AMERICANS AT WORK - TOW BOAT

Series: Americans at Work

Year Published: 1959

Creator: AFL-CIO

Description:

“Americans at Work” was produced by Norwood Studios for the AFL-CIO. This is one of 99 films in the series intended to educate the American public on various union industrial jobs and duties. This episode "Tow Boat" workers celebrates the fabled profession, and discusses the romantic aspects of life on the water. It is littered with references to Mark Twain, the famed tow boat pilot who stole his pen-name from chatter of the leadsmen who would signal "Mark One, Mark Twain" when measuring depths. It is a silver dream of river jewelry, tattle talkers, timberheads and river heads. The film dives into the roles of crew members, engineers and pilots. It traces a day in the life as they load cargo into massive barges and navigate major locks through the Mississippi muddy waters and its tributaries. Historically it relays the shift through the steamboat era and into diesel. Towboats cart loads of petroleum, steel and various chemicals. (Note: The AFL-CIO is a major national trade union center operating since December of 1955 through a merger between the AFL; established in 1886 and the CIO; established in 1935.)

The film opens with images of the pusher towboat W.S. Rhea pushing a barge under the old St. Charles Bridge on Route 115 in Saint Charles Missouri and the deep bellow of the tow boat whistle (:08). The title screen appears superimposed over a tow boats man (:40). The view runs past a coal plant owned by the Peabody Coal mining company headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri established in 1883. Towboat Tom Sawyer of the Al Barges Line Inc pushes a load of coal ahead (1:12). This was built in 1933 by Midland Barge Company at Midland, Pa. A wide shot of the large tow boat and its load follows (1:24). Another tow carts a load from Pennsalt Chemicals Corp (formed in 1850 as Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company) (1:41). A mound of sulfur awaits transport (2:02). Deckhands toss rope for docking (2:08). Pilot hands push forward controls of the diesel engine (2:21). Timberheads on the deck are zoomed in on (2:41). Deck hands hoist cargo onto the boat (2:41). The character of crew members, their wages and shifts are explained (2:50). One hoists a package of tide onto his shoulder (3:07). The tow boat passes a Peabody Coal Plant (3:37). Cargos of coal swim behind (3:52). Radar rotates atop the boat (3:54). The steamer SS Admiral cruises by (3:56). This famed excursion steamboat ran on the Mississippi River from the Port of St. Louis Missouri from 1940 to 1978. A small express cruiser follows; another river traveler the pilot must watch for (4:00). Leadsmen take soundings to uncover the waters depth (4:14) using lines weighted with lead. Samuel Langhorne Clemens penname was plucked from the call of the leadsmen (4:42). A towboat begins the process of moving through locks (4:57). The tattle talk maintains communication between crew and pilot (5:13). They begin to move through a lock (5:31); overheads shots follow (6:20). Large loads are separated (6:26) and reconnected (6:31). Deckhands work with river jewelry; steel cables, chains and ratchets (7:12). Deck hands were safety jackets (7:37). A water skier glides by (8:10). The Grafton towboat (8:38). Female cooks prepare hearty meals for the crew (9:06). Many of the women were members of the union. Another lock appears on the horizon (10:34). The Bald Eagle (11:31). A Chris Craft type motorboat drives by (11:36) and the Prairie State towboat is shown. Workers perform maintenance tasks atop the towboat (11:44). Rope is spliced (11:49). Landmarks are noted for travel (12:12). Close shots show the pilot’s list (12:16) including Our Lady Liberty of the River. The actual shrine appears (12:20). Many of the workers were members of the maritime union of the AFL-CIO (13:31). The seal closes the film (13:19).

SS Admiral was an excursion steamboat that operated on the Mississippi River from 1940 to 1978. The ship dismantled for scrap starting in 2011.

