Some of them were to be steamships and some consorts, for towing, but all were to be built on substantially the same general pattern, which was to represent the best ideals then prevalent for ore-carrying ships.
In giving such an order he was exposed, of course, to the risk of paying very high prices.

This would have been certain if Mr.Mather had announced in advance that he was prepared to build twelve ships and asked bids on them.

Just how he managed it I was not told until long after, and though it is now an old story of the lakes I repeat it as it may be new to many.

Mr.Mather kept the secret of the number of ships he wished to construct absolutely to himself.

He sent his plans and specifications, each substantially a duplicate of the others, to each of the firms, and asked each firm to bid on one or two ships as the case might be.