Illinois (Propeller), U100860, 20 Apr 1899

Arrangements are being made at the works of the Chicago Ship Building Co. for the launch on Saturday next of the passenger steamer ILLINOIS. This is the vessel building for the Northern Michigan Transportation Co.'s service on Lake Michigan.
      The Marine Review
      April 20, 1899



There was launched at the yard of the Chicago Ship Building Co. at South Chicago on Saturday last the steel steamer ILLINOIS, building for the Northern Michigan Transportation Co., and which, it is claimed, will be the fastest single-screw freight and passenger steamer on fresh water, and in point of comfort and elegance of equipment equal to the best craft on the lakes. In general appearance the ILLINOIS will not be unlike the VIRGINIA of the Goodrich line as that vessel appears after having undergone the refitting which has been in progress during the winter, both vessels having a tier of staterooms on the hurricane deck. Mr. W.I. Babcock, general superintendent of the Chicago Ship Building Co. has given his personal attention to the preparation of the plans for the new vessel and to seeing that they are carried out in accordance with his ideas. No expense has been spared to make the ILLINOIS a perfect passenger vessel, one that will be safe, comfortable and speedy and still by no means devoid of beauty.
The ILLINOIS is 210 feet over all 40 feet beam 16 feet molded depth and 12 feet draught. Engines will be of the triple expansion type with cylinders 20, 33 and 54 inches in diameter by 36 inches stroke. Steam will be supplied from two Scotch boilers, 12 feet 6 inches in length by 11 feet 6 inches in diameter and allowed a working pressure of 175 pounds. The engines will develop 1800 horse power and are guaranteed to drive the vessel at a speed of 17 miles an hour, while it is probable that with forced draft 18 miles may be easily attained. There will be two dynamos, each with its own engine and carrying a total of 500 electric lights, and a large searchlight will also be provided. The construction is of steel as far as possible, even to the decks, and the hull is divided into six watertight compartments. The cabins will be finished in curly birch with mahogany trimmings and the state rooms in cherry. Hot and cold water will be piped to all staterooms. The cost of the steamer when completed will be in the neighborhood of $250,000.
The new steamer will be ready to go into commission about June 30, and will replace the steamer Charlevoix on the regular Chicago-Mackinac route. The Charlevoix takes the place of the PETOSKEY and the last named boat will be transferred to the Hart line, which will operate her on Green Bay. The ILLINOIS is scheduled to make three round trips per week between Chicago and Mackinac island, stopping at Charlevoix, Harbor Springs and Petoskey. This is in direct competition with the MANITOU of the Lake Michigan and Lake Superior line. The ILLINOIS, while not quite as large as the MANITOU, will be fully as luxuriously furnished and perfectly equipped. There are accommodations for 200 passengers and 1,500 tons of freight. The steamers CHARLEVOIX and PETOSKEY of the Northern Michigan company's fleet will continue to run on their present schedule to northern Michigan points, and with the new boat the line will have a daily sailing during the summer from Chicago for Harbor Springs, Charlevoix and Petoskey. The ILLINOIS will be officered as follows: Captain, William Finucan, purser, E. A. Weston, steward, Richard Donnelly; chief engineer, Thomas Collins.
      The Marine Review
      April 27, 1899
     
     

A Chicago correspondent says: "Everybody connected with the Chicago Shipbuilding Co., or having business with the ship yard here, is pleased with the announcement that there is to be no disturbance in the local organization on account of the consolidation. As manager of the Chicago works, Mr. W.I. Babcock has been entirely in touch and in control of all its affairs. With his ability fully recognized and with respect for his authority in all departments of the works, a change would have proven especially unfortunate at this time, when arrangements have been made for enlargement of the dry dock and with an important addition to the engine department nearing completion. Cabin work on the passenger steamer ILLINOIS for the Northern Michigan Transportation Co. is being hurried, and she will be delivered to her owners early next month. Work on the freight steamer MAUNALOA and consort MANILA for the Minnesota Steamship Co. is also progressing as rapidly as possible, but there is still considerable to be done on them before they will have reached their launching stage. Supt. H. Penton of the engine department is engaged in carrying out a plan of providing and maintaining in the enlarged engine works a reading and lecture room for the free use of the workmen. The idea is as yet in the preliminary stage, and more may be said of it later on, but it will undoubtedly be carried out in a manner decidedly advantageous to the men "
      The Marine Review
      May 25, 1899




Joiner work has been completed on the new passenger steamer ILLINOIS building at the yard of the Chicago Ship Building Co. and it is expected that she will be ready for her trial trip in a few days.
      The Marine Review
      June 22, 1899



Official government measurements give the passenger steamer ILLINOIS recently constructed at the yard of the Chicago Ship Building Co., a tonnage of 2,427 gross and 1,468 net.
      The Marine Review
      July 6, 1899
     
     
     

