Great Western (Steamboat), 10 May 1839

Captain Walker's GREAT WESTERN came in yesterday, and there was a regular rush to see this wonder, which has been more talked about, of late, than any other Western marvel. Puff, she needs none. She does that for herself, the deep sough of her engine being sufficient notice to all quidnuncs to go and see her.
      Her dimensions are as follows: Length, 186 feet; breadth of beam, 34 feet 4 inches; across the guards, 60 feet; depth of hold, 13 feet; tonnage, custom house measurement, 781; being greater than any craft that ever floated upon our fresh seas.
      She is propelled by a high pressure engine, made at Pittsburgh, said to be the largest or one of the largest engines of that description ever made in the United States. The cylinder is 30 inches in diameter; stroke 10 feet; rated at 300 horse power. Her paddle wheels are 13 feet 6 inches radius, and 12 feet in breadth.
      The GREAT WESTERN is arranged unlike any other boat. The entire hull is occupied by the boilers and by holds for freight and wood. On the main deck, aft, is the ladies' cabin and state rooms; above this, on what would be the hurricane deck, the main cabins are placed, running almost the whole length of the boat. The ladies' saloon aft, the dining cabin, next, and the saloon or bar room forward. State rooms are arranged on either side of these cabins the whole length.
The GREAT WESTERN has sixty state rooms with 3 berths in each, and other berths in cabins making, in all, about 300. She has more capacity for freight, and accommodations for more passengers than any other boat on the lakes.
      Capt. Walker has had experience enough in building and sailing boats to know the requisites of a Lake Steamboat, and to combine the desired advantages. The construction of the GREAT WESTERN seems to be in some measure an experiment. yet we can see no reason why she may not be successful, unless her draft of water should be too great from some of the ports, and for the Flats of Lake St. Clair. She is designed exclusively, we believe, for the Upper lake Trade.
      Cleveland Daily Herald & Gazette
      Friday, May 10, 1839