Wilmington daily gazette., 1874-03-18
A MONSTER VESSEL.
LAUNCH OF THE "cITY OF PEKINa," AT CHESTER
THE LARGEST VESSEL IN THE WORLD TX.
cEPT THE "dREAT EAsTBRN"-pIMEy-

LAoNeh of iHE "CITf OF PEkING, AT CHESTSR
THE LARGEST VESSEL IN THE WORLD TX.
cEPT THE "dREAT EAsTBRN"-DIMEy.
sIoNs AND DESCRIPTION.
To-day, at one O'Clock, 2. ii. the monster steam
ship Cay of Pekug. was launched from the ward
OF the Delaware River lion Ship Building and
Engine works Company John Roach, President,
John b. Roach. Secretary, and VIM Parker, 1rea-
surer) IN the presence OF an immense concourse
OF people, including many distinguished visitors.
ihe launch was graudly successful
The City Of Pekin0 is being constructed for the
Pacific Mail steamship Company, of New York,
and is to be used by them on their line running
| between San Francisco and China and Japan. as
we stated above, is the largest vessel in the ord
except the Great Eastern. The following are
the
GENERAL DIMENSIONS:
Length over all, 420 feet; length; on load line
$40 feet q Inches length Of beam moulded Al feet
4 inches; depth, SS feet inches tonnage, 5000
tons.
Just at present there Is considerable rivalry be.
tween shipbuiders for the honor of turning out
| the next largest steamship to the Great Eastern
| and the City OF Peking has two rivals in the re
spect. But the figures given above effectually
| dispose Of these rival claims, as the Delaware
| ouit vessel measures 5000 tons while the Iberia
recently launched at Glasgow for the Pacific Steam
| Navigation Company, the British rival COMPANY.
measures only 4s2O tons and the Britannc he
new White star steamship, recently launched a.
vessels, however, are longer than the City OF 70
king, the iberia being 46Ofeet and the Britannia
40 feet. But recent ex perience, has proved con-
clusively that vessels OF such extreme length are
| much less seaworthy than those OF shorter AID
| wider dimensions.
lhe City OF Peking Will have four masts: fuil 81 D
rig, with lore and ait rigger masts.
| THE ENGINES
| are Of the finest and most complete kind T'bev
are double compound surface condensing engines,
and the following figures will show their size and
strength -high pressure cylinder 81 inches IL
diameter w-pressure cylinder IS inches in d;a-
meter; stroke OF pistons III Inches; average iud:-
Gated horsepower $500. The boilers are ten in
number, each 10 feet inches long and l3 feet in
diameter; mean pressure 90 pounds to the square
inch.
The average con sumption Of coal by the nam.
moth furnaces Will be hfty tons every twonty.iou-
, hours.
Iha propeller wheel is HirscLs patent, with
, four blades diameter 70 feet inches: meau pitch
! of blades, 80 feet.
r Estimated speed Of ship, AZ knots per hour.
THE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATIONS,
are Of the most elegant and comfortable descrr-
ton. They have been built with the view Of Sc
D curing ventilation and comfort in every respect,
aud even the third-class passengers can never find
cause for complaint in their roomy and well-ar-
ranged quarters. There are arrangements for
carrying. In all, 1870 passengers, divided as :ol-
lows First class, l20; second ciass, go, m irt
Il Class, luVO
e The boats, ten in number are fitted with all T.
requirements OF the various acts of Congress and
e with all the necessary davIts and appurtenarces
They are two complete sets Of steering gear
steam and hand.
r In TACT, eTerything tult money, talent OF all Ii
II needed kinds, the gigLest sciGutLc knouledue.
It could produce 10 prevent the City Peking from
Experiencing any OF the terrible disasters at sea-
IS which every few days shock the public has beer
= used In her construction. And when fully con-
IT pleted and equipped, it viii be as safe ard as
e saunch vessel as ever rode On the n ghty deep.
a The trial trip Will take place in about 3 months
a from this time.
Ie The same company are now engaged IN baild
If ing companion ship to the City Of Pekipg, 10 pe
- called
CITY OF YEDpo.
-e 1t is being built exactly the same size as tl.c
City ot Peking, and Will he fac-simile in ever,
respect. 1t Is fully under way and will be read,
lie for launching IN about eight weeks.
le The works at which these ships are te;pc bull
q are one oil the largest in the United States anc
~ they contain every facility for turning out 10
lnest and most complete steamships.
o. They employ at present time 1900 men on fr
in time, aud present scene ot noisy activity and in
n dustry that is cheerful to witness especially whe
~ We take into consideration the many shipyard
No that have been idle so long.