The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-02-17
RARess ON The MISSISSIPPI.

BARGES ON THE MISSISSIPPI
An innovation in the construction
of steel boats and barges is TO he in
troduced for the Mississippi River
trade when the equipment NOW under
contract is completed and started by
the Mississippi Valley Transportation
Company, OF which ". K. Kayanaugh
is president.
Drawings from the engineers pla.ss
show the boats to be entirely differ
ent from anything ever seen on the
inland waterways OF America and are
patterned after the boats in use on
German streams.
Some of these boats will be COM
bination passenger and tow vessel.
The barges are also steel and differ
ent from the ones now in use in this
country
The new crafts we're designed by
E. E. Green, contracting engineer in
ST. Louis for the American Bridge
Company The towboats viii be side
wheelers and viii cost about $4,000
each. The barges viii represent an
expediture of about $4,000 each. The
barges are designed to carry 1000 tons
on nine feet OF water and 200 tons
on four feet of water The two boats
have 1000 horsepower capacity and
draw thrifty inches with fuel on board.
The larger boats win be $50 feet long
and so feet wide.
Loaded at full capacity the boats
will be expected to run from st. Louis
TO New Orleans. stopping briefly at
several important points, in less than
FIVE days.
The absence of the high cabins and
immense smokestacks forward, and
the substitution for them OF a low,
stout. rasing smokestack like that OF
an ocean steamship are noticeable
features.
The hull of the boat is shaped like
that of yacht. running out gracefully
with the least effort. The cabins
with ample accommodations for the
officers and crew, rest on the main
deck, where ordinarily in the old-fash-
toned river boat would be the boilers
and the pilot house, looking more Ike
the plot house of an ocean liner than
river boat, is Immediately above
the frward cabins. Back of this is
n lse seen the hatca covering the fuel
hopper. for all the fuel will be taken
from chute over head as it is taken
on by the locomitive tender, thus
saving time and labor.
The engines lie horizontally, and
are double compound, very fast work
ling Engines. the wheels being design
led Ia t.4rn krty revolutions minute.
Steam capstans and bits forward and
aft show that this towboat is design
ed either TO lash up with her tow
ahead of her By the present system. or
/ to tow ii on a long line astern by the
system us-d on the Great Lakes and
o.fler rivers 1t is poss' bic il win be
used TO tow by the one method down
I stream and by the other mp.
I In spite OF the difference from the
current type, the new towboat has
everything in its favor IN appearance.
II looks trim powerful, fast and eff
cient. and more like boat than Ike
a floating boarding house. which the
old type always resembled.
1 The freight barge is long, broad
steel barge. absolutely lacking In the
superstructure. even in the shed roof.
which is used in the old Crescent bar
ge It's deck is cut by a frequent
succession Of matches, through which
every part Of the hold can be used
The holds in the bow and stern indi
cate the fact there is q small ca5sE
I at each end for work and storage and
for the crew.
4 Two steam capstans at each end are
placed on board to work the derricks
and the Tow lines. On the aft end Of
the boat is q steel wheel houge, fer
these barges will be equipped With
rudders. This house viii also contain
an engine and steam boiler; the en-
CINE for operating tie freight der
ricks; the boiler serving also the cap
stan engines.
II is the intention Of tire company
10 employ special derricks at The
docks TO handle cargo. ut as the
terminals are not yet Installed. these
. first barges are equipped with three
i tail masts. each reaching up 50 feet
from the deck and swinging two Is
foot booms from each mast for lift
ing the freight over the side or TAX
ing it on board from high bank.
) These will be operated by winches
! driven by the boiler in the rear.
; Like the towboat. the barge has a
] yacht like bow and stern, which will
? run into and out from the water With
| very little effort. It is built of steel
!, throughout and appears very strong
! serviceable and bearing out all that
has been said by the company in de
, scribing the new feet which they have
S promised the people Of the Mississippi
i valley.
New Order Of Things.
!. Oelwein Register: Anent the hill