The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-07-05
THE NEW INMAN STEAMER CITY
OF CHESTER.

The steam fleet " the Mersyy IS uudoubt-
edy the finest tn the world, anna lusthrs
the honest pride with which the various
companies are wont CIV oren their rySpyy-
tive vessels fir the Inspection NJ Illustrluus
visitors The development W. rhis special
branch III the mercantile traffic VT Liver
pool has been effected 80 rapidly that diff
hCu.ty has been experienced Iu Keeping
pace with the steam requirements of the
port, especially since the labor market he-
came SO unsettled and the ctst ri materials
was 50 greatly advanced. let the various
companies have cNertcd themselves tl the
utmost. any. taxing advantage 40 all the
modern improvements Iu ship building and
engineering they have added tn their fleets
some 10 tho most splendid steamers which
now traverse the mighty deep. We have
had occasion from time % time 10 record
the arrival IN VA, Mersey of some of these
new steamers. but 1t has Not been our pro-
vince III ANY instance To direct public atten-
tIuu to Su magnificent "a steamer as the CITY
Of Chester. belou my to the Liverpool
New YORK, ana Philadelphia Steamship
Company winch rived iU the Nerse.
vest -'.r AZ rr "r e ts.r.u
"a -- sa... .H..r.-. u .r ... .tuu..
uara t- Infect n,. never ..-.g s.et. Mt
tats ..rf .lAu ... steamer City Of Chester
The treat Eastern was a far larger steamer
with enormous carrying CapacI.v hut that
vessel Vas never distinguished Nv beauty
OF form or symmetry, ana because an ob-
Jet Of attraction chiefly 10y Its enormous
size The lumau Iur, arepIug pace with
the progress uf THE times have made
another advance IN the size W. their steam
ers, ana II Is stIi t1 be- the intention VI the
company shortly to lav down the keel of
another yesse, even 40 feet longer than the
City gt Chester. and with "A proportlonate
increase Iu beam
I'll October 1871 Messrs Card & 70
shlp-ouIlders ana engineers, III Greenock
commenced thg construction IF this new
stea ncr lu their yard WIZ THE bank W the
Clyde, ana ,u tile 90 ot March last the
vessel was launched, with her boilers ~
board, the works having been carried out
10 4 most successful completion The bull
ders Nery a..tNcl t1 carry Out the internal
decorations ~ the steamer according u
their own taste, ana they have performed
the task ID z manner which reflects the
highest credit upon their Judgment, ana
which vii make the City ~ Chester a
standard II elegance and refinement in the
decoration and arrangement ~ passenger
boats. The following are the dimensions
OF the steamer - Length over All. 49, feet.
BREADTH ~ feet, depth. 36 feet height BE-
tween decks, feet 8 inches gross tonnage.
5000 tons The engines. which Arg ~ the
compound inverted order are ~ $50 horse
gov nominal, but are capable IL working
.4 p 1900 horse power, the diameter ~
the largest cylinder Is 12U inches. the
smallest ditto y inches. ana the stroke ;
feet inches, being the longest stroke
ever made for engines 0f this kind There
are IA boilers fired by y furnaces: ana
some idea may be formed of the funnel,
which IS more than 81 feet in circumfer-
ence, when We state that if il we're laid
down an ordinary man could walk through
/. with an open umbrella over Ill head.
The machinery which Is placed almost
amidships, is Of the most substantial char
acter, and occupies an immense space,
down which some If the passengers. with
more temerity than others. CROPPED their
way amidst the almost deafenlng sounds %
wheels and cranks Ia the shaft passage. and
even to the St. Ike hole, where men begrim-
ed with coal dust, down which reeking
persplratiOn was making channels. we're
laboriously following their arduous and
unpleasant toll
Taking 1rst a survey Of the deck, We
hnd that the main decks are constructed
with iron resting on girders ~ enormous
strength, and covered with pitch pine
There are three capacious bridges. that for
ward being occupied by two lookout men
on the starboard and port side, the eleva-
ton OF this bridge enabling the men "
a N, II
IN hne weather The middle bridge II IVY
cupied by the officer Id command Wy the
vessel with a subordinate officer With him.
and the bridge near the stern is also used
as lookout. In the davIts around the
steamer there are ten very capaci0us boats.
SIX Of which are life-boats, the whole being
capable, in the event Of casualty. ~ car
rylng several hundred passengers. The
quarters Of the officers, engineers. hremen.
and sailors occupy the central part Of the
ship between decks and close u where
their duties chiefly call them There are
also on the sides Of the deck the various
Offices connected with the galley lavatories
and other arrangements for both male and
female emigrants; hospitals and stores Of
various kinds. There is direct communi-
cation between the central bridge and en-
glne room by means Of Chadburn's telegra-
phlc apparatus, which not only directs the
engineer at hat speed 10 drive the vessel.
but registers the answer from the engine
room, showing that the message is under
stood. Many systems OF steam steering
gear have been introduced into the mer-
camille marine, but they are gradually sup
planted by the apparatus invented by Mr..
J. Macfarlane Gray, with which this new
steamer has been fitted. and which works
most effectively. Upon the deck are three
steam wlnches which can be employed not
only for shipping and unshipping cargo,
but also for reehng sails. for heavng the
anchor, and for various other purposes
The deck houses are all constructed of
teak, and the engine and boiler matches
are formed OF iron rivetted TO the deck
plating, and Of .reat strength. The lower
parts of the main and fore masts are of
iron, but the other portions Of the masts
and the whole OF the mizenmast are formed
Of pitch pine. ample provision is made
on board for eNtlngulshing FIRE, should
such q casualty ever occur. by means of
steam pipes fitted 10 every compartment Of
the steamer, aided b three Of Downton's
pumps worked by hand power. aud centri-
fugal and bilge pumps capable Of throwing
300 gallons of water per minute. Two
features upon the deck call for a passing
notice One Of these is a very large and
oDmmodious cabin for ladies, fitted in
most luxurious and elegant style, the cur
tains and all the other arrangements being
On suite; the other room is q gentlemens
L. -<nv,, On fao@ hr fonk 6ttaI xv;1h