, "Americans at Work: Tow Boat" is a 1959 film that highlights the vital role of towboat workers on the Mississippi River. It showcases how modern towboats, powered by diesel engines, push large barges filled with essential cargo. The film emphasizes the skills required for operating towboats, including navigation, teamwork, and safety protocols. It also portrays the lifestyle of the crew, their connection to the river, and the camaraderie among workers, including the importance of meal times and the unique challenges they face while navigating locks and bends. The film celebrates the contributions of towboat workers as part of America's industrial landscape. Keywords towboat, Mississippi River, barges, AFL-CIO, maritime unions, navigation, deckhands, river life, teamwork, safety protocols, "Americans at Work: Tow Boat" is a 1959 film that highlights the vital role of towboat workers on the Mississippi River. It showcases how modern towboats, powered by diesel engines, push large barges filled with essential cargo. The film emphasizes the skills required for operating towboats, including navigation, teamwork, and safety protocols. It also portrays the lifestyle of the crew, their connection to the river, and the camaraderie among workers, including the importance of meal times and the unique challenges they face while navigating locks and bends. The film celebrates the contributions of towboat workers as part of America's industrial landscape. Keywords towboat, Mississippi River, barges, AFL-CIO, maritime unions, navigation, deckhands, river life, teamwork, safety protocols

Complete Record: “Americans at Work” was produced by Norwood Studios for the AFL-CIO. This is one of 99 films in the series intended to educate the American public on various union industrial jobs and duties. This episode "Tow Boat" workers celebrates the fabled profession, and discusses the romantic aspects of life on the water. It is littered with references to Mark Twain, the famed tow boat pilot who stole his pen-name from chatter of the leadsmen who would signal "Mark One, Mark Twain" when measuring depths. It is a silver dream of river jewelry, tattle talkers, timberheads and river heads. The film dives into the roles of crew members, engineers and pilots. It traces a day in the life as they load cargo into massive barges and navigate major locks through the Mississippi muddy waters and its tributaries. Historically it relays the shift through the steamboat era and into diesel. Towboats cart loads of petroleum, steel and various chemicals. (Note: The AFL-CIO is a major national trade union center operating since December of 1955 through a merger between the AFL; established in 1886 and the CIO; established in 1935.) The film opens with images of the pusher towboat W.S. Rhea pushing a barge under the old St. Charles Bridge on Route 115 in Saint Charles Missouri and the deep bellow of the tow boat whistle (:08). The title screen appears superimposed over a tow boats man (:40). The view runs past a coal plant owned by the Peabody Coal mining company headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri established in 1883. Towboat Tom Sawyer of the Al Barges Line Inc pushes a load of coal ahead (1:12). This was built in 1933 by Midland Barge Company at Midland, Pa. A wide shot of the large tow boat and its load follows (1:24). Another tow carts a load from Pennsalt Chemicals Corp (formed in 1850 as Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company) (1:41). A mound of sulfur awaits transport (2:02). Deckhands toss rope for docking (2:08). Pilot hands push forward controls of the diesel engine (2:21). Timberheads on the deck are zoomed in on (2:41). Deck hands hoist cargo onto the boat (2:41). The character of crew members, their wages and shifts are explained (2:50). One hoists a package of tide onto his shoulder (3:07). The tow boat passes a Peabody Coal Plant (3:37). Cargos of coal swim behind (3:52). Radar rotates atop the boat (3:54). The steamer SS Admiral cruises by (3:56). This famed excursion steamboat ran on the Mississippi River from the Port of St. Louis Missouri from 1940 to 1978. A small express cruiser follows; another river traveler the pilot must watch for (4:00). Leadsmen take soundings to uncover the waters depth (4:14) using lines weighted with lead. Samuel Langhorne Clemens penname was plucked from the call of the leadsmen (4:42). A towboat begins the process of moving through locks (4:57). The tattle talk maintains communication between crew and pilot (5:13). They begin to move through a lock (5:31); overheads shots follow (6:20). Large loads are separated (6:26) and reconnected (6:31). Deckhands work with river jewelry; steel cables, chains and ratchets (7:12). Deck hands were safety jackets (7:37). A water skier glides by (8:10). The Grafton towboat (8:38). Female cooks prepare hearty meals for the crew (9:06). Many of the women were members of the union. Another lock appears on the horizon (10:34). The Bald Eagle (11:31). A Chris Craft type motorboat drives by (11:36) and the Prairie State towboat is shown. Workers perform maintenance tasks atop the towboat (11:44). Rope is spliced (11:49). Landmarks are noted for travel (12:12). Close shots show the pilot’s list (12:16) including Our Lady Liberty of the River. The actual shrine appears (12:20). Many of the workers were members of the maritime union of the AFL-CIO (13:31). The seal closes the film (13:19). SS Admiral was an excursion steamboat that operated on the Mississippi River from 1940 to 1978. The ship dismantled for scrap starting in 2011., "Americans at Work: Tow Boat" is a 1959 film that highlights the vital role of towboat workers on the Mississippi River. It showcases how modern towboats, powered by diesel engines, push large barges filled with essential cargo. The film emphasizes the skills required for operating towboats, including navigation, teamwork, and safety protocols. It also portrays the lifestyle of the crew, their connection to the river, and the camaraderie among workers, including the importance of meal times and the unique challenges they face while navigating locks and bends. The film celebrates the contributions of towboat workers as part of America's industrial landscape.

