[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 56 (Tuesday, May 9, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E678]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              IN HONOR OF THE WILLIAM G. MATHER STEAMSHIP

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 9, 2000

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 75th 
anniversary of the launching of the William G. Mather Steamship on May 
23, 2000.
  The Mather has had a presence on Cleveland's waterfront for nearly 75 
years, first as a working Great Lakes freighter, and since 1991, as a 
floating maritime museum. The Mather is one of only four Great Lakes 
freighters in existence, boasting Northeast Ohio's proud heritage as a 
major maritime industrial and shipping center.
  A former flagship of the Cleveland-Cliffs fleet, the 618 foot William 
G. Mather was a state-of-the art technology in Great lakes freighters 
when first launched in 1925. It is named for long-time Cleveland-Cliffs 
president and leading Cleveland businessman and philanthropist, William 
Gwinn Mather (1857-1951). The Mather made hundreds of trips 
transporting iron ore from the Upper Lakes to Cleveland's waiting steam 
mills. This is how the Mather was nicknamed, ``The Ship That Built 
Cleveland.''
  The William G. Mather has had a long and distinguished merchant 
marine career. It was one of the first commercial Great Lakes vessels 
to be equipped with radar in 1946. It has been designated a National 
Historic Landmark by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers for 
its industrial first of a single marine boiler system, its computer-
like, automated boiler system and its dual propeller bow thrusters.
  In 1980, the Mather retired from service. In 1987, it was donated for 
restoration and preservation as a maritime museum and educational 
facility. Since 1991, thousands of visitors and area school children 
have ``come aboard'' and toured the historic Mather freighter.
  The Mather freighter has served this community for years as ``The 
Ship That Built Cleveland.'' My fellow colleagues, join me in 
recognizing the Mather as we celebrate its 75th Anniversary.

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