The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-04-30
H7GH UD ON TIL
P1X 'ZfzY WORK

When the gentle breath OF spring
whispers Of the warm embrace Of fair
summer, there Is a stir among the
great army Of vesselmen Of the great
lakes, for they know that they must
be bestirring themselves for the busy
season when mountains Of freight must
be moved from port to port and multi
tudes upon multtudes Of people will
seek the comfort and pleasure OF
take trip This activity becomes
perfect fever of unrest a veritable
epidemic This malady may be
dubbed lakelureits for want Of bet
ter and none who follow the sea for
livelihood escape or want to escape
It's ravages In fact, the disease must
run Its course and does not subside
-all-aboard-th vesselmen have
fairly set sail for the season.
But before a wheel turns or nayiga-
tlon opens In earnest there is a vast
amount Of work to be done. Fitting
out a feet such as makes any one Of
the large lake ports its headquarters
Is a task whose magnitude is little ap-
preciated by the public. Approximate
ly 1870 vessels are registered from De
troit alone Each year vast sums are
expended In the way Of requirements
and maintenance aside from the labor
that is given employment for weeks
before the boats leave on their first
trip
Twenty-Five passenger steamers hail
from Detroit Last year they car
ried 1906 ,55S passengers without the
loss Of a single life. yet few Of this
number realized the work involved in
preparing for their care and comfort
before the season was under way.
EQuipping a modern passenger boat
Is a gigantic undertaking Even after
this is done. keeping it trim is task.
Each spring every foot Of these YES
sells is gone over by scrubbers, paint
ers, decorators. upholsterers and car
penters. Not a spot is overlooked.
From stem to stern the renovation pro-
ceeds until the boat fairly gllstens in
its new coat.
To ht out one of these vessels for
the season runs into money Con-
servative estimates place the amount
that will be expended on the rs alone
this spring at s175 900, including ma
teria and labor This may seem ex-
travagant. but once you have gone into
the subject you marvel that the re-
suits obtained can be secured for even
such sum.
The "swab squad" is in full swing
along the water front these days. At
frequent intervals may be found small
heating stoves. from whose stacks
belch dense volumes of black smoke
Here the dope" that removes the
grease and CRIME from the decks and
upper works Of the boats is prepared
by a man whose stock-in-trade con-
slsts Of an iron pail, barrel, a lib
eral allowance of water and immense
quantities of washing powder. What
the chief dopemaster looks like after
few hours at this work doesn't mat
ter He is more concerned with earn
ing his days wage than with his per
sonal appearance. The same is true
elsewhere, and it is we'll that such is
the case, as it saves a vast amount Of
worry.
High up on the sides of the vessel,
with bucket and brush, picking their
way along the rail, where a single mis-
step would send them to possible death
in the cold waters below, the workmen
apply the preparation that plays havoc
with dirt It is no easy task, this bal
ancing ones self on narrow rail
reaching upward as far as possible
and manipulating a brush for hours
They say that in time anyone coulC
become used to It, but few would have
the desire to learn by actual expert
ence the truth Of this assertion. Alonl
the decks similar scenes are beinl
enacted, save that here broom doe
duty. Beneath the touch Of thesl
men, skilled IN the business, the GRIM
disappears as If by magic. Following
them come others with hose, washing
the vessel, from whose sides stream
. muddy food
Last Of all are the painters putin
on the finishing touches and givin
new life to the boats that, now silen
save for the presence Of the worl
men. will few weeks hence ech
with the merry laughter Of hundred
Of travellers.
The work Of fitting out is by n
means confined to the exterior of th
boats. On the contrary, although nor
spectacular, this is in reality less e.
sential than what is going on withii
Here upholsterers and carpet layer
and decorators by the score are bus
IN the faII the boats are virtual
stripped Of their furnishings whiC
are put away ia safe quarters for I'll