Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-10-27
Potash.

perimen, on the hes, farms in the United S,ates-is
told in a little book which we publish and will gladly
mail free to any farmer in America who will write for 1t.
GERMAN KALI WORKS,
% Nassau ST., New York.
- ---------- -
Treasure: The first boat built 10y the
company was Launched IN 81. Adams bay
in 1877. She was called the Franklin"
and commenced her trips, Oct. TO- 1921 be-
tween Whitehall and st. Johns under
command Of Capt j. sherman She was
provided with an upper deck throughout,
with u ladies' cabin on the main deck.
which was the first boat provided in that
way. She was To- fee, long, - foot wide
and feet deep. At this time 1898. there
were on the lake tho following steam
boats: "Frnnklln." "WashiuE.on."
Phoenix" Congress" General Green"
and lcdorough." Tho "Chdmplain
Steamboat company" organized in 1873
was consolidated with the Chlmplain
Transportation company in 1883, the lat
ter company becoming owners Of the
franc hise. stock and property of the for
mcr-including the steamers "Phoenix"
and Congress" In 1885 the st. Athens
Steamboat company and the Champlan
Ferry company were consolidated with
the Champlain Transportation company.
The STEAMBOATS, transferred Ivy the con
solidation were the "MacuOnough" an |
the "Winooski" The "Wnt.r Witch"
built at Fort Cassin for John sherman,
was put In commission IN 1899. Her
length was - feet. width IL fee, AMI depth
feet
In 1895 the Champlain Transportation
company became the owners of every
steamboat on Lake Champiain and free
from all opposition. The "Fr1nklin' arl
Phoenix" were put into the main line
between Whitehall and st. Johns. and the
"Wirooski" run on the ferry between Bur
lington and st. Adams.
The perioc between 1885 and 1850 we're
the palmy days Of steamboating on Lake
Champaign. No railroad then livided the
traffic. and the stage couch was lot e
formidable rival in those days. The steam
boats during this decade were considered
floating palaces, although hey were in
ferior In most respects to the steamers at
present in service on the lake.
The Sc lson of 1897 on the lake was mar
ked by the appearance of the regular line
of the Burlington" which had been built
at Shclbur1e Harbor 10y the Champaign
Transportation company. The white
hair built at Whitehall. took its place IN
the limo in 1888. Both boats We're much
larger than any others previously built
and also superior in other respects. The
"Whitchall" was 2l5 feet long. 90 feet
wide and feet deep.
From "a New Map Of Lake ChamplaIn'
| containing also a timetable and uescrip-
| tive matter issued - years ago by Tho
| Champlain Transportation company, arc
to be found many interesting facts. The
burlington Is described as follows: TINS
boat was built at Shelburne, By Lavatci
| 5. White. Esq. for the Champltn Trans
portation company. under the direction oi
! Capt. r. W. Sherman, and commenced run
ming in 1895 1t was 1870 feet long - feet
wide and feet deep; Tonnage iO5 tons
| cost $1,000; power Of engine. 200 horse
,s.
is not only the finest boat ever built o.
Lake Champlain. but is probably uEsur
passed in neatncss, beauty iu1 comfort
| by any boat in the United states.
The following sketch Of burlington il
included in this old folder:
| burlington, situated nearly midway be
tween Whitehall and St. johns is tn,
most important town on Lake InImpl1in
and IN the beauty Of its location Is I'm
surpassed by any other town in tn,
Northern States Tho vilaG", which nov
contains more than 3,eV inhabitants, !.
STEADILY advancing in wealth and roLula
ton. 1t is the seat OF the University 81
Vermont, which is at present IN -four
| ism condition. and. besides the University
buildings, the village contains 81,
churches. court house and iall, a high
school for boys, a foma,e seminary anC
/ two banks. From burlington
to Boston there is an excelltnt stag. roa,
and the best line of stages in tho couu
try" The Burlington and 'Whitchlll'
formed the night lin" throush the lak'
at this time, The "Saranoc' and Fran
els Saltus" comprised the dtv line.
| The Burlington" had a lIstngIishc,
passenger on one of its trips through Tn
lake, In 1872. 1t was no less IA pcrsonapt
than Charles Dickens who described IN
trip in his American Notes. Among ON
er things Dickens wrote
| b,.rp iS hn no
which carried us on Lake Champldin
from st. Johns to Whitehall. which
praise very highly, but no moro than /
deserves. when | say that 1t is supero
to any other in the world. This steam
boat which is called the Burlington 4
II perfectly exquisite achievement of neat
ness, elegance and order, The decks arr
drawing rooms; the cabins aIe hOudoirs
choicely furnished and adorned will
prints, pictures and musical Instruments
/ every nook and corner in the veSscl Is
perfect curiosity of graceful comfort Gn'
beautiful convenience. Il!
means OF this floating palace we wer
soon in the United States again. and cal
ed that evening at Burlington, a prctt.
town. where We lay an hour or So"
| The next boat built on the lake was tn
| 'Saranac," which WAS constructed Il
Shelburne Harhor in 1872 COR the Cham
plain Transportation company by H. ;
W nllt. Snt NdN 100 ltCl lOstS, It''l VIA
and feet deep, In the summer of lSi
the Champlan Transportation compan,
inaugurated II day service on the lake
since which time day boats nave been rui
every season This company fitted IA
the "Saranac" for this purpose. An Cp
position boat owned by Peter Comstock
and called the "Francis Saltus.' appear
ed the same season. and for ihrce year
was run in competition with the Sara
nae" Both boats left each end of tn
lake at the same time, and passenger
were carried at very low rates on the ri
val lines. The "Francis Saltus" was hull
at Whitehall. and was 100 feet long,
feet wide and Q feet deep. In lsiS she wa
bought by the Champlain Transportatio
company.
statercoms upon the upper deck was IN
United States" built by the ChamplaiI
Transportation company and put In ser
vice in lSi7 This boat was AS feet long
2S feet wide, and 10 feet deep with
speed OF Is miles an nour. Before IN
Omitted States" was completed the com
pany became financially embarrassed b.
reason OF reduced receipts resulting fron
sharp competition by rival line Tn
owners of the boat had no money to bu
an engine. and II was feared she woul
not be ready for business The ensuing
season, At this juncture one of tn
stockholders, Hon. Lawrence Braineid
- Nlh"ns, came to the rescue and pro
vided the necessary funds ny giving hi