The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1872-10-19
TIE PACIFIC
Commercial 30bertlsrr.
SATURDAY. OCT. 70.
OUR NEW YORK LETTER.
lrro4 oua REGULAR coEEr.posDEsr.l

manner not wholly satisfactory such probably will
De the criticism Of come q The hypeFcriticd readers.
2nd probably such would not be incorrect. but dear
readers remember that the subject was not an Orti-
nary one. but altogether and entirely out Of the
common events d the day. What rules Of musical
criticism could be appiedP And what can be said Of
the singiugf very faulty certainly, yet rendered Uuder
such extraordinary circumstances. that the fact that
sny musical sounds az al could be distiHguished-as
was the case-aBd that the music was pieasingi
would seem 70 compensate for all faults. Let any
imagine the scene. aud produce the music mentally,
then apply rules and judge for hemselves-and
probably the difficulty q the matter can be appre-
ciated, bat as the jubilee has become q thing Of the
past-so we will pass to other subjects
From the rushing, c~rOHding, hurTying events that
~ every day, occupying the whole mind and atten-
ton Of all here. il seems q matter Of some difficulty
70 select what will be items Of interest for Hawaiian
readers Bot IL il safe to assume that what ever
relates to the Pacific, and it, commerce life and
people will be worthy Of transcribing to your pages,
and will attract the attention Of readers, Of such
matters. The hrst Of recent occurrence was
THE TRIAL TRIP or THE DAKOTA
Aner having heard aud real 50 much Of this vessel
sod Of her reported and projected trips, that she
would leave for Honolulu no such q time, and then
that che was leaving New York. at another time that
she would be here, there and almost everywhere else,
for verify the Honolulu aud san Francisco papers at
one time and another have had all sorts OF items con-
corning her; il would not be surprisin NJ II some should
feel a certain degree Of s~kepticism on reading the
above caption But this time You shall hear about
the real live actual craft herself No myth now, but
actual iron and wood; good and solid, a beautiful
whole. Seeing the advertisement IN the Herald that
the Dakota was preparing for sea and would sail in
a few days to take her PIare on the California and
Australia line; in company with one or two Hawai-
ilns. I went down 10 the foot Of 9th Street, East
River where she was lying, TO see her and have the
pleasure d kaoWing what sort Of q vessel she was.
And truly II was a pleasure, and she is a noble
vessel. worthy Of being on such q magnificent route
a. the Australian An hours leisure ramble on the
decks, going from stem TO stern, and from keel 10 the
upper deck, rave n good idea Of the external and
r.e.--.T - q ~. vaaaaT uawvfETw uaa ~
confusion. carpenters were at work, Overhauhng and
reftting, s~hip-smiths were pounding aud hanmering,
and maehinists were Overhauling and putting in new
machinery. Everything gave signs OF comfort ana
elegance 70 say nothing Of solidity aud power. We
made the acquaintance Of Mr. Webb, and through
his kindness an invitation was received ~ be present
at the trial trip TO take place on the 10Th OF August,
90 at the appointed time in company with many
others we were on hand, and at Il O'Clock promptly,
the vessel gracefully glided out Of her berth into the
river, and then quietly but rapidly steamed down
towards the bay, passing the crowds Of vessels Of
every nation and character which lined the whhrves
on both sides, and from the numter Of people who
crowded to look as we passed, We must have pre-
sented a fine sights the little steam tugs putting rest
Iessly about gave way as we came, and then with
their shrill whistles, saluted. But soon we were out
in the open bay then New York Teceded and grew
~mIil in the distance. and we passed all sorts Of
sailing craft, and now and then a steamer others
Kept along with US. till the fresh breezes and blue
water OF the ocean opened before US, where we
parted cOmpany-sOme striking out for Europe,
NNAFtN hNNHAuh -ANhh ~ Va' w ~ - fNiAVA7
cOurse-nOw one way. then anOther-doing all
things. 10 better try the machinery and character
u the vessel. At two O'Clock the gong called all
20 lunch. and while the hungry company are par
taking Of the sumptuOus repaSt. let US take a look
at the vessel. Mr.. Webb bought her for the pur-
pOse Of running her on the Panama route she made
but a single trip. since when she has been lying in
