Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1882-01-18

beyond, stretching into the distance
extends the feet of coal-laden boats an
barges-a peninsula hemmed about b.
the rivers bright surface during day
light; at night blackness merged int,
the surrounding gloom for all eyes saw
the marvellously trained organs of tn
men at the wheel. Aft of the pilot
house the twin Escape pipes" rise from
the engine-room, and cough responsive
ly, mingling their snowy breath will
the inky torrents that roll from thei
big brethren the smoke stacks.
From the pilot house lead the tiller
ropes to lever thirty feet long. swing
ing under the ceiling of the engine
room. This operates other levers tha
actuate the four massive rudders undel
the stern of the steamer. Two OF these
extend through the water thirty feet
and their shorter fellows are fifteen fee
long. All sway in unison, and are
moved at the will of the men in the
pilot-bouse. Such boat costs $65, 900
and of this, $40, 900 represents "outft
Under the latter head may be mention
ed 10000 feet of ropes in coils of ,00(
feet each, and of all sizes Seven tons
of ponderous chains, ratchets, blocks
and tackle come into play in binding 6
score of coal craft into solid mass
making this mass, in fact, part and
parcel of the steamer itself And such
is the strain brought upon the steam
ers in this trade that the life of one o
the feet rarely extends over twelve
years And if by reason of strength
they be fifteen, their added years are
only gained by constant repairs, ending
in collapse and wrecking.
Pittsburgh is the homo of a feet oi
l40 tow-boats of the Harry Brown
pattern, but varying in size, power and
finish, from the harbor tug of modest
proportions, costing about $4,000, to
boats of the dimensions of the Brown
And of the latter there are at least
fftF.
Important but humber adjuncts OF
the trade are the hOTey Y craft whose
only Office is to receive coal at the
Pittsburgh mines and retain the same
until the distant market is reached.
These are known as coal boats" and
"barges"- and square. The coal
"boat' is a most primtive-lDoking box
shaped affair, frail in makeup. and ap,
parently as lily adapted to stand rough
usage as q handbox These craft
measure lS0 by 26 by 3 feet, draw
7 ! feet of water when loaded, hold 22,-
900 to 24,000 bushels GAO tons), and
cost $l400 a pair. Their pine sides
are only Il inches thick, and once
strained in swift water, go to pieces,
and scatter their contents along the
river. bed. The coal barge is stur-
dier, smaller oomrade of the boat,
is l60 or 1870 by "a feet, and y feet
deep, drawing 81 when loaded, is
'raked' fore and aft, and will safely
carry from 12,500 to IA 900 bushels
$3.50 tons), ard costs $1,000 each, be-
ing made of heavy pine timber. There
are other coal carrying craft in use,
but those described are the most i'm.
portant forms used in long distance tow
lbk. AIlCE OCiuk uulOudCo ut buClt dCc-
tination they are known as 'emptiers,
and are towed back and refilled /;
and so on until their life is ended,
gradually through successful toll, or
suddenly through the dangers that
lurk on all sides. From the earlier
stages of their journey to the very
latest these clumsy boats and harses
seem the victims of untoward circum-
stances. In the sluggish pools OF the
Monongahela, during the winter
months, ice surrounds and threatens
them, and the coming of the spring
thaw is certain to bring destruction.
Further along their southerly tour, the
perils of the Upper Ohio surrounded
them. A lump may break through
their bottoms while gliding over hid
den bar covered with just enough wa
ter to float the craft, or q snag pierces
the boats frail shell. and vicious wa
ters ripple cheerfully over her gun
wales A loaded boat sinks to within
eighteen or twenty-five inchces of the
surface of the surrounding water, and
the care and skill brought into
play in order to guide and propel fleets
of these deeply laden craft become ap-
parent to the dullest observer,
just at the point where the welded
streams Monongahela and Allegheny
create the Ohio, a motley assembly Of
boats and barges are herded together
during the greater part of the year,
awaiting the pleasure of the clouds
and the dropping of the rains, which
must fall literally in order to release
the waiting craft. At adjacent land
ing the tow-boats are also grouped
during the waterless or icebound
months-the steamers, great and small
whose duties are comparable to those
OF the shepherds collie They must
gather together the coal bearing flock,
keep them in solid phalanx, urge them
along the devious highway, and re-
strain their desire to follow seductive
cross currents. and finally aid in hand
ing them over to the waiting purchas-
er. And most faithfully do these
boats fulfill their mission. A stran-
ger who chances to visit Pitts
burgh on a day when the message,
"Rising at head-waters," gladdens the
heart of the coal-shippers of the Smoky
City, may note in the looks and at the
landings near the city scenes OF stir
ring, often Of surprising, interest.
These locks of the Monongrhela are
all too small for the wants of the coal
men, to whom an hours delay may
mean fortune lost One by one
the laden craft are dropped to the
lower landings, where the tows are
made up. Little tugs cleave the mud
dy water with one, two, or iour bar
ges, and transfer these to tho waiting
monsters. Smoke and steam roll sky
ward, voices hoarsely issue orders
from the "hurricane-deck, mingling
with the bang of gongs and tinkle oi
bells in the engine-rooms capstans