J. H. Wade (Propeller), U76884, 15 Apr 1895

The steel freight steamer J.H. WADE, owned by the Cleveland Rolling Mill Company and managed by Capt. W. C. Richardson, has recently been strengthened at the ship yard of the Globe Iron Works Company in a manner that would indicate the determination of her owners to keep their vessel up to the highest possible standard. The WADE was hardly more in need of alterations tending to increase her strength than numerous other steel vessels on the lakes, but her manager and owners decided to make her capable of withstanding, for many years, the wear and tear incidental to the ore trade, in which she is engaged. The topsides have been doubled with six plates, each 28" x 51" x 9/16", one plate 20' x 51" x 9/16" and one plate 16' x 51" x 9/16" on each side of the steamer. The sheer strakes have been doubled on both sides by seven plates, each 28' x 50' x " and one plate 14' x 50" x ". The new sheer strakes extend down from the top of the gunwale bar and overlap the original topside plates 18 inches and the topside doubling plates 14 inches, thus making an exceptionally strong connection between the gunwale and side of the hull.
      The total length of the new doubling is 210 feet on each side and extends from 6 feet forward of the forecastle bulkhead to 3 feet abaft of the engine room gangway. All the plates have been carefully fitted edge to edge of the original plates and are in perfect metallic contact with the same, as all the old paint was completely scraped off. The sheer and side plate butts are all connected by triple riveted straps of ample dimensions for inch rivets, thus making the strongest possible connection All the original holes were drilled from ¾ inch to inch, to obtain fair holes and a proper area of riveting, the whole of which is perfectly efficient and tight. The bottom has recently been repaired and is now in first class condition. The hold ceiling has been partly renewed and made good and the hull is newly painted. The work was done under the supervision of Joseph R. Oldham, as representative of the owners, who says the arrangement is the best he has ever seen carried into practical effect, and it has made the Wade one of the strongest boats on the lakes.
      Marine Review
      April 15, 1895