut Diamond. shaped.
but the name OF another cabin of lesser .sza,
but almost equally rs handsome. The collred
passengers have the same comforts aud eonve-
NJ.
and the officers Department IL entirely separate
from any . her portion Of the upper cabin,
Both cabins are surrounded BY fancy ratings
and haDdt ONE st.iiways, leading 70 roomy
promanadeS upon the outside The designing
OF the entire upper works Of the Bell was done
with an eye to com fort safety. beauty and con
ventence and the Towards eeipsed themselves
In this their masterpiece of steamboat archt-
lecture.
Ainslie. Cochran l. Co.. of this city. supplied
the machinery. which Is Il guarantee that this
department is all that constitutes perfection.
She has two engines. each OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
cylinders eight feet stroke, driving wheel
twenty-eight feet In diameter. and thirteen and
half foot bucket. he main journals are
fourteen inches in diameter. Aside from the
main engines, there Is q doctor. donkey. Mig
Rer"-enEines Tor capstans aud fire. pumps. A
line of iron pipe ines thee bin guards the entire
length and breadth of the boat so that In case
OF fire from one ~ ten streams OF water can be
thrown at moments notice These pumps
Also supply the reservoirs with ho. and cold
water at all times. and these res Iseirs supply
The bath rooms and water closets ID the ladies'
and gen iemens cabins at ali times She is
perfect In her department OF machinery.
She has battery OF steel boilers that can't be
beat. There ar four of them. each u inches In
diameter 80 feet long aud two fues In each.
She also has q separate boiler for the doctor.
pumps, etc.
Mr.. Charles Walton of the famous Mitchell
boiler yard made them. and they are another
card for him as man who fully understands
his business.
The ehaAf-iron work, chimney ETC.. are the
work OF VIM. Weir. Of this city. who has done