Keywords

towboat, Mississippi River, barges, AFL-CIO, maritime unions, navigation, deckhands, river life, teamwork, safety protocols, "Americans at Work: Tow Boat" is a 1959 film that highlights the vital role of towboat workers on the Mississippi River. It showcases how modern towboats, powered by diesel engines, push large barges filled with essential cargo. The film emphasizes the skills required for operating towboats, including navigation, teamwork, and safety protocols. It also portrays the lifestyle of the crew, their connection to the river, and the camaraderie among workers, including the importance of meal times and the unique challenges they face while navigating locks and bends. The film celebrates the contributions of towboat workers as part of America's industrial landscape.

Keywords

towboat, Mississippi River, barges, AFL-CIO, maritime unions, navigation, deckhands, river life, teamwork, safety protocolsNOTE: Two (or more) records have been merged together to create this data.

Transcription

[Music] [Applause] [Music] the river belongs now to the towboat the fabled steamboat of Mark Twain's day has rounded the bend and its glorious day is passed the face of the river changes but not the need for Americans at Work men who can keep the towboats pushing upstream or Downstream with a string of barges a quarter of a mile long moving out in front of them the river towboat never toes it pushes one once barges were lashed to steamboats or were towed by tugboats because its job is to move barges the name towboat has stuck to the powerful Workhorse of the river by pushing his cargo ahead the pilot of the boat has a clear view of the river and of his load which may be several times as big as a football field towboats and their toes are longer than the largest oceangoing ship and they can move more bulk cargo more economically than can any other kind of Transportation the primary area in which they work is the Mississippi and the rivers and canals that feed into it along these waterways are concentrated many industries that consume enormous quantities of petroleum products coal transported in huge black [Music] Mounds steel products including heavy pig iron and bulk chemicals such as [Music] sulfur deck hands everywhere need to be handy with rope for docking there's no substitute for [Music] it modern towboats are propelled by diesel engines as powerful as those on many ocean liners these are kept responsive to the Pilot's sensitive handling of the controls by the engineer and his crew these posts on the decks are still called timberhead even though today they are made of [Music] metal the towboat takes on more than barges at stops along the way deck hands bring aboard Provisions the towboat deck hand is never very far from land and seldom very far from the water most of the men who work the toeb boats come from the small towns and Farms along the river they start usually because it's a job with good pay good food a place to sleep if they don't like it they drop out after a trip or two if they stay on longer than that the river becomes their life a career that can lead to advancement to mate master or Pilot pulling up to a town to drop or pick up barges and then leaving in an hour or so this is a cycle repeated again and again by the pilot and his crew a towboat may make as many as a dozen stops during the trip [Music] towboats make good use of radar in a river crowded and bustling with big boats and with little boats radar is used primarily in foggy weather to keep River traffic moving [Music] safely what's the depth out on the barges the leadsman takes soundings to find out he uses a line weighted with lead and marked with colored cloth or leather at Key depths the line is 33 ft long but to the leadsman any depth greater than 24 ft is no bottom far deeper than a towboat could ever need the chat of the ledman is the language of the river for 22 1/2 ft his call is quarter less four for 16 1/2 ft quarter lless tree for 12 ft Mark Twain a phrase that later became the pen name for a Riverboat pilot Samuel Langhorn Clemens for the towboat there are many trips through the river's locks this is familiar work for the experienced deck hand it starts with the long walk out on the barges carrying a telet talk known on the River as a tattletail with it the deck hand can carry on a two-way conversation with the pilot a th000 ft back the tattletail is a useful instrument but its efficiency ended a delightful River custom in earlier days bargan chanted their observations back through a megaphone and the Riverbanks echoed with their songs without locks the Upper Mississippi and the rivers that feed