The daily gazette., 1881-08-24
From the rhiissdsiphia Press.
OCEAN STEAMSHIPS.
THE EAMERICANL LINE PREPARING
FOR INCREASING BUSINESS.

TVh ANChEAbAN& bUS1NESD.
Two Vessels to be Built I'm England d
and Two in America-The servia
to be Inspected as q Probable
Model.
1t is probable that Messrs. James
and George Thomas, the largest ship
builders ia Great Britain, whose yards
are situated at Clyde Bank, above
Glasgow, will soon construct two new
steamships for the He'd Star Line,
modelling them somewhat after the
new Cunard vessel Servia, which ia
now on her voyage to this country
In the meantime the Red Star steam
ships which have hitherto come to this
port have been Withdrawn to establish
weekly service betwesn New York
and Antwerp, move which has been
demanded by increased travel from
that port, as well as by the Royal Mail
Service of Belgium, which has been a
Large source of revenue to the Steam-
ship Company. The Servia is built
wholly of steel, and is one of the larg-
est vessels In the transatlantic service.
In most respects her constructors fol-
LEVIED those fearures which are well
known in the later built steamships of
the Cunard line, having large saloon
located fairly amidships and with
ladies' parlor and smoking-room on
the upper deck. The companion. ways
leading from one deck to another are
more spacious, while the saloon deck
is cleared almost completely for pas.
senger promenade. The new vessels
of the He'd Star Line will be construct
ed with particular regard for the con-
venience of passengers and the accom-
mediation of freight will be made for
the first time in the Red Star steamers
a matter of secondary Importance.
WHAT THE AMERICAN LINE WILL DO.
sour passenger service has increased
enormously of late MONTHS" said Mr..
Benner of Peter Wright & Sons, yes
terday, Showing the expediency of
landing Continental travellers in the
heart of Belgium, whence Berlin,
Brussels, Paris, or even London, are
within easy access. We shall proba..
bly, have" the speaker concluded,
"four new steamships, two of which
will be built in this country for the
American Line, and all of which will
be as good as any in the transatlantic
service. There will be q Red Star
steamship sailing from New York
every Saturday, aud another from this
port every two weeks"
show is it that you go to the Clyde
| for your new vessels ?" an officer O.
the line was asked.
| SIT is nothing remarkable, because
all of our vessels have been built In
Great Britain. The Nederland and
Vaderland were. launched at New Cas-
tie, and the Belgenland, Rhynland and
Waesland at Barrow. The contract
for the new vessels has not, however,
been signed with Thomas Brothers. !"
"a great deal has been said ON the
subject, but Is there any reason why finer
ocean steamships should be built on the
Clyde than on the Delaware? Have they
better facilities there for getting timber
and iron or for launchingp"
| "No; at almost any point above Dun.
barton on the Clyde boy could throw
stone from one bank TO another, and
yet the river is alive with commerce,
carried on by some Of the largest stea-
mers afoat, while at various points upon
its ba nks are the ship-building establish.
ments that have made the name of The
muddy, winding stream famous. Why
when they LAUNCH one of our steamships
there they anchor 1t to one bank before
IL leaves the stays to prevent 1t from
running into the opposite shore. Iron is
brought from greater distance than 1t
would have to come here, but on the
Clyde there are the most skilled work.
men and the finest machinery in the
world.
THE CLYDE BUILDERS PLANS.
"On new vessel Messrs. Thomas
wish to carry the main saloon to heigh
equivalent to two decks by series of
double arches, having columns in the
centre. The ordinary saloon, when its
length and width be considered, seems
of necessity TO be low-studded, while it
is all but impossible to ventilate 1t well
except by opening the side ports. But
in rough weather these side lights cannot
be opened, and it must frequently happen
that on a vessel that is to be driven at q
high rate of speed that they will have
to be closed. The passengers, when the
weather is bad crowd the saloon and the
air becomes vitiated. Now, by the pro.
posed plan, the saloon will be light and
airy like our side-wheels Delaw are-river
steamers. These plans are altogether
new and may be adapted for the new
steamships"
President Roberts of the Pennsylva-
mia Railroad and several of the Directors
of the American Line will inspect the
new steamship Servia when she arrives
in New York. The CATALONIA, the new
Cunarder and sister ship to the Gallia,
has arrived at New York on her first
outward voyage. She is not so large as
the Servia and is intended more for
freight and cattle transportation than as
frst-class passenger steamer. 1t is
expected that the Servia, under ordinary
conditions, will make headway of
eighteen and one-balf knots per hour,
which would allow her to make the
quickest trip that has yet been made
across the Atlantic. This is not, how
ever, expected on her first trip. steam
ships being, In some respects, like hor-
ses, and the machinery having to be
worn little before it is pushed to the
top Of its speed. After round trip
across the Atlantic the Servia will be In
condition to show what she can do.
Sea Isle City In Dispute.
D...I- U.-11o-I