St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-08-14
WORK IN WHALEBACKS
Capt. McDougaFs Great Industry
in Operation at the Head
of Lake Superior.
Big Territory Covered and Bust
ness Done by Inspectors of
Vessels for the Du-
Iuth District.

Capts. John Monaghan ana M. F.
Chalk, of Duluth, were in the city yes
terday to confer with the supervising
inspector of steam vessels. These gem
tlemen are the local inspectors of YES
sells for the Duluth district. Their ter
ritory covers an area of about thousand
miles square, and is one of the most
important districts in the United States.
The tonnage of vessels inspected by
them is probably greater than that of
any other district. The Duluth district
not only takes the important harbor OF
Duluth and Superior, but includes the
thousands of lakes in the state of Min
nesota and the states to the north and
west, the Mississippi river, from
Wabasha to the head of naviga-
ton, the Red River of the North
and the Missouri river from Peoria to
the head waters thereof. The vessels
inspected by them thus far during the
season number 1877. and will run up to
about 100 before the season ends. The
steam vessels in this district have been
largely increased the past six years.
The duties of these inspectors compel
them to do great amount of travelling
during the year. Aside from. the work
OF inspecting vessels in The vicinity of
Duluth and Superior, they were obliged
last year to be away from home for
siXty-two days inspecting vessels. They
have found it necessary to have an office
clerk, but are not authorized by the
treasury department to employ one.
They find it hard to convince the in
SpectOr general of this need, but it is
hoped that Gen. Dumont will realize
the Importance of the district and grant
their reasonable request.
A no incOnSiderable part of the duties
of the inspectors is that required of
them at their station at the extreme
western end of Lake Superior. There
are multitude of vessels entering Du-
luth harbor that are inspected by them.
1t is in their district that the extensive
Shipyard at West Superior is located.
This yard is well known as the Me
Dougall whaleback" steamship yards.
These yards are active with wOrkmen
this season in building the we'll known
steel, coal and iron ore freighters. Four
whalebackS have been turned out this
season and six more are in course of
construction. These boats are built en-
tirely of steel and are of immense
capacity. They are suitable for either
lake or ocean traffic, and are built for
the American Steamship company. The
yards are the most extensive III the
United States, employing about 1900
men constan thy.
Col. McDougall is making new vent
ure in the way of passenger steamer.
The hull Of the vessel is OF the same
model as the freighters, and will be sur
mounted by wooden cabin of special
design. Work has already been COM
menced Oh this vessel, and it will be
completed for exhibition at the Column
bian Exposition next year. This boat
will be $50 feet long and twenty-four
feet depth of hold. The cabin will ex-
tend the full length of the water tight
and sealed hull, with row of state
rooms on either side. There is no SIM
liar steamer in existence, and this one
will be novel and serviceabie as freight
and passenger vessel.
There is an immense dry dock in
course of construction at the yard. This
dock is 600 feet long, with sloping sides.
Its breadth at the bottom is IS feet, and
at the top los feet. 1t will be capable
of holding four of the ordinary whale
backs, with room for workmen to repair
all at one time, in case of emergency.
Two pumps will he used to exhaust the
water from the dock when boats are
run into it. Col. McDougal has said
that it will require but three hours to
empty the water out of the dock with
the two pumps. 1t is apparent that
this well-equipped yard is destined to
make the twin cities at the head OF
LAX Superior famous.