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406 * Recent Development of the River OMMERCIAL developments of recent years have firmly estab- lished a place for the all-steel barge in river and_ inland steam transportation in the United States. The growth into favor THE Marine REVIEW All-Steel Barge important industrial and transporta- tion companies and its field is expand- ing. These barges are used for trans- porting coal, oil, sand dnd other bulk commodities, for ferrying railroad trains, for service at government dams -ored by an October, 1909 ment of the steel barge in river traffic, having built nearly 100 of this craft, practically all of its own design, at its Ambridge plant, located on the Ohio river 16 miles below Pittsburg. Ever since the erection of this exten- sive works the company has given at- tention to this class of work, for the construction of which its plant is fav- admirable location. Its Fic. 1--Coat BarcE Burtt ror AMERICAN STEEL & Wire Co. of this auxiliary type of carrier has been comparatively rapid, extending over a period of probably not more than six or seven years. Today the steel barge by reason of its durability and length of service, ultimate economy of construction cost and general adapt- ability, is being extensively used by and locks and in numerous other transportation enterprises. On general lines the boats are built of steel plates ranging from % to %-in. in. thick- ness and of standard structural shapes of various sizes and weights. The American Bridge Co. has been an important factor in the develop- 446 about _ : : Mea 4 reli t A A ee : rit sy a Hl 4 \ . ™ ie { \ ~ Se i\i \ 8 rie V4 X \ \ , cx we ' ¢ \ <g ' SX x End Bulkhead : S ' Se Sof ae om ox x XS. ay oe Ide J lee a Flatin 9 ov OSG ag NY * mS ' z= XS x cl ee SS < fo] = : > me yi ea a s y . G Sy 2 SS N¢ A . es "Ci nts [fp «/*O : Re Patna _Sawckle ly, EE 1G" 10-0" Fic. 2--Bitce anp CornER Construction, A. S. & W. Co. Barces. launching facilities have recently been increased through the extension of its ways to a length of nearly 600 ft. Some notable contracts for barges designed for varied service have' re- cently been taken. or filled by the American Bridge Co. The American steel & Wire Co. is an important. in- stance of the adoption of the steel barge by large manufacturing conpo- rations. This comppany has ordered a fleet of 10 'boats which will be used in bringing coal to the Shoenberger works located along the Allegheny river at Pittsburg and to the Rankin and Braddock works along the Mo- nongahela river in the same _ dis'rict. Steel billets also are transferred by the 'barges from the steel plant at the Shoenberger works to the other two mills. The additional 10 barges will give the American Steel & Wire Co. a. fleet of 30 boats all buile by the American Bridge Co. As fast as the old wooden barges of the company be- come unserviceable they are being dis- carded and replaced. by the steel type. The new barges now building for the American Steel & Wire Co. are 100 ft. long, 24 ft. beam and 8 ft. deep and the capacity is 400 tons each. They are designed with water tight end compartments as shown in Fig. 1, and havea 3-in. oak floor. The boats have s