The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-07-19

JEFFERSONVILLE, JuIy 14.-Spe-
ciaI.-No city either on the Ohio or Mis-
sissippi rivers has such distinction for
boat building as that of Jeffersonville.
The finest, the fastest and the most
thoroughly equipped steamers that ever
piled the bosom of the western waters
have been constructed here, hence the
fame achieved for the city. Such mag
nificent specimens of marine architec-
ture as the John w Cannon, James NJ.
White. Idlewild, Frank Pargoud and
numerous other boats whose days are
passed are among the number that have
been constructed at the ship yards here
and made for their owners independent
fortunes.
"Steamboating," said an old river
man to The Sentinel correspondent this
morning, lis not so good as it was years
ago. but there is more thrift in this di-
rection, a new impetus as it were, that
gives me much confidence and which
causes me to believe that in few more
years steamboating will again assume
its old-time attitude and that transpor-
tation by river will almost equal that
by rail-
AT the Fry-Sweeney yard that COM
pany is building a tow boat for Capt.
NJ. G.. Allen for the st. Louis harbor.
The boat is now receiving its finishing
touches and will be ready to leave for
its destination within a few weeks. This
tow boats dimension is: Length over
all, 145 feet; beam, feet, and depth OF
hold, AFFECT. She is supplied with three
steel boilers "a feet in length and ~
inches in diameter. She is also supplied
inders and feet stroke. The boat is
TO have electric lights together with all
improvements that go to make her sea-
worthy. A dredge boat is being built
at this yard for Capt. Miller of New
Orleans. A full force of men are en-
ployed at this yard and the outlook for
work is good during the summer and
winter.
At Towards yard, which is said to
be one of the oldest in the United States,
there are several boats under way. The
first is the cotton steamer. City of Cam
den, intended to ply the Ouachita trade.
The boat when completed will have a
carrying capacity of 5000 bales of cot
ton. She is 175 feet long, SO feet beam
and AZ depth of hold. She will have two
engines, IA inch cylinders and 6 feet
stroke. Two boilers will be required to
furnish steam.
The John Howard, named in honor of
the late senior member of the firm, is
mOOred at this yard to be rebuilt. For
twenty-five years this craft has piled
the Ouachita trade and its tributaries
and has never met with an accident.
The boat will be renamed THE New
John Howard" She is to be $50 feet
long, 81 feet beam and feet depth Of
hold. The machinery and boilers used
on the old Howard, and which are COM
paritively new, will be transferred TO
this steamer. The boat will be complet-
ed and ready to go south not later than
next winter.
A transfer, full cabin steamer for the
Little Rock and Arkansas river trade is
also under construction and will be
pushed to completion. This boat is AS
feet in length, 2S feet beam and 3 feet
depth of hold. She is to have two en-
gines of 10 inch cylinders and 4 feet
stroke. She will have two boilers, 16
feet long, 80 inches in diameter anG of
four fues each.
The finest boat now on the ways at
these yards is intended for the Louis
vile and Cincinnati mail line company.
This steamer is being built to take the
place of the Fleetwood and when COM
pleted she will be magnificent in all APP
pointments The boat is to be named
the "City of Louisville" She will be
| 300 feet long, ~ feet beam and feet
depth of hold. The "City of Louisville
will have two engines, 30 inches in
| diameter, 10 feet stroke. Seven boilers
will be required to furnish steam. The
| new boat will have a full cabin and
"texas" and $50 state rooms. She is be-
| ing built for speed and light freight
! and her average running time will he
| about fifteen miles per hour. The dis
| tance between Cincinnati and Louisville
| Is 1876 miles, although by steamboatmen
| IL is called $50 miles. The fastest time
/ ever mode between these points was ac-
! complished by the old Telegraph. which
made the run in nine hours and fifty-one
| minutes. Such steamboats, as the Alvin
| Adams, Buckeye State, Allegheny and
| other crack boats of her class made sew
/ eral attempt but il was never beaten.
] The Towards are finishing the last
J of thirty-four barges for the government
4 and intended for the Mississippi river
commission. They are building for the
| government an experimental dredgt
| boat to work between st. Louis and
| Cairo The Towards since they have
been in the boat building business, dat.
| ing back to 1850, have constructed 551
4 To- ffc