Daily Republican., 1881-07-29
URBAN AND SUBURBAN.
A EAMSHIP FIT ED UP WITH
ELECTRIC LIGHTS.
Improving Navigation ON the
Delaware and Chrlstiana-Ths
Man Drowned at the King
htreet Wharf.

A correspondent of the Philadelphia
Ledger, has been in the Harlan & Hol
lingsworth ship yards, and here is what
he says of the City of Worcester which
will soon leave the yard
The side-wheel steamship City OF
Worcester, built for the Norwich lire
(Boston to New York;, is now receiv-
ing her finishing touches in the Harlan
" Hollingsworth Company's yard, at
this place Apart from the general
beauty and completeness of her appoint
ments she is of special interest, because
provision has been made for lighting
her by the Edison electric light system.
Over n year ago the steamer Columbia
of the Oregon Steam Navigation Com
pany's line, was fitted with the lights,
long before the system was brought to
its present state OF assumed perfection.
They proved entirely satisfactory, ac-
cording to the statements of the engi-
neer, but the lamps gave out gradually
and there were no means OF replacing
them. The City of Worcester may,
therefore, be considered the first steam
boat fitted with the electric light as a
permanent feature. Thus far nothing
had been done except to wire the ves-
sci. Entire dependence is not placed
on the new system of lighting, and the
City of Worcester is, therefore, fitted
up for gas, oil and electric lamps. The
conductors of electricity-of insulated
copper wire, about an eighth of an inch
in diameter-follow the lines of gas
pipe, but are laid outside of the par
titions, and are covered from sight and
shielded by strips of moulding grooved
to admit the wires.
There will be about 270 lamps in the
ship, some in chandeliers lighting the
saloons, Others in the offices, &c, and
in passage ways, whence they viii trans
init light through glass doors to groups
of state rooms. The saloon chandeliers
will contain lamps, and underneath
them the electric lights. The unit of
the Edison lamp is one Of sixteen-can-
die power, nut a large part Of the two
hundred and seventy to be put on the
City of Worcester will be OF eight or
four candle power in groups.
The Edison Company is to furnish a
dynamo machine and twelva-hor>e pow
er engine with which to maintain the
lights Steam is supplied to ;he engine
from the ships boilers. It. will, there
fore, be very difficult to arrive at an ac-
curate estimate of the cost Of electric
lighting on this ship. The steam,
however, will cost very little, and may,
perhaps be reckoned as next to coStless
when furnished in this way from boil
ers which necessarily generate sur
plus. 1t is not yet known whether the
electric light machinery will be ready
in time to put in the vessel while here.
Her other machinery is all in and in
order, and the painters are now
giving the finishing touches T." the YES
ready to sail for New York in three or
four weeks. Ifnot completed in time
Tor the sailing, the dynamo machine
will be put in after she reaches New
York.
Tho Getty of Worcester" is to run be-
tween New York and New London, |
and is u splendid vessel,
She is 52J feet in length on the Seven-
'oot water line and $40 teet over all The |
DreadJh of beam of boat is As feet and |
80 feet over all, and she is Ii feet 8
inches deep. Her three boilers are i'm
nense, each being 81 feet long and Is
feet in diameter, The engine room is
ined and hoorel with iron, and the
)oilers and ven 'ilatorS are also iron en-
'aSed, so that there is not a particle of
woodwork exposed to direct danger
rom fire. In the hull are six water
light compartments, and, if two should
% broken down or filled with water, the
'ther four would suffice to float the
hip. The vessels steered by steam
,ower, which is also used for raising
Ter anchors, and she is also supplied
With steam starting apparatus. Her
are all Of the best, and
Ter saloons and staterpUmS are very
decorated in hard wood.
Me dining saloon is on the main deck
md is, of course, we'll lighted and at
furnished.
Captain Gardiner, the superintendent
f the Norwich line, who is here to
verse; the work, says that no expense
las been spared in making the City OF
" forester model steamboat-that is
o say, no improved appliance that re-
commended itself as adding to the safe
Y or convenience of the vessel has been
elected on account of its costs. He
opes to find the Edison light entirel y
satisfactory.
RejuyeniZatiOn.