Northern Indiana (Steamboat), 26 May 1852

THE " SOUTHERN MICHIGAN." - This magnificent steamer is just receiving the finishing touches from the hands of the painters and upholsters. Her engine is almost in running order, and by Saturday night it is intended to have her ready to make a trial trip. On Tuesday she takes her place in the line between this place and Monroe, when from what we can see in progress in the way of decoration and arrangement, she will be found quite ahead of any craft on the western waters.
      The NORTHERN INDIANA and the SOUTHERN MICHIGAN are both precisely
alike as to size, model, and everything, except a slight difference in the arches with which they are braced. The NORTHERN INDIANA will follow the SOUTHERN MICHIGAN in the Line in about ten days. They are both built by Bidwell & Banta for Captain Edwards, of Trenton, Michigan, and are chartered for the season by the Michigan Southern Railroad.
      The boats are each three hundred and ten feet in length, being five feet shorter than the EMPIRE STATE, thirty-seven and a half feet beam, sixty-four feet over the guards and thirteen and a half feet deep in the hold. Their model is designed for speed, being sharper than any others on the lakes. The wheels are thirty-six feet, with ten feet buckets. They have each three cabins for first class passengers. The upper or main cabins are two hundred and forty eight feet long, with the machinery in the centre, as is usual, with state rooms opening from them on each side. The ladies' cabins are on the main deck aft, each seventy-two feet in length, with three tiers of berths on each side, shut off from the saloon by handsome curtains which hang between rows of pillars some two feet from the front of the berths.
      The Dining Saloons are below the decks, and measure about ninety feet in length by twenty feet across. They will seat about three hundred guests at table at once. The sides are fitted up with handsomely curtained berths. Adjoining this room are the pantries, closets, &c., for the convenience of feeding the passengers. The kitchens are on the upper deck.
      The State Rooms are large and commodious and well ventilated, and about twenty five of them have, instead of berths, a handsome bedstead, richly canopied. The arrangements will provide for the sleeping of about three hundred and fifty passengers on each boat.
      The painting is done in the richest style by Mr. James Smith, and the cabins are about as fine specimens of tasteful workmanship in that line as can be seen anywhere. The cabins are to be richly carpeted with velvet tapestry from the extensive store of Merrill & McEwen, and the furniture, which costs about ten thousand dollars for each boat, is from the manufactory of Hersee & Timmerman. It is all of rosewood, much of it richly carved, and covered with the handsomes cloth used for that purpose.
      The engines are from the Morgan Works, New York, seventy-two and one-half inch cylinder, with twelve feet stroke, with walking-beam, and are intended to make twenty-five revolutions per minute. All the machinery is massive and apparently strong as iron can be. The boilers which are much larger than those of any boats before running on the lakes, are from the shop of S. Shepard. The are furnished with blowers for burning hard coal.
      The SOUTHERN MICHIGAN is to be under the command of Capt. A.D. Perkins, and her consort is to be commanded by Capt. Robt. Wagstaff, both highly popular men on the lakes---and with the EMPIRE STATE, Capt. Van Allen, will form a line which is destined to be a favorite one for the travel between Chicago and this city.
      Buffalo Daily Courier
      Tuesday, May 11, 1852

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      THE NORTHERN INDIANA. - This boat, the consort of the SOUTHERN MICHIGAN, is fast approaching to readiness for active duty, and will probably be able to take her place in the line in about a week. Her finish and furniture will be exactly like that of the SOUTHERN MICHIGAN, and when both have all their equipment complete Buffalo will be able to challenge any city in the world to show two handsomer or better steamers. If the United States have reason to be proud of her supremacy in building fast sailers, as attested by the yacht AMERICA at the World's Fair, Buffalo may be equally proud of the unequalled lake steamers which are turned out at our shipyards.
      Buffalo Daily Courier
      Wednesday, May 26, 1852

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      The new steamer NORTHERN INDIANA has returned from her first trip, after a splendid run. She came down from Monroe, stopping at Dunkirk, in 15 1/2 hours.
The following is a copy of the record kept by the clerk:-
      Whole time from Monroe dock to Buffalo dock 15 hours 27 minutes
      Deduct stoppage at Dunkirk 1 hour 10 minutes

      Running time 14 hours 17 minutes

      The greatest number of revolutions made was 21 per minute. This is the quickest time on record..
      Buffalo Daily Courier
      Saturday, June 5, 1852

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