The Saint Paul globe., 1897-07-11
WILL GO TO SCHOOL IN A SHIP,
Novel Plan to- Teach Youngsters the
Practical Sides of Life.

CHICAGO, July 10.-Alderman Miles
Barry went to Mayor Harrisons Of
flee yesterday noon with plans for a
fresh water school ship, the construc-
ton of which is now under way at the
shipyards in Bay City.
The boat is a three -masted schooner,
which is to traverse Lake Michigan
and the other great lakes, and have
on board a complete school for boys
Of from fourteen to eighteen years Of
age.
Prof. J. G.. Lamson, of Bay City, is
the originator of the idea, and he will
eventually have associated with him
noted professors of Michigan and Chi
cago. Boys taken on board will 40
ali the work ordinarily done on ship
board. They will be under an eX-
perienced lake captain and the prin-
cipal of the school.
The officers of the craft will be the
students, who will secure the posi-
tiOns according to the number of merit
marks they receive in their studies and
for good behavior. At the same time
that the students have control of the
schooner their academic development
will be going on.
a three-year course of study will be
offered, and students will be fitted
for college or business. Besides the
principal and the master of the YES
sci, the faculty will contain among
others physician, professor i'll
mathematics and an instructor in Ian
guages.
One of the main ideas of the scheme
is that combining travel with study
will offer the students advantages such
as they could not receive in any other
place. While the studies are going
on the schooner will go up the ST.
Lawrence, stop at all principal ports,
visit Duluth, the great mineral ranges
ON the lakes, all principal lumber and
shipping points and wherever stopping
will enable the pupils to observe the
practical operations of everyday busl-
ness life. Students who are good in
their conduct will have full liberty at
every port, while the unruly ones will
be under guard.
The schooner will have accommoda-
tiOns for sixty persons, about fifty of
whom will lie pupils. The length of
the boat will be 125 feet over ALL twen-
ty-siX feet beam, and she will draw IN
ballast nine feet. She will be rugged
with gaff topsails, SO as to reduce
the danger of going alOft to the mini
mum.
David Lumgair the naval architect
of Bay City, designed the boat, and is
supervising her construction. stock
company will back the scheme, and
the work of building will be finished
Feb. l. Students will be received on
board at that time, and the boat viii
lie in harbOr until April l.
April l the long spring and summer
cruise will begin. The boat will lie
at Chicago for a short time, and then
go north into the waters of Lake Su~
periOr, afterWard taking in the Quebec
country during the heated term.
Alderman Barry is enthusiastic over
the boat and the work she is to ac-
cCmplish. He said: aside from the
academic education pupils will receive,
the marine training will be of value
to them all their lives. The greatness
OF Chicago as a marine port is not
waning, but just beginning, and the
more well educated lake men we can
have in the business the better it will
be. L know the Bay City men interest
ed in the boat They are responsible,
and I am certain the idea will be a
success.
II hope to see the Chicago end of
the school made a most important one
and shall work to that end. For
young boy the discipline Of the ship,
the freedom Of the water, the work
and play and travel combined will be
something wonderful The idea of such
a ship has often been suggested be-
fore, but never undertaken until now.
1t is purely an educational scheme in
which the money part will be an effort
to realize enough to meet all current
expenses and a fair interest on the
stock"