The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1873-12-26
TWO IMMENsE STEAMSHIPS.
A Pair Of New TeFsels for the White
Star Line-The Most Powerful
Passenger Steamers Afl0at-
Luxurious Improve
menfs,

A correspondent lately visited the
ship-building yards of Messrs. Harland
and Wolf, at Belfast, Ireland, and sends
some interesting items relative to the
latest additions to the White Star feet
ofsteamships.
The new ships, named the Britannia
and the Germanic, which are already
nearly completed, are intended to be su-
rerior even to present vessels ofthis line.
In general appearance, and at the first
glance, one would class them as extra
counterparts of the Adriatic or Celtic
only larger; but when the deck is gain
ed, and the great size of the vessels has
received due consideration-it always
excites surprise-many deviations from
what may be called the original White
Star plan are noticeable. Most of these
alterations have been suggested by the
experience of the past two years; some
have been rendered necessary on account
of the increased size and power brought
into the calculations.
A point which attracts attention is the
protection the after part of a ship re-
ceives from turtle deck, in general de-
sign the same as those now seen "for-
ward" on the other White Star boats.
This is for the purpose of rendering the
steering deck more dry and comfortable.
On the saloon deck remarkable and
| advantageous change has been made.
Aft of the wheel-honse, chart-room, and
captains room, ladies' deck saloon,
large and extremely elegant, has been
provided; SO that no longer will the de-
risive complaint of the ladies be heard
that "the gentlemen have too much COM
fort all to themselves in the smoking
room" Hitherto the lobby at the head
of the stairs has been the usual favorite
morning room" for the ladies; this will
be superseded by the great convenience
afforded By the new drawingroom of the
Britannia.
The main sal DON is lighted both by
sidelights, as in the other ship, and by
deck or sky-light. The dimensions of
the saloon are some forty-five by eighty
feet. Two hundred guests can easily be
accommodated, and instead of the long
settees which one naturally expects to
find, arm chairs havn been substituted.
The arrangements for ventilation
throughout the ship are novel. and are
expected to approach perfection. Be
sides the ordinary ventilators, an i'm
mense fan is used by which hot or cold
air can at will be driven through the
tubes to any part of the vessel. Other
minor novelties there are but too numer-
Gus to mention; the bathrooms, barber
shop, mail and specie rooms (iron,)
servants rooms, nursery, &C., are all sit
uated below the saloon.
The hull is said to be "as strong as
iron and money can make it." It ia
bu,l in no less than eight water-tight
iron compartments, which extend from
keel to upper deck, not, as it is too Of
ten the case, to the lower or third deck
only. The ships are rugged on the usual
White Star plan, SO as to carry an i'm
mense spread of canvas when required.
To describe the engine-room would re-
quire chapter in itself Suffice it to
say that the engines are by Maudsley
& Field and will indicate four thousand
horse power. The two ships are said
to be the most powerful passenger steam
ers in the world. The tonnage is 4,750
tons They will be ready for sea in time
for the spring business.