the haTbOr here but for the present service over
100000 has been expended. so that you will see
at once that she Is in splendid condition. She was
built in 1865, in Brooklyn, New York. Her length
Is two hundred and eighty feet breadth forty and
outside OF the guards ~sixty-six feet depth of hold
twenty-seven feet. and draws when loaded seven
teen and One-half feet She measures two thousand
one hundred aud tbirty-hve tons, has a main cabin or
saloon and upper deck. and carries eight life boats,
tour OF metal and four Of wood, besides two life
RATS. She has two masts, both square rugged. and
une smoke stack, and has houses on the upper deck
both forward and abaft the walking beam. Asshe
IS a side-wheel steamer. her appearance on the
water can readily be imagined from the above de-
scTiptiOn. Her accommodations are spacious and
comfortable for all classes of passengers. The sa-
loon is on the main deck, back OF the center. aud
il about eighty-ave by twenty-three feet. hand
sOmely panneled to represent mahogany, and pre-
sents altogether a very fine appearance. y row OF
black walnut dining tables runs up and down either
side, and doors from twenty-five state-rOOms open
in between the tables. On the deck below and
furthest aft is a ladies' saloon. being a very hand
some, quiet parlor. finished in dark woods, with
four very large and spacious rooms opening from
10, each containing two berths, the lower one being
double. The state-rOOms on the saloon on main
deck are large. and arranged for three berths each,
though they can be made M with out n single one
or with TIVE. y single lamp set IN the partition be-
tween. lights the two rooms, and also a short passage
leading from the room down into the saloon. On
the upper deck, aft Of the engine, is a house run
ming 90 the stern. except a space about the middle.
where a passage is left for connecting one side Of
the vessel with the other, aud for a saloon skylight.
Forward Of this passage are eight large aud hand
some state-rOOms and the Pursers aud Surgeons
rooms aft are six state-rOOms and II semi-eircUlaT
parIOr mrthest all Each Of the above state-roOms
~ connected by a door with the one opposite. so
NNuV rh.m hWf. auufavn q nw.. UF n.Tra Thu rriIlin
Of the vessel Is occupied by the engine aud machin-
cry, cooks galley, store-room, &c-, &c, with = room
for officers meals.
But 70 finish the matter OF accommodations for
passengers The second cabin is situated on the
lower deck, upon one side. being divided into quarters
Of SIX berths each, but having all necessary privacy
secured by a convenient arrangement OF blinds,
also upon the main deck forward Of the engine, and
on the right hand side. being similar in arrange
ment 10 that below. The Storage Is situated as
usual, forward, and excels for comfort and neatuess,
the usual accommodations OF that class; quarters for
the women are separated and all necessary seclusiOn
secured. So much for accommodations, and it may
well be added that for convenience, light, neatness
and perfect ventilation, the Dakota can hardly be
eIcsled, except perhaps the main saloon, which is
rather dark; and I omitted 10 sly that there is a
ladies saloon similar to that on the Idaho, at the
head Of the stairway. As for freight and other
Recommendations, il will not be necessary to speak, as
they will not interest the general reader. but every
where Is visible the same eye to cleanliness and COM
fort, already spoken Of The Captains room and
other officers quarters, aud wheel-house are as usual
Just back Of the foremost. The complete passenger
capacity is about FIVE hundred and fifty. Of which
about one hundred and fifty are drst-clsss. As for
the machinery n few facts will be interesting. There
are four boilers, each nineteen feet high, and all
new. recently tested and thoroughly approved. The
engine is all new-the cylinder being eighty-One
inches in diameter with q twelve feet stroke Of piston;
the wheels are all Of iron, ffty-tvo feet in diameter
with tUenty-four paddles each, the length Of each
being ten feet. Seventy-fve thousand dollars has
been spent upon the engine. IL can be seen now
that the ship is in hrst-class condition, and well fitted
in every way for the line upon which she is to run;
that she will give fullest satisfaction TO both paSsen-
gers, freight owners, and the owners Of the vessel
can hardly be doubted. At lunch the guests became
acluaintad one with anothar and The utmnst cnrli-