The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-03-08
FIRST BOAT TO
CONE OVER RAPIDS
The eardie Eastman in Charge of Cap
tain A. v. Fetter Will be Down
Either Today or To-
morrow.
GOES TO QUINCY SOON

River Work is Already Taking on Ac-
tive Appearance and Every
One is Busy Just
Now.
The first steamboat to come over
the rapids this year will probably be
the u. S. government boat, the Gardie
Eastman. which is expected down to-
day or tomorrow in charge of Captain
A. v. Fetter.
The Gardie has been at Rock Island
all winter and has undergone some ex-
tensive repairs and overhauling and
will probably be one of the bee boats
in the government service in these
narts during the coming river season
which is not over two weeks off now.
Captain John r. Carpenter received
word recently from Rock Island from
CAPTAIN Fetter that he would be
down with his boat probably today or
TOMORROW, ledNiIS NUN VII
Saturday If the weather was ali right.
The boat will come over the rapids
and will stop here it is thought but
will continue to Quincy, where it will
be located for the present at least.
The boat is we'll known in these waters
and if it comes down today will go
down on the bridge draw reports as
the first boat to commence running on
the upper Mississippi river for the
present season.
Repairs are being made to the Keo-
kuk and Hamilton bridge draw ma
chinery at present and will probably
not be finished for day or two yet.
Should the Gardie Eastman put in her
appearance today, the bridge draw
would have to be opened by hand.
The Henry Bosse.
Captain Gus Seifert has received
orders to have his crew aboard the U.
S. drege tender Henry Bose" by the
18th of the pres mt month On the fif-
teenth of this mont the boat will
commence running once more and
will be active during the coming sea-
son in government service.
The boat has been lying at the
second lock during the present winter
season, and has been entirely over
hauled and repaired. A new wheel
has been put on to replaces the old one
and everything about her is ir tip top
condition.
Captain Gus Seifert will be her
master for the fourth season with Joe
Costello as mate and Chas NJ. Hender-
son of Fort Madison as chief enginee.
Costello was with the boat last year
and will return to his position this
year as mate, having been employed
at the second lock during the winter.
Captain Seifert who was with the
u S. S. Lilly for five consecutive
years will commence his fourth season
with the Bose" next week. He is
we'll acquainted with the river from
St Paul to st. Louis and is we'll fitted
for his position as master of the boat.
Busy at Second.
AL. is activity and work is being
pushed rapidly on the boats and other
government work that is being done
at that place A large force of men
are busy completing the coal and stone
parges and everything about hem is
now complete but the decking and this
VIII take but few days to finish.
The suction pontoons of which there
are about a dozen are being built rap
ldiy anG will be used by the suction
uredge Aetna wnen completed. The
barges are used to carry the large
pipes through which the water is drawn
When large dredge is in action.
The David Upton which is lying in
the dry dock at the second lock is
being overaauled and repaired and re-
ireshened with paint. She will be put
into service sometime soon OH the
river between ST. Paul and St Louis
and will see some service on the III.
inois this season.
Seven or eight twenty.six foot skifts
are being built and several CT them
nave been completed and gasoline
motor installed in them to do light
canal and river work. They will be
tried out here and will be sent to
ROCK Island and the Honnepin canal
where they will be used.
The large pile driver mas been COM
DlGtpd a n /,
80 INTO service with one of the dredge
boats when colpleted.
Two of the government launches
nave been put in the canal and Major
Melg's servicablc little launch, the
Madge, will be put in some time soon.
repairs are being made on her at the
fSfnn ~ WnaI q