Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 139, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 June 1913 — DREDGE BOAT LOOKS LIKE BATTLESHIP [ARTICLE]

DREDGE BOAT LOOKS LIKE BATTLESHIP

Monster Timbers Used in Construction of Boat—One Piece Weighs Four and a Half Tons.

The largest boat ever constructed in Jasper county and doubtless one of the largest ever built in the state of Indiana, i# being built a short distance wes t of Rensselaer as the support of the massive boom and dipper to be used in the dredging of the lower Iroquois as provided by the specifications for the Borntrager ditch. To be appreciated the big boat must be seen, as it is almost impossible to describe it, so that the reader can appreciate its magnitude. The dimensions of the boat are

110 feet in length by 45 feet in width. The timbers in the boat’s frame are very massive and are held together by three-quarter inch bolts and 8inch spikes. The hull of the boat is seven feet high and the siding timbers are 7 inches thick and 12 inches in width and bolts are used to fasten them together, while the ends are cut bias and bolted together. The floor timbers are 4 inches thick and are held to the joists by 8-inch spikes. It is necessary to bore through these timbers and to use a washer over the spike, which are driven into the joists, which are about 12 inches /square. The largest timbers used in the construction of the boat are 30

inches square and 40 feet long. There are two of these and they weigh four and\a half tons each. They will be used as the spuds to support the boom and will stand vertical. Two pieces are 50 feet in length and 14 inches square, two pieces are SSvfeet long and 10x12 Inches in the other dimensions. By far the longest timbers and probably about the longest that were ever used in any construction work in this county are four pieces that are to be used in the construction of the boom. They are 10x20 inches and 90 feet in length. If they were used as the upright corners of a building they would accommodate nine stories with 10 foot ceilings. The larger timbers are of fir lumber and were furnished Charles Sternberg, the contractor, by the Edward Hines Lumber Go., of Chicago. The boom will be what is known as a knee boom and its length will be 86 feet. The great size and weight of the boat is jf necessary to support the boom, which will carry the dipper used on the tapper river construction and which is of 2% yards capacity. Considerable timber from the old boat was used in the construction of the new one, mainly for joist, and exteriorly the boat is of new timber, It will close-

ly resemble a battleship in dimensions wfhen completed, although, to be sure, it is only about an eighth as long. Its dimensions are almost as great as the new Kurrie garage. It will probably not be completed before August and Its launching will be of great interest and would afford the occasion of a big event if Rensselaer people cared to celebrate it. Of course, the boat is being built on dry land and the channel {s not nearly wide enough to accomodate it. Heavy timbers support it at a height of about 3y* feet from the ground and when the launching time comes the supports on the river side will be knocked out, the runners greased and the river dammed and the boat sMd off sidewise into the swollen stream. Already the big boat has been seen by a large number of visitors and the writer is indebted to O. A. Yeoman tor a visit by auto to the Iroquois ship yards. No person should miss seeing it for it is probably the largest boat by far than many people will ever get a chanee to.see.

The building force now consists of G. C. Jenkins, the foreman for Mr. Sternberg, and the following assistants, some of them experts in dredge boat building: H. G. Reinhart, of Winamac; Jesse Miles, of Star City; Lewis Wachnitz, of Medaryville; Yes Criswell, of Rensselaer; Charles Horters, of Monon; Dave Deardort of Mt. Ayr; and Richard Falver, of Oelina, Ohio. Mrs. Margaret Keller, of Fair Oaks, is the cook, and has charge of the boat houses that will be drawn after the dredge and used for kitchen, dining room and sleeping apartments. The boat is being constructed on the north bank of the river, just above the old sand banks and can be reached by the river road to a pasture gate east of the McColly farm, now occupied by Frank Biggs. 1 We are this week unloading another car of Wisconsin sand-grown rural potatoes, for late seed or fancy table usa 15c a peck or 50c a bushel. JOHN EGER.