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THE CARNEGIE FLEET (Continued) of the Lakes were busy and could not promise immediate delivery of new ships. Like- wise, existing ships were hard to find. The best Oliver could do for Carnegie in the year 1898 was to charter two relatively small wooden freighters, the JOHN HARPER and ALEX NIMICK, from the American Transportation Company, in which he (Oliver) held stock and could wield some influence. Things were better during the winter of 1898-99 when Oliver was able to purchase seven steel ore carriers; four, GRIFFIN, JOLIET, LASALLE and WAWATAM from Lake Superior Iron Co.; two, WILLIAM R. LINN and CARRINGTION from C. W. Elphicke & Co. of Chicago; and one, CLARENCE A. BLACK from the Northern Lakes SS. Co. of Detroit. With the acquisition of these ships, the Pitts- burgh Steamship Company was established and the two wooden ships returned to their owners. In 1900, Oliver was able to have the six fine freighters, known in later years as the "College" line, built, namely BRYN MAWR (a barge), CORNELL, HARVARD, LAFAYETTE, PRINCETON and RENSSALAER. The colors of this first Pittsburgh Steamship Company were: dark red hull, white cabins and black stack with a white "P" on each side. The ships involved are described in the following list, arranged in alphabetical order: CLARENCE A. BLACK (US. 127300) steel steamer built in 1898 at Lorain by the Cleveland S.B. Co. (Hull #31) for Northern Lakes SS. Co., Detroit, A. McVittie, Manager. 413 x 50; 4,521 gross tons. Triple expansion engines built by the shipyard. Passed into U.S. Steel's second Pittsburgh Steamship Co. in 1901. Scrapped at Hamilton, Ontario in 1946. BRYN MAWR (US. 3845) steel barge built for the fleet at Chicago by Chicago S.B. Co. (Hull #41). 500 x 50; 4,294 gross tons. Passed into U.S. Steel's fleet in 1901 and into Upper Lakes & St. Lawrence Transportation in 1940 as BRYN BARGE (C. 172359). Hull eventually used for a breakwater, about 1968. > ; i tes = JOHN HARPER . A. McDonald Collection