West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1888-08-02
A MONSTER RAFT.
Launching n Huge Timber Shin
i'm the Bay of Fundy.
Thirty Thousand Logs Worth $780,
600 Bound for New York.

The monster log raft, or, rather, clog
ship, that has boen completed for James d.
Leary, OF New York city, has been success-
tully launched into the Bay of Fundy at jog
gins, Nova Scotia.
The monster fabric has been readv for
launching during the past three weeks, but
tne builders were awaiting the big midsum.
mer tide, which at that point every year
reaches height of over sixty feet When
.he tiue was at Its highest point at noon,
Launching day, over ono hundred feet OF the
ra1t was floating in the water.
AZ given signal hundred heavy check
blocks were Knocked away few pieces
OF timber cut away, and then the fate of tho
raft depended upon a few strokes of the
ram about mtdships where the shores were
50 arranged that il was only necessary
20 knock out one OF them. After
the hrst two strokes tho raj
started. The descent was not rapid When
it struck the water the raft kept head up and
skinned along gracefully. The speed de.
creased perceptibly as the last 200 feet left the
iaunohways Clouds Of smoke caused by fric
ton almost obscured tho last half OF the raft
from view, but IL soon cleared Off. The impe.
tus gwen II sent the monster about an eighth
OF a mile out 20 sea and thus the 90, 600 tons
OF logs slid gracefully into the water. The
ocean tug Morse, which is the largest and
strongest tug in those waters was in readi-
ness TO make fast 20 the raft, and IL was
towed out into the bay. The Morse started
tow. '''N''J
Two of the employees, Harding Parsons
ana JACK Carter, stood on top OF the raft
when it was launched. The raft has been In
course OF construction since last March, work
having been begun on IL Immediately after
the loss OF the big raft that tho steamer
Miranda let 20 adrift
Three hundred mon were constantly
employed upon IL under the direction OF
n. X. Robertson who has tho structure
OF the raft patented. It was built upon
an enormous cradle, 3oOJO sticks OF timber
and seventy-five tons OF steel wire
rope being used in its construction
but with a certain number OF logs stuck nm.
right In the fashion OF masts, and secured
with wire rigging
The present structure Is larger than the
ratt which went 20 pieces off Nantucket
last winter Tho first raft was $40
feet long. The present structure Is nearly
700 feet long sixty feet in width, thirty
iVe feet deep and will draw
twenty-five feet OF water. It contains near.
ly 30 900 sticks of timber, varying in length
from twenty-five 20 l75 feet bolted 10.
gether, besides being lashed with wire
rope, which was imported into Canada
free OF duty ON the ground of DO.
lng used as ships rigging. The timbers cost
$4,000. The towage contract TO New York
by tho big tug b. W. Morse OF Maine, will
be 500 per day.
Inc value OF the logs In New Y York will he
about S5O,OOO IL sawed into lumber a feet
of 100 schooners or fifty railroad trains of
nifty cars each would be needed 20 TRANSPORT
IL is designed TO tow the raft through
Long Island sound and the East river TO the
Erie basin where the craft will DO broken up
and tho logs sold. The structure of the craft
has been patented by II. H. Robertson, n
contractor, who II this time successful, will
continue TO ship lumber In this fashion.
Vessel owners are opposed TO the scheme,
and the Provincial Legislature at its next ses-
sion will be appealed 10 for the purpose OF
having law enacted 10 prohibit the building
aud sailing OF such RATS; for, IL successful,
such traffic will destroy the shipowners'
| trade. Dealers who depend on the railroads
will also be utterly unable 20 compete with
the lumber brought by the raft
Should the present " timber ship go 10
pieces the United States government will
| probably be asked 30 prevent such ventures
| in future. Meanwhile the course of the un-
wieldy raft will be watched with much in
| terest
The raft as IL now floats Is about two
| thirds submerged. Two tow chains are
securely fastened through the timbers OF the
raft The ends are planted. and an anchor
! is attached forward.