Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-05-28
Engineers Trial Trip of New
Steamer of Champlain Trans.
portation Company.
FAST AND BEAUTIFUL BOAT
Carried about 200 Guests to Platts
burgh and Return Thursday-Mag.
niflcent Interior Fipishings-Mad
Good Time for First Trip-Reg.
ular Service Junel.


steamer Vermont was made Thursday
| from this city to Plattsburgh and re-
turn About 100 guests, including Mayor
| Iiawey, the city officials, members of
| the board of aldermen and others were
present and thoroughly enjoyed the oc-
casion. The boat is n handsome creation
and fully fulfilled the expectations of the
contractors and tho Champlain Trans
portation CO., the average time made
being over ~ miles an hour.
| The first regular trip of the boat will
be made May 80, ut which time there
will be an excursion. The new boat is
built along lines similar to the Chateau
| gay, but Is larger and has several fea
lures in addition, among which are n
! hurricane deck for the accommodation of
| passengers, more cOmmOdiouS state
rooms and more modern machinery. The
boat is model of elegance and its cx-
terror and interior furnishings are the
| best that can be procured. Everything in
the boat including the entire furnishings
! is new. The Champlain Transportation
| Co. has been known for the excellent
boats in its service and with the new
Vermont added to its fleet passengers
Will find accommodations that cannot be
eXCclled upon inland waters
| The steamer was designed by j. w.
Willard of New York and Is 262 feet long
over all. The hull is 50 feet wide and 62
| feet over all and is II feet six inches deep.
| The new Vermont is larger than the
| Ch1tcaugay but is smaller than the old
Vermont. She is large enough for the needs
| of the company and will carry 5000 pas
senEerS without crowding.
| The boat left Shelburne harbor Thurs
| day afternoon and came to Burlington,
| taking on board the invited guests and
proceeded direct to Plattsburgh. making
the trip in one hour and 10 minutes. The
| trip would have been made in less time
but for stop at the Colchester light
house, made necessary owing to d slight
disarrangement of the machinery. At
| Plattsburgh a stop of nearly an hour was
| made for the purpose of Waking on coal.
| on the return trip the boat went to Port
| Kent, mailing the run of IL miles in AZ 12
minutes. From Port Kent to Burlington,
the run of ten miles was made in SO 10
| minutes. The boat is by far the fastest
on the lake and its speed will make travel
ing from Ticonderoga to Pittsburgh a
pleasure.
The boat was under the command of
| Capt. +, J. Hawley Thursday but upon
| its regular trips will be commanded by
| Capt. Arbuckle. captain OF the old Yer
mont a. Fletcher. Sr.. and a. Fletcher
Jr. were ON the boat for the trial trip,
the latter experimenting the running as
he has the construction OF the entire boat
The pilot was Edwin r. Rockwell. who
| is the regular pilot. and T.. Mention Rock
well was the assistant, Peter Forrant is
| the engineer D. A. Loomis. acting man.
aGer of tn Champlain Transportation Co,
! was on board and welcomed each guest,
and extended the Inequalities Of the trip
c. NJ. Englis who had charge of the
joiner work on the boat. took the trip, as
did s. r. s. Henry OF New York, general
auditor of tho d. & ~. railroad, and j..
| White SpronE of Albany. purchasing
agent for the - & II. railroad
The arrival a. tho steamer N this ri u
and at PlattsburSh. particularly at the
latter place, was awaited by an inter
estcd crowd and all along the trip the
pleasant chime whistle of the steamer
was constantly acknowledging the well
coming salute given by other craft, To-
comotives and individuals.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BOAT.
In the hold of the boat are located the
bar, much of the machinery, sleeping
quarters for the men, kitchen, etc. In the
forward part is the chain and locker
room, where the anchors will be stored.
Next come the sleeping quarters for the
crew. Adjacent to these quarters is To-
Gated the steam steering gear. This APP
plance is different from the steering gear
on the other boats and docs away with
the large wheel in the pilot house In its
place is a small wheel. which can be
turned with finger. thus communicating
ing the big boat in any desired direction.
Next to the room occupied by the steering
gear arc qua rters for the firemcn.
The bar room is located in the hold and
is reached by a spacious stairway from
the main deck. The room is commodious
| and is fitted up in "A pleasing way.
| 1t is finished in cherry with panels of
lighter color. Aft of the bar and in the
. center of the boat are located the boilers
coal bunkers electric lighting plant, etc.
This is entirely disconnected with the
bar and is also separated from the cook s
galley. which is just aft. BY an arrange
mcnt of machinery, including a hopper
and steam pipe blower tho ashes from the
boilers are quickly conveyed to the side
OF the ship and deposited overheard The
double connected engines, and centrifugal
pump used in pumping water into the
trimming tanks on the guard of the boat
are located here,
The cooks galley contains dish washing
apparatus. Bramhall -dcane range and
Blodgett baker These useful quarters
are equipped with every modern conven-
fence for quick and successful culinary
work and are models. Aft the galley
IS the serving room, fitted with covered
shelves. whore food is kept warm by
steam heat. The crews dining room is
adjacent and still further aft are quar-
ters for the stewards crew. Then comes
a store room.
ON the main deck are located A. state
rooms. Some are equipped with two
herths while some have wide brass bed
steads. Each room is furnished with a
porcelain wash bowl, with open nickel
plumbing. These bowls have a self closing
faucet and ii bi-transit waste. Every room
is connected with a large water tank fur
nshing running water. Drain pipes carry
the refuse overheard.
On the starboard side is the gentle
mems toilet room in which is wash
bowl of Swanton lyonaise marble. On the
port side Is located tho donkey boiler and
the sanitary pump which supplies running
water for staterooms, closets. etc. The
engine room is stationed amidship. Aft
| Of the donkey boiler room is located n
| lavatory for use of the crew. Aft of the
| wheels is large quarter deck and from
this deck on the port side is large wash
room and barber shop. On the starboard
| side aft of the wheels is the captain S
statoroom and purser's office. Opposite is
the barber shop.
| On either side of the boat at the centre
Is "A large water tank of nearly nine tons
| capacity to be used for ballast. II the
boat lists to either side the tank on the
opposite side is filled with water sufii-
| Client to cOunterbalance the weight of
| freight. This supcrcedes the old fashioned
| method of having barrels of ballast, which
| have To be rolled from one side of the
| boat to the other as occasion requires,
| The quarter deck Is finished in ma
| hogany. A handsome staircase also fin
ished in mahogany. leads from this deck
| to the saloon deck and at the head is a
large plate glass mirror The staircase is