St. Ignace (Ferry), C134017, 3 Mar 1892

Attention is attracted just at present to the ferry steamer ST. IGNACE, which has been making regular trips across the Straits of Mackinac winter and summer for several years, on account of information that the Detroit Dry Dock Company has contracted with the Michigan Central, Grand Rapids & Indiana and the Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic railroad companies to build a larger and more powerful boat on the same plans. The ST. IGNACE is believed to be the only vessel of the kind in the world and as the boat has no trouble in making her way through from three to five feet of ice, the new steamer carries with it the suggestion of a polar expedition. The ST. IGNACE is 230 feet over all, 53 feet wide and 25 feet molded depth. The two sternwheel engines are 28 + and 53 by 48 inches stroke and the two bow-wheel engines are 26 and 48 by 42 inches. Her hull is 30 inches thick, steel sheathed. The new steamer will be 300 feet over all, 52 feet beam, 25 feet molded depth and will have 17 feet draft of water. She will have a propeller in each end, same as the ST. IGNACE, and be driven by separate compound engines, having a total capacity of 4,000 horse power. Four double-end boilers will furnish the steam for the main engines and the many auxiliaries, winches, capstans, electric lighting plants, etc. The auxiliary engines in the ST. IGNACE number twenty.
The additional size and engines will give the new steamer 40 per cent. more carrying capacity and one-third more power. She will be housed in to protect the cars from heavy weather, and accommodations for the crew will be on the upper deck. The contract price is said to be $325,000. The dry dock company will give the ST. IGNACE an overhauling as soon as the new boat is put in commission. The first cargo carried over the Straits by the ST. IGNACE was eight locomotives of seventy tons each.
      The Marine Review
      March 3, 1892


      ST. IGNACE * Built 1888 Car ferry - Wood
      U. S. No. 116191 1199 gt - 600 nt 215.6 x 52.3 x 15.8
* Renamed, (b) ST. IGNACE - Can - 1914 (C 134017)
Reduced to barge in 1916; broken up in 1930.
      Detroit/Wyandotte Shipbuilding Master List
      Institute for Great Lakes research
      Perrysburg, Ohio