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58 | WARINE REVIEW September, 1926 Floating Steel Wharf Used on the Mississippi HEET steel is invading the field of the picturesque wooden barges that ply our inland waterways. A barge of all metal superstructure has appeared on_ the Mississippi river in Louisiana. Practically it is a _ floating house with iron roof, sides, downspouts and gutters. Barge hulls have been constructed before of metal but metal superstructures are as yet uncommon. The unique barge shown in the accompanying illus- tration is 230 feet long by 40 feet wide and 12 feet deep. The cabin is 200 feet long by 32 feet 8 inches wide. About 29,000 pounds’ of tron and steel were used in the superstructure, the sheets being 24 and 26 gage of a specia! analysis iron of rust resisting qualities. Tho sheets were galvanized and may be painted for further protection. The advantages of the metal covering, offering full protection to con- Use Or oa. To Increase Profits AH Steel Wharf Barge Built for Baton Rouge Transportation Co., Baton Rouge, La., by Midland Barge Co., Midland, Pa. The Superstructure is Made of Galvanized Sheet Steel tents, easy loading and unloading and long life are ex- pected to more than offset the slight increase in con. struction cost over wooden barges. Pe ee ner ee HE owner of the oyster dredge ELEANOR V. RoBBINS finds the use of a full diesel reversing oil engine a profitable investment. The engine, as installed, is direct connected to the propeller shaft and has an extension shaft on the for- ward end which operates the oyster per minute, turning a propeller wheel 44 inches in diameter and 34 inches in pitch. In the ELEANOR V. ROBBINS which is 74 feet long, 21 feet in beam and 5 feet 8 inches in draft, this flexibility not only permits the slow turning of the engine at a speed which is much be- A BEAUTIFUL MODELED RAKISH CRAFT—THE ELEANOR ROBBINS RECENTLY FITTED WITH A 3-CYLINDER, 67-HORSEPOWER STANDARD OIL ENGINE dredges by means of clutches and winding gear. Due to the flexibility of the engine which is a 3-cylinder 8%-inch bore by 12-inch stroke, 67 horsepower Standard Motor Construction Co. oil engine, the operator can vary the revolutions from as low as 75 to 300 revolutions low the necessary revolutions for working the oyster dredges when they are in operation, but there is no dan- ger of this low speed making the power unstable due to cooling off of ignition surfaces as ignition is entirely from the heat of compression. The engine is always ready for a large overload in quick handling, turn- ing, and pulling in dredges. The owner is well pleased with the installation and would not think of going back to the old expensive cum- bersome reverse gear with its extra care and delays occasioned by its maintenance. There is no class of work he cannot do better with the present equip- ment. In sinking stakes he is able to slow down the engine to allow the boat to hold its own against the tide which is far easier than throwing in and out a clutch or gear Grive. The low cost of operation not only makes this boat profitable in the oyster business but also permits the use of the boat for delivery of oysters long distance to market, and the boat can also be used in off seasons for the delivery of farm goods to the can- neries, or for any other service, which helps to increase profits and to lower the overhead. This boat is owned by Wilbert H. Robbins, Port Norris, N. J. Capt. Bert U. Heald and the crew of steamer BIBBCO were commended in a resolution passed by the shipping board expressing its deep appreciation for exercising courage vigilance and judgment in effecting the rescue of the master and crew of the Italian vessel ELIOPOLI and the precautions taken for the safety of the lives and property of those plying the South American trade lanes. Such acts maintain the traditions of the sea.