Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-08-14
ONE OF TIE IMPORTANT EARLY INDUSTRIES
OF WHEELING.
Some Of the Packets Which Have Been Con-
sruc.sd BY Captain Swesney-Enormoas
Profits During the War-hterest-
ing history Of Some Packets

the most elegant and SuOStanttal 10 tue
South, we're the product Of Wheeling
workmanship. Several reasons con-
tributed to a decline in boat building,
but In the past few years there has
been a reaction, and some excellent
steamers have been constructed.
Wheeling FIRST attracted attention as
a steamboat building city, along In the
twenties. when several boats were con-
structed az the North Wheeling yards.
Iu 1880 Thomas Sweeney purchased
two and a half acres OF land az the
present site OF the North Wheeling
pottery. In the succeeding few years
several boats were built, among them
the "Tri-colOr," which afterwards blew
b ND az the mouth Of the creek. Steam
boats OF those days compare with mod
ern craft, Just about as the daguerreO-
types OF the same period compare with
photographs Of to-day. Yet in point Of
speed some OF the early steamers,
+ notably the Lee and hatcher, have
seldom been exceIled by modern pack
sts.
In 1854 the North Wheeling yard
came into possession Of
CAPT. A. j. SWEENEY
and he has been in the business contin-
.luously ever since. He has constructed
about one hundred and fifty steamboats,
in that time and some OF them have
never been excelled In workmanship or
In speed. Capt. Sweeney brought the
benefit OF practical experience on the
river into the building OF his boats.
The first steamer which he built was
the "Ariel," a small boat for Wilson q
Dunlevy. The next was the Courier,
a fast packet built for Capt. J. n. Rob
erts, which was run In the wheeling
and Parkersburg trade. IL was after
wards sold TO st. Louis parties and was
lost 10 an attack upon Island No. 10,
during the late war.
In those days railroads had not pierre
ed every section OF the States along the
Ohio, and the bulk OF travel was done
by river. In some years Capt. Sweeney
built eight or nine boats. In 1864 the
largest packet ever constructed in this
city. the CITY OF PEORIA" was lRUDch-
ed at the North Wheeling boat yards
II was 200 feet IN length and 80 feet
beam, which is considerably larger than
any OF the packets ia the Cincinnati and
Pittsburg trade. The Peoria" was
widened later, and sunk In the Mississ-
ippi. A few years later Capt. Sweeney
built the est. Marys," which be took
charge OF himself, aud run In different
trades between Pi;tsburg and New Or
leans. IL sunk IN the lower Mississippi
Capt. II. J.. Sweeney, brother Of A.
~, who Is now on the Ouachita river
iu Arkansaw, was associated with Capt.
A. j. IN those days.
THE SMALLEST BOAT
ever built here was In SO. 1t was built
for Mr.. Shipman, OF Rochester, y. Y,
for use Of himself and family. it was
but 60 feet 10 length and IL feet wide,
but was furnished IN an elaborate man
ner. Capt Sweeney regards the I. T.
feathers as the finest boat ever built at
Wheeling. IL was launched In 1855,
and was probably the fastest boat on the
Mississippi. It struck q snag after
running several years and went TO the
bottom. Among the most successful
packets built here, are the Nettie Quill,
and the Stella Wilde. The former Is
conceded TO be the fastest boat now
running on the Alabama river, while
the Wilde is a mail packet on the MissIs-
sippi, and is seldom passed.
The hulls and cabins OF boats were
built at the North Wheeling yards until
about the close Of the war. Owing to
q difficulty in securing timber at paying
rates, the hulls are now secured else
where. OF late years nearly all Of the
bOatsfOr which Sweeney 4 Son furnish
the equipment, are constructed az
Brownsville, Pa, In tbs heart OF the
timber country. "The Sunshine" will be
launched at Brownsville this week, and
will be brought down % this city 20 re-
ceive its machinery. Capt. Berry's new
boat will also be ready in a short time.
Both OF these packets will be very fast.
The ordinary life of q packet is ten
or twelve years, after which time the
repairs consume the profits. Capt.
Sweeney's success in building steamers
IS attributable 90 the fact that economy
in fuel and speed are points not lost
sight Of In their construction. An i'm
proved valve gear, and patent attach
ment OF rudders and steering appa-
ratus have also been Introduced.
TIE MINNESOTA"
built in 1864, is an exceptiO nally long
lived packet After serving number
OF years as a passenger packet between
St. Paul and ST. Louis. 10 is now in use
on a southern river on a transfer boat,
aud It's machinery is said 20 be in
good order yet. Capt. Sweeney built
another packet 10 80, which is
still running. The "ROver," the first
towboat used by Capt. Il. G. Gray in
building up the celebrated Gray's Iron
Line, was constructed in Wheeling in
1853, and Is said 20 have made $50, 900
for its owner during that year. Her
machinery is still in use on tOwbOat
now running. The machinery on the
ill-fated LOOMS, which collided with
the "SciotO" some years ego, was built
By the SweeneyS for another boat.
Among the boats constructed in
Wheeling which have an interesting his
tory was the "a. j. Sweeney" built for
Capt. Hill, OF s.. Louis, In 90, and later
sold TO parties who used 10 Oh the Cum
berland river. While leaving Nashville
on one trip the packet struck bridge
pier, was broken and sunk. Part Of it's
hull was bulk-heaGed and raised, and
with all the machinery, brought 70
Wheeling and placed on the docks az
Wilson & Dunlevy's yard. II was re-
built, named the "Bertrant," aud after
ward sunk In the Missouri river, and
was lost.
Among the later boats built here was
the "AppalaChee, finished about two
years ago, rnd now used as a transfer
boat on the ChattahoOchie River. in
Florida. 1t is, so far as known, the
only composite boat ever built, and has
been very successful. It's frame, keel, |