into it could not be navigated by modern towbots but if the lock is the river man's friend it is an exacting friend demanding of pilot and crew patience proficiency and coolness in the face of danger a pilot often has to steer a tow 105 ft wide into a lock only 110 ft [Music] wide the pilot on the towboat and the deck hand out of on the barges must work together closely if the pilot has little margin for error the deck hand has little margin for safety while securing the toe inside the [Music] lock today's toes are so large many of them are longer than the locks in this case they are broken into two sections and taken through separately then deck hands must put them back together again fastening them so securely that toes containing as many as 20 barges are combined with the towboat to steer as one unit [Music] these steel cables chains and ratchets they work with are called River jewelry it's hot work in summer out where the metal barges and the steel cables hold the heat in winter it's dangerous work when a rainstorm is whipped in by high winds coating men and barges with ice de hands wear life jackets as one part of a safety program conducted jointly by the maritime unions and the owners of the barge lines they work a schedule that's different from the hours of landbased people on a trip they work a 12-h hour day 6 hours on a watch and 6 hours off and they work every day of the week for as long as the journey continues once a given trip is over they are entitled to a day off with pay for every day they have worked [Music] to the people he passes along the way both ashore and on the river the Riverboat pilot is a legendary figure he presides over his part of the river world with complete Authority his eye ever alert to the changing face of the river Mark Twain the voice of all the Riverboat Pilots once wrote there is one faculty which a pilot must incessantly cultivate until he has brought it to absolute perfection that faculty is memory he cannot stop with merely thinking a thing is soand so he must know it this for example is a point to be filed away in his memory where he sees the core of engineers at work he knows he can expect an improved Channel perhaps in time for his next trip one of the features of towboat life that all rivermen like is Meal Time unlike the offshore vessels meals on many Riverbats are prepared by women the Comforts of home why not to a toe Boatman his boat is home the women enjoy their jobs on the river there's a special excitement to being on a boat and to feeling they belong there they are members of the same unions as the men when they prepare a meal they can be sure it will be appreciated a towboat considered a good feeder guarantees a happy and hardworking crew towboat workers are not reluctant eaters they work hard they eat well there's a saying too that the toe Boatman who's thin just hasn't been on the river very long [Music] sometimes it seems the boat hardly pushes through one lock before another appears on the Upper Mississippi there are 27 on the Ohio close to 50 the pilot is always looking ahead preparing the tow for the next maneuver even as he is executing the present one getting in shape this is called he has to get in shape for a bend for a bridge for a landing for a lock or for a Crossing where Another River joins his from the long experience he needs to earn his license the pilot knows he cannot steer a toe as he would a light boat he knows he can never work against the river the force of a Great River is an awesome thing he has to work with it making it do big part of his job for him [Music] the river is an ideal place for recreation but not to a man on watch there's no end to work to be done on the towboat while one deck hand cleans the search light another splices rope like the river itself the work goes on and on [Music] landmarks the Riverman knows their importance without a point of reference one spot on the river is like another it is the face of the land that tells the pilot where he is [Music] father of waters this is the name the Indians gave the mighty river flowing through the heart of America a river of folklore Legend and song a river great in its own right but greater still because of the people in the past who have made its life part of our National Heritage greater still because of the people today who make the river live for the enrichment of all the towboat workers organized members of the Maritime unions of the AFL CIO Americans at work for you Americans at work presented as a public service by the AFL CIO next week another story of Americans at work Americans whose skill and effort help keep our country great and strong a