The Cairo bulletin., 1906-07-10
ON KIND OF VESSELS NEEDED
TO NAVIGATE RIVERS AND
OCEANS,
Naval Architect tbs How Vessels
May De Built to PLY Between
ST. Louis, Cairo and For
cgn ports

The following eXtrac, from an ar
ticl9 in Sundays Giche-Democrat tells
an interesting story con ming a mat
ter in which Cairo has an important
part:
1t is the boast of st, LOUIS that tn
| father of waters is IN reality an arm
Of the sea, ard so il u.s. But as yet
tn S city has done no %ing to demon
strate the fact The federal govern
ment has SHOWN the possibilities of
the old river hy seadmg up here from
! the gulf aat intervals seagoing war
vessels. These vessels were never
constructed with new TO river navi.
gtaion, and, of course j season had to
he selected az which the river possess
ed more than an a,eraee depth. No
one who has ever etuoied the matter
with 4 view to sewing the problem
doubts for moment that a class
of war vessels could be constructed
capable of navigating the river and
the ocean With equal facility.
The writer only recently had sub
mitted to him letter from a naval
architect of national reputation in an
swer to in in quiry from a gentleman
Of this city, who is now, and has been
for years, believer in the possibili-
ties of the Mississippi and an untiring
worker in her interest With the con
sent of the holder, emitting the name
OF the author, the letter is here quoted
in full
Dear Sir-You ask: Can steam
vessel, taking paying cargo in ST
Louis or Cairo. be built in such
manner that she may. without break
ing bulk deliver said cargo in South
America?
The answer depends on the depth
Of water you have from 81. Louis or
Cairo down 70 the gulf If my knowl-
edge Of the river serves me right. you
have from St Louis to Cairo 9 feet for
about two-thirds of the year. and
about the same or more from Cairo To
Memphis the whole year From Mem
phis to the gluf you get more until at
New Orleans you have at least 80 |
feet
OF course this tremendous artery |
in he American geographical body |
will and must be enlarged
IF my idea in regard to the depth |
Of water Is correct, it remains to find |
out if vessel drawing not more than !
feet inches e. 60 can be built /
10 carry freight on that draft from St. |
Louis or Cairo, being at he same time /
'tanch enough and seaworthy enough |
o stand the rough seas of the gulf and |
he Atlantic coast and with freeboard |
enough TO increase her cargo as she /
goes down the river With the COM /
non type Of vessel you cant do il.
IT, on the other hand You make |
'our vessel somewhat different but
without the regulation of Lloyd's. fit /
Ter with properly constructed center
boards and build her right. will
take my reputation that it can be
lone without any trouble whatsoever
rom technical point of view There
re no mechanical difficulties in build.
ng vessel loading over 700 tons at
IT, Louis or Cairo and going out in the
ulf with a cargo of 1900 tons, nor \
hould such a vessel cost as much as
on estimate. Her stability would be
reater than the ordinard. The vessels
esign must be perfect, she can not
e built on the common plans, but
must be constructed so she can be
lassed in Lloyd's. The vessel must
e strong and light, the boilers. water
ibe or others, of light construction,
nd the engines must be made to run
asst know that such a vessel can
g built to sail any sea on the face Of ,
he earth and do as | have eaid but \,
he must be built for her purpose"