The Jefferson Joins the Fleet
A new steamship built in Tacoma shipyards prepares for its maiden voyage to Alaska, complete with modern refrigeration.
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Work is progressing rapidly on the Jefferson, a new steamer being built for the Alaska Steamship Company at the Heath shipyards in Tacoma. The vessel, expected to launch around March 1, will cost between $200,000 and $225,000. Measuring 226 feet long with a 700-ton freight capacity, it is designed specifically for the Southeastern Alaska run. A major innovation for the ship is a large refrigerating plant in the hold capable of carrying 100 tons of fresh meat, a significant upgrade over previous vessels. Miss Hastings of Port Townsend has been selected to christen the ship as it slides into the Puyallup River. The interior will feature high-end passenger amenities, including a two-story social hall and staterooms.
“She will be 226 feet long, 40 feet wide and will have a freight capacity of 700 tons.”
The Heath shipyards once defined Tacoma’s industrial waterfront, helping build the infrastructure that connected the Pacific Northwest to the Alaska gold fields. Today, the site of this once-frenetic shipbuilding activity is part of the redeveloped industrial and recreational shoreline along the Thea Foss Waterway.
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