The Washington weekly post., 1899-06-27
NOVEL FLOATING HOUSE.
VIII Ascend the Sacramento p,.
Curious Mission
rom re san Francisco Car9aicl,

from re San Francisco Clroai.I,
a strange little craft is recaIvi,s, r,. o..
ishing tOuthes at North Reach T., .'u .S-
basin OF water partially iDcIosa5 ~ -.
seaWai anp which is being itsarr pr,y,,,-
ly redeemed into city lots bv tn -.
cncroachinE area OF the dufnps tbis -
uescrlpt hDts with an anchor out .,t a..r,
ehd. Ii is square, fiat-bottomaB bu1L
so framed that its constructors CLAIM, \,
cannot sink Erected upon this buIk i -
Ohe-storlet dwelling, divided into several
soy compartments, so arranged thar a
soou-SIzed family may live comfortably
IN H. BIS ark has been named rHa
FchhsylVdria- II IS designed for Use i'm
Hidhd WderS. Its owner and builder ia
H. l.. MufEon, collector by profession
Dut Tor many years manager Of Brown
GO. Thk year he reflected upon The
surplus Of labor In the city and the
dearth OF Competent help i'm the fruit dis
trIcts or TIE interior. The Philippine
campaign and the KIondyke fever have
taken so many men rom the country
mat fdrm labor Is scarce and now thar
the frult crop Is maturing ranchmeu do
not know where 10 turn 10 ind enough
help TO gaTer and market H. Two weeks
ago farnfr up country sent to the near
men to PICK cherries in his orchard and
only eight could be mustes ed for him
Yet hosts OF unemployed wander along
San Franckco streets.
MT. MunSou knew several OF the latter
Among them was one man who had b-au
long employed under him who had A Uifr
and three Children dependent upon him
but he had been seriously injured I'm an
accident not long since and iucayscitated
from heavy labor. He sorolv needed light
emplOyment OF some sort and a chance TO
reCuperdte his health. The needs Of this
family formed the handspring OF MI
Munson's uricue enterprise. for he re-
solved to build something that should
combine the means OF l0COmOtion with
shelter and bouserO9m.
In this he would travel with his friends
up the Sacramento River 10 the heart Or
the Iruit district, and. tying up al the
most promising spot, furnish help 10 the
distracted hTUCulIurlsL9 and establish
a cooperative household on the boat.
cOntriye so economical a method Of lifs
that when the fruit season was past all
might return 10 the city with their wages
very nearly intact, constituting a littlo
fund for future emergency. lie expects
to carry with nim from four % six able
bodied men. besides himself and John
Lords family; and, taking advantage Of
the cheap prices Of all farm products. he
plans feeding this little colony on plain.
hearty food, and making a small PrOnt
al price not 10 exceed % cents ddF.
That his project is a iisptArested one is
shown by his proposal 10 give free trans
portati9n, with hoard and lodgings en
route, 10 such OF MS friends as ne may
select TO join him, leaving subsequent
compensation to their own sense Of
honor in case they find that profitable
employment which he is certain awaita
them Another feature In tho selection of
the Pennsylvania passenger list and
crew is Influenced by the fact that her
owner is an ardent chess player. one 0l
the Old-time fTaguenteT5 Of the Mrchau-
les Library classroom. and he IS ace
quaintsd with most OF the players Of tE'
city. II so happeng that among thesr
there are several adrifJ being out OF
work. To them a summer trip up the
Sacramento. with profitable empiOymen,
during the day and a game OF chess in
hOusebOat thrown in by lamplight, is au
idyllic prospect. There T.. consequently.
little question that the PenusylVaT'4
will sail up the river manned by az gO1I
a chess club al eyer played a tournament
Sails and oars will be used IN the pro-
pulsi0n OF the boat, ana whenever 70
friendly tOwline can b. obtained it wi.
be taken. II the Pennsylvania sUrrre1s
she may prove the pioneer OF small
industrial fleet which shall navigate TiFf-
and bay during summer and fall rliI;
ing help to the farmer, and iu winter aHi
early spring laying up on the city front.
providing a comfortable ana Inexpensive
home meantime.