The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1893-01-20
LAKE TRANSPORTATION IN MID
WINTER.
How"The T. & A. A. Ry. Boats Garry
Long Freight Trains Across Lake
MICHIGAN

How"The T. & A. A. Ry. Boats Garry
Long Freight Trains Across Lake
Michigan.
Anything that tends to build up the traffic
of the Toledo, Ann Arbor Il North Michi-
gan Railway is OF interest to all our readers,
particularly those in OwossO, as an exten-
sion or the business of the road means an
Increase OF the number of employees, both on
the road and in the car shops. The recent
experiment of carrying long freight trains
across Lake Michigan in mid-winter over the
wild waves of the winter storms and through
the field of floating ice has so far proven
marked success. The details of these
trips, taken from Milwaukee paper, are
as follows: ''Twenty-four cars are carried
on the boats each trip. The cars are easily
loaded, in fact, so rapidly does the work of
putting the cargo OF railway rolling, stock
go on, that in less than two hours from the
time tie boat docks she is ready to leave
again. The cars are run down on the dock
tracks, at the end of which is a heavy apron.
When the Ann Arbor enters the harbor it
goes up the river until it comes opposite its
slip. Then, by the aid of its two stern
screws and single bow wheel, it turns its
stern toward the slip and backs to the docks.
The apron is dropped down so that the rails
thereon form a connecting link between the
Heavy iron straps are then put on to make
practically impossible any movement of the
boat sufficiently to derail car. Then the
cars are run on the ferry, six of them on each
of the four tracks. Wedges are used be-
tween the cars and the heavy timbers sup
porting the upper deck, some of which are
located In the space separating the several
tracks. To make them more secure still,
blocks are put against the side of the out
side cars and by the use of jackscrews
placed against other timbers possibility Of a
weaving of the cars is prevented. With
chains and irons passed over both trucks of
the cars and secured to staples i'm the floor
of the deck the car is kept from rolling on
its wheels, and then men are stationed on
the deck, to watch the cars, and if any Of
the screws or toggle used to secure them
work loose they are Immediately tightened,
and additional faStenings are used, If re-
quired. Thus the possibility of a movement
OF the cars is removed as remotely as pos
sible. This requires time, but not so much
as was anticipated. Yesterday the boat
arrived at 7:45 and at 9:45 it had discharged
its cargo of cars of coal and miscellaneous
wares, and had its twenty-four cars OF flour
on the deck ready to leave her slip for the
lake. So rapidly can the boat be loaded in
this.manner that the trip has been made from
the loading, in sixteen hours.
The Ann Arbor No. 2 arrived about ten
days ago and is now making regular trips
across the lake. She is stronger built
boat than the No. 1, being better braced
and five feet longer. Both boats are SEEM
ngly perfect in construction, good sailors
and easily handled Whether they are sue
cesses from financial point of view de-
pend upon whether carrying cars that dis
tance across water on boats costing $500, 900
each will pay. The company figures that
it costs So per car to send on the ferry,
whereas it would cost 81 the other way, be-
sides breaking bulk which this avoids, one
of the principal advantages of the scheme.
The trains are made up at Frankfort i'm
mediately on arrival, and are run through
without break to New York. The boats
do their part Of the work well, and make
good time for freights spinning along at an
average of ten miles an hour. With the
three wheels they can be easily handled,
whe ther they have rudder or not. Their
bow-whecls are of great advantage in ice
breaking. but Capt. Kelley thinks 1t has
| tendency to pull the nose to the starboard
somewhat, and this may have done its share
toward throwing the Ann Arbor vessel No.
out of her course imperceptibly.
They are expensive boats to run, about
thirty men are being employed on each boat.
1t cost about $4,000 to release the Ann
Arbor No. from the sand bar on which
she was recently locked, but the boat is now
evidently not dollar the worse for the ex
| perience."
A visit to the L. &c A. yards and depot at
almost any hour of the day or night will
enable our readers to see the long lines
of Minneapolis flour cars which are enabled
to pass through Owosso in seeking their
far eastern destination by.reasOn of the en-
terprise OF the Ashley's in putting into oper-
alton the big freight boats.