Lafayette (Propeller), U141657, 31 May 1900

Another of the Pittsburg Steamship Co.'s new steel freighters, the LAFAYETTE is about ready for launching. The LAFAYETTE is one of the two steamers building for this company at the Lorain yard of the American Ship Building Co. It is expected that she will be launched on Thursday next, the 31st inst.
      Marine Review
      May 24, 1900
     


The steamer LAFAYETTE, the second ship for the Pittsburg Steamship Company the Carnegie Line, will be launched on May 31.
      Port Huron Daily Times
      Thursday, May 24, 1900


      AMONG SHIP BUILDERS OF THE GREAT LAKES.
A ship costing more than $300,000 and destined to play an important part in the great commerce of the lakes is worthy of some ceremony when launched. It is pleasing, therefore, to note that Mr. Edwin S Mills of Cleveland, general manager of the Pittsburgh Steamship Co. (Carnegie interest) has taken pains to issue very neat invitations to the launch of the steamer LAFAYETTE, which takes place today (Thursday) at the Lorain works of the American Ship Building Co. The launch will undoubtedly be attended by a distinguished party of officials of the Carnegie company and their friends. The invitations are accompanied by cards of admission to the ship yard The vessel will be christened by Miss Harriet M. Lauder, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Lauder of Pittsburgh. Mr. Lauder is managing director of the Carnegie Steel Co. The LAFAYETTE is the second of the five new Carnegie steamers to go into the water.
      Marine Review
      May 31, 1900
     
     
     

      Lorain, May 31. -- The steamer LAFAYETTE, second of the fleet of five steamers building for the Pittsburg Steamship Co. (the Carnegie line), was launched at the yard of the American Shipbuilding Co., this afternoon. The steamer was christened by Miss Harriet M. Lander, of Pittsburg. The LAFAYETTE is 454 feet keel, 50 foot beam and 28 feet deep. She will have quadruple expansion engines and Babcock & Wilcox boilers. She will be ready for sea in the latter part of July and be commanded by Capt. F. A. Bailey. The steamer is named after the college in Indiana, following the custom of the line.
      Milwaukee Library Scrapbook
      June 1, 1900
     
     
     
      LAUNCH OF THE CARNEGIE STEAMER LAFAYETTE.
The pleasing custom of releasing a few doves upon the launch of a ship was carried out very successfully on Thursday last when the Carnegie steamer LAFAYETTE was launched at the Lorain works of the American Ship Building Co. This idea, said to be of Japanese origin, was suggested by Mrs. Lauder of Pittsburg, wife of Mr. George Lauder, managing director of the Carnegie Steel Co., and whose daughter, Miss Harriet M. Lauder, christened the ship. No ribbon-covered bottle of wine was used, but as the words "I christen thee Lafayette" were spoken, and as the ship began to slide down the ways, a cage was opened and four doves flew to different points of the compass, bearing the colors of Lafayette college, maroon and white. One of them was found later in the day and will be carried aboard the LAFAYETTE by Capt. Fred. Bailey as a mascot. It was, of course, quite appropriate that some ceremony should attend the launching of the first of the Carnegie vessels built at the Lorain yard. This yard is nearer to both Cleveland and Pittsburg than the Detroit or Chicago yards, where other vessels of the fleet are under construction. The launch was very largely attended by Cleveland friends of Mr. Edwin S. Mills, general manager of the Pittsburg Steamship Co., and the occasion was one of more than ordinary interest at the Lorain yard. In the launching party from Pittsburg were Mrs. Geo. Lauder, the Misses Lauder and the Misses Brown. as well as Mr. James Gayley and Mr. D. M. Clemson of the Carnegie Steel Co. Mr. Gayley is also vice-president of the steamship company.
      Alike to the four other steam vessels of the Pittsburg company's new fleet (HARVARD, PRINCETON, CORNELL and RENSSELAER), the LAFAYETTE is 474 feet over all, 50 feet beam and 28 ½ feet molded depth. She will carry about 7,200 gross tons of ore on 18 feet draught. Her engines are of tons of ore on 10 feel draught Her engines are of quadruple expansion type, having cylinders of 18, 26 3/4, 41 and 63 inches diameter, with a common piston stroke of 42 inches. Boilers are of Babcock & Wilcox watertube type. The horse power of this machinery is about 1,950.
      Aside from the essential particulars just noted, it may be said that the Carnegie vessels are similar to the large fleet of modern ore carriers turned out of lake ship yards within the past two or three years. In anticipation, however, of the use of machines that are being developed at Conneaut for the unloading of ore, certain changes have been made by Mr. Mills in the hold construction of these ships. The changes have the approval, of course, of the builders, as well as a large number of naval architects who were consulted before work on the vessels had been very far advanced. The object is to facilitate the use of the scoop portion of the unloading machine now under trial at Conneaut. The change of construction in the way of hatches throughout the cargo hold is shown in a drawing printed herewith. In lieu of fitting stanchions as originally designed 8 feet apart throughout, it was decided to fit them 4 feet apart between hatches, and on the hatch beams to carry an additional channel stanchion for the height of 'tween decks securely tying the main to the spar deck beam. It was also decided to fun a double line of channel ties (on edge) on lop of 'tween deck beams, at each side of and riveted to the channel stanchions, extending from hatch beam to hatch beam, and well riveted to the same. Double flanged brackets 4 feet long and 4 feet deep Are fitted at each hatch beam. and securely riveted to the beam, channel ties and stanchion sides. This arrangement thoroughly renews the strength lost in removing the continuous stanchion from the hatch beam. The shifting boards are arranged to lap in between the channel tie and stanchion sides and are securely riveted thereto. Deck beams were raised about 9 inches from original plans, in order to give more clearance in the hold proper, and this necessitated the lengthening out of channel stanchion doublings, which, in the case of the stanchion nearest the hatch beam was made to extend to the top of channel ties and securely riveted to them. The side longitudinal stringer was also raised in proportion to the amount the 'tween decks were raised, and the stanchion struts raised in proportion to give longitudinal support to stanchions and flanged brackets. The fore-and-aft channel ties on top and under side of 'tween deck beams at side of hatches, were moved outboard 18 inches on each side and the struts between beams also in proportion, this made the hatch 3 feet wider in the clear, thus allowing the unloading machine to span clear out to the side of the ship.
      Marine Review
      June 7, 1900
     
     
     
Steam screw LAFAYETTE. U. S. No. 141657. Of 5,113 tons gross; 3,827 tons net. Built Lorain, Ohio, 1900. Home port, Duluth, Minn. 454.0 x 50.0 x 28.5 Steel built.
      Merchant Vessel List, U. S., 1901