The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-03-11
WORK ON THE WAYS.
What has Been Done at the Boat
Yards this Winter..-A New Craft.
Repairs, etc.

work is accomplished at such continu>
Gus disadvantage as that of rebuilding
and repairing steamboats,. Generally
speaking. this industry is the most active
during the most disagreeable season of
the year and the mechanic must be ex>
posed to the cutting winds and frigid
blasts which come direct from the icy
sheet which covers the river. And there
is scarcely any trade where more mechan-
ical and Mathematical genius is required.
Exactness in every angle is essential in
every part of vessel which is to aoat up
on the water.
Kahlke Brothers ways below the city,
is, during the winter lime, as active
scene as can be found am where on the
upper Mississippi, with the exception
perhaps, of the Diamond 10 yards at Du
buque An ARGUS reporter visited the
ways at the lower end of the city the
other day. and through the courtesy of
one OF the members of the firm, was &C
corded an opportunity for seeing what
had been done during the season, which
is Just drawing to close.
The most important of the work done
by Kahlke Brothers this winter, was the
building of new cruiser for l. and J. c.
Alice the well known firm of Fit Madi
son. The craft is now ready for the ma
chinery, and will be launched two weeks
hence If the ice is out The model, in the
opinion of experienced steamboatmen
who have seen it. is undoubtedly the finest
on the upper Mississippi. The length is
100 feet over all, with astwenty-one foot
beam. The boat has no upper cabin or
texas; it was built for towing and eXcur.
sion purposes, there being a cabin on the
| first or main deck. Above, are the pilot
house and closets only. 1t is built for
machinery was manufactured by Schil-
| linger & Trumble, of Moline, Mr. Ben
Wilson, of this city. having charge of the
sheet iron and steam fitting. The ems
gines will have four feet stroke, and the
boat will be clipper-onc that will
make an ything that plows the Mississippi
above st. Louis husband a gem in ap>
pearance besides. The craft has not yet
been named.
Among the boats which have been re-,
paired is the Moline, owned by DImock,
Gould & Co, Of Moline, which has been
heightened fifteen feet. making her 40
feet long now and giving beautiful
model, besides furnishing ample room in
the forecasIlc for her kit and fuel She
has been provided with new main deck,
new hog chains, new braces, new rudders,
new cylinder timbers and calked and
overhauled generally-in fact made as
good as new.
The Molines two baTges the
John Burns and Florence-have
received attention. Both have been
calked, repaired and reprinted and the
Florence given new roof and fitted up
for rafting barge
The J. S Keator, owned by the J. S.
Keator lumber company of Moline and
Davenport has been generally repaired;
plankng, decking and nosing has been
done and new hog chains, braces and
rudders put in
The Golden Gate, owned by Coleman
Bro theirs, of Davenport, has been given a
new deck and deck frame and guard all
around. New cylinder timbers have been
added and new engines put in. The
large contracts which this firm have fOf
the coming season will soon pay for the
Improvements made in their boats
The saltwater, owned By the Rock
island Lumber company, has undergone
general repairs. She has new rudders, a
new cabin floor, considerable new plank
Ing and decking and put in first class
style in every respect
The st. Croix. owned until this season,
by Christ Mueller, of Davenport, but now
the property of Mr.. Mueller and Captain
John OConnOr, of this city, jointly, has
been completely ovcrhauled and the
marks OF improvement are shown in
every direction.
The Lone Star, owned by Rebuer &
Coos, the Davenport sand firm, has been
put in good condition, and will be traded
off this season for fine stern wheeler,
which will serve for towing and exCur-
sion business, as well.
The excursion and pleasure barge from
the lower island has been calked and re-
paired, and the city dump boat is await
ing a new deck and other necessary re,
pairs.
ALONG SHORE.
Captain Frank Martin of Mai McKen.
zie's force, who returned from Keokuk
yesterday, says that the ice is disturbed
there and threatens to 90 out at any
time.
Clint Pyle, of Kcokuk, who is to be
first engineer of Atlee's new boat, is il
the city for the purpose of putting in the
machinery and taking the new beauty out
on her first trip.
Capt. James Best has resigned COM
mand of the Diamond 10 line steamer
Sidney. He goes into the hotel business
at Grenola, Kan. Capt. James Corbett
of the Libbie Conger, will take charge OF
the Sidney, A. l.. Dawly assuming Capt
COrbett's boat
The river is open to Alton, and boat
are making regular trips between tina