The Republican journal., 1901-11-07
schooners stun in Demand.

Twenty years ago schooner that
could carry 500 tons of coal was consid-
ed to be good sized vessel. Now there
are afloat several four-maSterS carrying
3,OOO tons or more, and a considerable
fleet OF five-masters whose cargOes
range from 8, 200 to 1900 tons, while the
slx-master George w. Wells carries
close TO 5000 tons and the Eleanor A.
Percy about 5, 400 tons.
ANY one of the larger schooners has
about the.same carrying capacity as the
average Atlantic freighter. Their an
chOrS are heavier than those carried by
the old frigates of the navy, their i'm
mense sails are hoisted by steam engines
and their accommodations, fore and aft,
are luxurious compared with what was
furnished ten years ago. When steam
heat, electric lights, steam fOghorns,
steam winches, bathrooms, mahogany
furniture, velvet carpets, libraries and
even pianos are carried in the giant
coasters it might seem that the limit
had been reached.in that direction, but
the limit in size has not yet been reach
ed.
There are now in process of construc-
ton two vessels of the schooner rig
that will outrank anything now afloat
OF that type, a fve-master at East Bos-
ton which will carry more dead weight
than either of the six-masters, and
seven-master at the Fore River Ship &
Engine Works, Quincy Point, Mass,
which will be the king of all schooners.
The five-master is of wood, and is ex-
pected to carry close to 5000 tons of
coal, while the seven-master is of steel,
and will carry about $500 tons. This
monster will be 375 fit. long on the keel,
and 3SS tt. on the load-water line and
395 tt. on top, so #. beam and "a #. 5
In. depth OF hold. She will carry 49,
600 So. TT. of SAIL and all her standing
rigging will be of steel wire. She will
have two large vertical boilers, large
steam engine in the forward house and
hosting engines on deck, steam steer
ing gear, steam heat and electric lights
in the houses and in the hold.
She is expected to carry her cargo of
$500 tons of coal on draft of only 25
1T, and 6 in. The only question seems
to be as to her stiffness. A vessel of
her length, it is argued by some, is like
ly to be weak without the bulkhead sys-
tenn which is used in steamship con-
struction which, of course, coal
schooner does not have The builders,
however, are confident that they can so
brace and strap the vessel that she will
be as stiff as many Of the shorter craft.
What would happen to her in case she
should be grounded amidships or be
hung up at both ends in loading berth,
is another question. Old timers say that
a wooden vessel will give when strain
ed, and then come back again as soon as
released by floating, but that the steel
schooner will surely break in half
should she get nipped. The same pre-
dictions, however, were made regarding
the six -masted wooden schooners, and
those long vessels seem to be getting
along all right.
Nothing, apparently, can stop the
progress Of the giant schooners. The
bugaboo of the barges no longer worries
the owners of sailing craft. The big
schooners carry immense cargoes and
even with half the number of men
carried by square Triggers of like size,
are easily and quickly handled, make
fast trips and coin money where small
vessels would starve. The big schoon-
ers have ventured abroad, with good
results but the coast is their field and
the coal trade their source of profit
Marine Journal.