Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1895-06-20
SHIPS LIKE NEEDLES.
NEW SHAPE FOR VESSELS INVENTED
BY a WASHINGTON MAN.
He Thinks It VIII Revolutionixe the Ship
ping Industry-Buut Expressly For the
Central and south American Trade.
Looks Like % Success.

LOOKS Like u success.
In a few days the Howard Cassard,
the first specimen Of the new type Of
pecan vessel, viii make her trial trip
down the Potomac river from her dock
at Alexandria The Cassard was bailt
at Baltimore, but she has been lying at
the Alexandria dock for a year fitting
mp for this trial. She was brought to
Alexandria to be completed because the
Arrow Steamship company, which own
her, started TO build IN ocean vessel Of
this type at Alexandria and was driven
almost into bankruptcy by attacks made
on the new ship by a New York news
paper. Mr.. Fryer, the inventor Of the
improvements in ship construction to
be found in the new vessel, had a feel
ing about sending the Cassard On her
trial trip from the wharf from which
the Pocahontas would have started if
her construction had been completed.
ANY one who knows nothing what
even about ship construction and no
more about ships than al be scan from
a dock would be interested in the Cas-
Gard because Of her odd shape. She is
only i6 feet across at the widest point,
yet she is a seagoing vessel, and her
owners expect to put her in the Central
American ~-ade from New Orleans or
from some point on the Florida coast
Mr.. Flyers idea Of the usefulness Of
the new type Of vessel is associated with
the development Of the Central Ameri-
can republics. BE has two engineering
schemes which be thinks will open up
the interior of these mountainous coun-
tries where now only the pack mule can
carry freight This road, MIR. Fryer
says. he can construct at a cost Of
$40. 900 or $12, 600 a mile. There is I'M
doubtedly a fortune for the man or men
who viii find a means Of opening up
the interior Of Honduras and other Of
the little republics.
The construction Of the Howard Cas-
sard is not exactly what the construc-
tion Of the larger vessels Of the type
will be. In the Cassard the boilers ex-
tend above the engine deck, and the two
smokestacks stand out above the ship
Juch DaDh VI NJb "AtCllibieEs III tlAt
Transatlantic vessels Of this type the
stacks will be carried up at the sides Of
the vessel, and there will be nothing 10
break the line Of the saloon from
end TO the other of the ship. The n
gines are all below the cabin deck in
the Cassard They will be below the
water line in the big vessel They are
a great part of the weight which pre-
serves the specific gravity of the ship.
1t was a serious question in the minds
of some people when Mr.. Fryer made
his plans public whether the new vessel
could be kept upright in the water. Some
people asserted that she would turn over
and sink to the bottom on the first trial
A newspaper asserted that Nh. Fryer
knew this and that he was ~practicing a
s'bunko'' game. This paper has been
sued for 81, 900, 900 by the company.
Against a great deal Of encouragement
the promoters Of the Arrow company
have gone ahead with the slow develop
ment Of the Fryer plan. They have now
q working model 222 feet long, which
cost $50, 900, and which has not only
hoated, but weathered quite a little
gale in the Chesapeake bay. And her
captain reports that while the wind was
blowing about 40 miles an hour the
Cassard rode the water as easily as
though she were standing at her dock.
In the transatlantic vessel Of the Ar
row 1ype there will be two cabin decks,
each lined with staterooms. No smoke
stacks will make a break in the line of
the saloon ON the cabin decks, and the
engines win not rise through the saloons
as they do ON the great Atlantic liners
now. In this respect the new vessel spg-
gests the Mississippi river steamboats,,
with their long saloon cabins opening
into staterooms on each side. In the
smaller vessel there is no break in the
passageway between the staterooms for
the engine. That is entirely in the hold
OF tho vessel. lis weight is so, 600
pounds, and there is o 20, 600 pound
keel of iron, which assists the engines
to keep the center Of gravity below the
water line and to prevent the vessel
turning over. 1t is in ibis line of state.
rooms, extending down the sides of the
vessel, that she appears remarkable TO
the casual observer.
Imagine a sleeping car afioat, and you
win get q good idea Of what the How
ard Cassard win be when she starts out
next fall TO take party of 90 excursion
lists to Central America TO investigate
the possibilities of commercial develop
ment there. The vessel. through its en-
tire length, IL divided at regular inter
walls into sections" or staterooms. The
sections will be divided from the aisle
by hangings, which will insure partial
privacy at all times. The staterooms
will have doors, which will guarantee
absolute privacy. There will be a com
mon dressing room at one end-the stern
for men, and another common dress
ing room at the other end for women
There will be no dining room, for the
meals will be served as on a buffet car,
ON little tables which can be set up in
each section. Each section will have its
upper and lower berths, which will fold
AVA during the day. Most private
yachts now have the upper berths of the
S1aapiu0 oor hut tho introduction of tho