      Steamer ILLINOIS.
      A Handsome Steel Passenger And Freight Vessel
      Recently Completed At The Works of The Chicago Ship Building Co.
      Were it desired to select a vessel thoroughly representative of the best type of screw steamer for short runs in freight and passenger service on the great lakes, no fitter choice could be made than the Illinois, recently completed at the works of the Chicago Ship Building Co., South Chicago, Ill., for the Northern Michigan Transportation Co. of Chicago. To the supervision of the construction of this vessel, General Manager W.I. Babcock gave personal attention, and the ILLINOIS is therefore a craft which evidences in every way the especial degree of attention bestowed upon her.
The ILLINOIS is a steel passenger and freight steamer of the following dimensions: Length on keel, 225 feet, beam, molded. 40 feet: depth molded, 16 feet. She has a triple expansion engine with cylinders of 20, 33 and 54 inches diameter and 36 inches stroke, and two Scotch boilers 12 ½ feet diameter by 11 ½ feet long, arranged for forced draft on the closed ash pit system and allowed a working pressure of 175 pounds. Her indicated horse power is 1,500 and her speed 17 miles an hour. She has bunker capacity for 120 tons of coal, and can carry 700 tons of cargo on 12 feet draught. There are seventy-seven state rooms and total berthing accommodation for 224 first-class passengers. All staterooms are fitted with open, nickel plumbing and are provided with running, water, both
hot and cold. The crew, numbering seventy, with the exception of officers, are carried on orlop decks forward and aft. On the forward orlop deck is also located the galley and officers' mess room. The pantry is just forward of main saloon, the forward part of which is used as a dining room. The main deck, with the exception of the social hall aft and crew's mess rooms forward, is entirely given up to freight and baggage.
The main saloon is on the spar deck and is lighted by a dome running all fore-and-aft, on top of which is the upper saloon. The main saloon and social hall are finished in curly birch, the upper saloon in white enamel and gilt. The smoking room, located just forward of the upper saloon, is finished in golden oak and is fitted with leather-covered settees Above the hurricane deck a bridge deck extends for about two-thirds the vessel's length at the height of the top of the upper saloon. On this deck are carried six metallic life boats and two rafts.
The vessel is lit throughout by electricity, furnished by two direct connected generators of 10 and 15 K.W. capacity, respectively. A searchlight is carried on top of the pilot house. There is a steam hydraulic elevator from the main deck to forward hold for handling freight and dumb waiters from the main deck to galley and from pantry to galley. The vessel is provided with two stockless anchors, a steam capstan windlass forward and steam dock capstan aft. She is also fitted with hand and steam steering gear.
      The Marine Review
      July 27, 1899




Officials of both the Chicago Ship Building Co. and the Northern Michigan Transportation Co. are highly pleased over the success of the steamer ILLINOIS, built at the Chicago yard last winter and which went into commission on Lake Michigan with the opening of the passenger season. The success of this vessel will very probably result in the construction of a duplicate ship at Chicago during the coming winter for the same company. Mr. W.I. Babcock, general manager of the Chicago company, gave personal attention to the construction of this vessel and has been generally congratulated upon the result of his efforts. The ILLINOIS recently made 18 miles by chart in 62 minutes and is a very fine sea boat. She has been running full of freight ever since she came out and has to sleep anywhere from thirty to fifty people on cots every night.
The ILLINOIS is a steel passenger and freight steamer of the following dimensions: Length on keel, 225 feet; beam, molded, 40 feet; depth, molded, 16 feet. She has a triple expansion engine with cylinders of 20, 33 and 54 inches diameter and 36 inches stroke, and two Scotch boilers 12 ½ feet diameter by 11 ½ feet long, arranged for forced draft on the closed ash pit system and allowed a working pressure of 175 pounds. Her indicated horse power is 1,500 and extreme speed about 18 miles an hour. She has bunker capacity for 120 tons of coal, and can carry 700 tons of cargo on 12 feet draught. There are seventy-seven state-rooms and total berthing accommodation for 224 first-class passengers. All staterooms are fitted with open, nickel plumbing and are provided with running water both hot and cold. The crew, numbering seventy, with the exception of officers, are carried on orlop decks forward and aft. On the forward orlop deck is also located the galley and officers' mess room. The pantry is just forward of main saloon, the forward part of which is used as a dining room. The main deck, with the exception of the social hall aft and crew's mess rooms forward, is entirely given up to freight and baggage. The main saloon is on the spar deck and is lighted by a dome running all fore-and-aft, on top of which is the upper saloon. The main saloon and social hall are finished in curly birch, the upper saloon in white enamel and gilt. The smoking room, located just forward of the upper saloon, is finished in golden oak and is fitted with leather-covered settees. Above the hurricane deck a bridge deck extends for about two-thirds the vessel's length at the height of the top of the upper saloon On this deck are carried six metallic life boats and two rafts.
The vessel is lit throughout by electricity, furnished by two direct connected generators of 10 and 15 KW capacity, respectively. A searchlight is carried on top of the pilot house. There is a steam hydraulic elevator from the main deck to forward hold for handling freight, and dumb waiters from the main deck to galley and from pantry to galley. The vessel is provided with two stockless anchors, a steam capstan windlass forward and steam dock capstan aft. She is also fitted with hand and steam steering gear.
      The Marine Review
      August 31, 1899



ILLINOIS. Built 1899 Passenger Propeller - steel
U.S. No. 100680 2427 gt -1468 nt 225' x 40' x 24.7'
Scrapped at Hamilton, Ont., in 1947
      Chicago Steam Boat Co. Shipbuilding Master List
      Institute for Great lakes research
      Perrysburg, Ohio