Morning journal and courier., 1881-12-03
A WONDERFUL PLAN.

Mir. Jacob Lorillard has promised that by the Spring of 1883 he and others associated with him will have line of fast and 'pala- tia1'' steamships running which will carry passengers across the Atlantic in five or, at most, in five and a half days. Now arises Mir. A. Perry Bliven, who says that he, Ben iamin F. Butler and others will carry passen- gers across the Atlantic in four and 8 half days. MT. Bliven is practical shipbuilder, a naval engineer and marine architect, and he and Captain Monland of the steamer Ba. tasia~ of the Cunard line. have worked out plans for some novel steamers. These ves- sells will have no ''top hamper" Their decks will be completely ''domed." Nothing will be in sight above the dome but the upper part of the pilot house, the smoke stacks and the ventilators. The pilot-house will be en- tered from underneath and will give an un- obstructed view in every direction, being composed of convex glass an inch thick, set solidly in steel frames. The domes are ex- pected to do away with all danger from rough seas
 Mr. Bliven expects that such steamers will get along well enough even if a shaft or 8 screw is broken, though they will have no sails. In addition to one wheel there will be two auxiliary screws. One will be above the main shaft and the other below it, and about six feet forward of the stern-post, working on independent shafts and by independent engines. When not in use they can be coy- cred up and protected so as not to come in contact with the water. This will give an auxiliary power to take the place of sails, and in case of disaster to the main wheel, by the breaking of shaft or otherwise, ''it will render disaster impossible and enable the vessel to be taken safely into port at a speed of ten miles or more an hour"
 What is the spar deck of an ordinary steamer will be the saloon deck of the new style, covered over by the dome, lighted and ventilated by the most modern devices. The mean height of the saloon deck, under the dome covering, will be from seventeen to eighteen feet, giving the most magnificent saloons ever seen on any steamers. They with forward, intermediate and after cabins. The staterooms will be in tiers, lighted by electric lights, with all modern appliances. A new style of monitor headlights will pro. vide light and air during the daytime. The main cabins and saloons will be lighted by massive plate glass skylights set in steel frames in the crown of the dome and practi- cally as strong as the hull itself. Theser boats will be steered by steam. All boats and life rafts will be carried under the dome deck aft, with steam appliances for hoisting on tram way in and out There will be another fea- ture of the vessel which will be of no mean attraction. On top of the dome deck will be an unobstructed promenade 30 feet in width and 300 feet long, protected by brass or me- tallic life rails and netting. The cost of the vessels will range from $55O, 900 to:$650, 900. They are all to be built in this country.
 It is not probable that all the fine prom ises made by Mir. Bliven and MT. Lorillard can be kept, and yet so many wonderful things have lately been done that 1t is unwise to be too skeptical. But think of crossing the Atlantic in four or five days in such gor- geous fashion as they promise!