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1889 January 18, 1889 The new Michigan Central steel car ferry Transfer passed Amherstburg at noon onSunday onher way from Cleveland to Detroit in command of Commodore Innes ofthe M.C.R. ferries. The boat left Cleveland about 3o'clock Sunday morning and arrived at Detroit about 2 in the afternoon, making the run in the good time of eleven hours. She ran under check a good part ofthe distance, as the weather was thick, there being a sleet which turned into a light snow and made some ice. About ayear ago she was begun by the Cleveland Ship-building Company and on Sunday was turned over to the Michigan Central Railroad, one of the finest boats of that kind ever constructed. While the purpose to which the Transfer is to be devoted, carrying railway cars, made it difficult to secure graceful lines, still she is avery trim^ooking boat. When considered as a railroad ferry, she is a wonder. She is provided with asloping bow, so as to run up on the ice and crush it. She is 280 feet long, 75 feet beam and draws about 14 feet of water. She is built entirely of steel and will carry twenty-one loaded freight cars at atrip. When it is considered that afreight car carries an average load of thirty tons, some idea of the power of the vessel can be gained. She will be provided with three tracks. The big Lansdowne has only two. The cost ofthe Transfer (that is the name ofthe boat) is $325,000 and she is the most expensive boat ever built in Cleveland. Standing on the deck, one is impressed with the massiveness of the vessel. To secure the greatest power possible, the boat is provided with both side-wheels and a screw, and all are worked at the same time. The entire hold ofthe boat is taken up with the propelling apparatus. It looks more like amachine shop than the engine room of asteamer. There are actually thirteen engines aboard of the boat. They comprise seven driving engines and three double pumping engines. The driving engines m^e three revolutions to one by the paddle wheels, the latter being twenty- seven feet in diameter, with twenty buckets to each wheel. Alittle aft of the large space occupied by the side-wheel and condensing engines are four huge steel oilers, 12 feet 6inches in diameter, 16 feet long, each containing 153 tubes and tive large flues. Aft of the boilers is the screw engine room containing apair of 28x36 engmes. The screw is 9feet 6inches in diameter with a13-foot pitch. "How soon will the Transfer begin business?" was asked of J.A. Westaway, the chief engineer. "That is hard to say. The first thing to be done is the laying ofthe tracks, bhe might be got in readiness in afew days, but if the weather continues soft, she "-'T' !' 'In IE 1 IE 1 1 IE 1 1 1 n i: 1 1 L 1 1 rn 1 u p LI. probably won'tbeput to work immediately. She ismeant to cmsh the ice and when it comes tlie boat will be brought out." February 15, 1889 Capt. A.A. Cox ofPort Huron thinks that the proposed bridge over the Detroit River would not be a serious obstruction to navigation. The stock holders in the steamer Lakeside, consisting of J.H. Smart, Capt. Wigle, Adam Young, Alex. Cowan, John Ross and H. Walker & Sons, held a meeting in Windsor last week and formed themselves into ajoint stock company, noticeof which is now running in the Gazette. We are informed that the boat will run on the Detroit route again this year with some slight changes, roundtrips will be made on Saturdays and Mondays, while the balance ofthe week will betaken up with trips from the shore to the Islands and Sandusky and return, and excursions. The officers will be the same as last year. The Wrecking Bills.-The following is the text of the bills now before the DominionParliament on the wrecking questions. Mr. Kirkpatrick's bill reads tlius:- 1. Foreign vessels of all descriptions, with or without wrecking pumps, tools and apparatus, may enter Canadian waters contiguous to the United States and render aid or assistance to foreign or other vessels wrecked or disabled in such waters without reporting or making entry to or with any officer of Her Majesty's Customs; and such pumps, tools and apparatus may be disembarked and landed in Canada for the purpose aforesaid without payment ofany duty, fee orfme; provided always that such pumps, tools and apparatus within ten days after rendering such aid or assistance are re-embarked andtakenout of Canada. 2. This act shall take effect and remain in force when and so long as the like privilege ofaiding Canadian or other vessels wrecked or disabled in American waters contiguous to Canada is extended to Canadian vessels by the Government of the United States. Mr. Patterson's bill is in these words:- 1. United States' vessels of all descriptions may render aid and assistance to any and all vessels, ofwhatsoever nationality, wrecked and disabled in Canadian waters. 2. United States' vessels may tow any ship, vessel or raft, of whatsoever nationality, from one port or place in Canada to another, subject only to such dues or regulations as Canadian ships are subject to. 3 United States' vessels or ships are hereby admitted to the coasting trade of