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AMERICAN BUILT STEEL STEAMER FOR THE RIVER
MAGDALENA.
BY H. L. BEIDWELL.
1881 Scientific American
We recently published an illustrated description of a light draught steel steamer built in England for the Government of the United States of Colombia, to ply on the River Magdalena. American mechanics have also been engaged in constructing light draught vessels for the Magdalena, and we herewith present a view of the last one built in this country, the Victoria, belonging to the Magdalena River Navigation Company. The Victoria was built at Pittsburgh, Pa., by James Rees, Esq., of the Duquesne Engine Works, who also built the Francis Montoya for the same stream, and like the English steamer, was shipped in pieces after being temporarily set up.

The Victoria differs materially from the boat of the Yarrows, which has practically no upper structure, and is shorn of cabins and other accessories, in order to attain extreme lightness of draught. The Rees steamer was intended for a regular freight and passenger traffic, to accommodate which she is provided with a full length cabin on the upper deck and an officers' cabin above on the hurricane deck. The upper works are complete with all the appointments and fixtures of a regular North American river vessel. The hull is with steam up, a splendid result for a vessel so complete in all particulars.