Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-12-25
NEW STEAMSHIPS.
Great improvements Being Made in
Ocean Steamers.


Within the last few years rapid strides
have been made in steamship building
both in regard 10 speed and size. Steam
ers that i've years ago were looked upon
as beyond improvement have been sup
planted by vessels which are the wonder
and admiration Of the age. Foremost in
the ranks Of recent arrivals is the grew
hound Of the ocean, the fleet Alaska
OF the Guion Line, which has
made the fastest time on rec
ord, which was 8 days Is hours and 81
minutes from land to land. 1t is well
known that the merchants and others
having correspondence for Europe will
wait for her sailings, for they know she
travels by two to three DAYS faster than
the ordinary mail boats. Pressing close
on her heels Is the old favOrite, the Ari-
zOna, also Of the GuiOn Line, which, until
the coming of her sister ship, was cOnsid-
cred the fastest steamer aflOat, her best
trip being made in days, hours and As
minutes.
Great things We're expected of the cOlOs-
sal City of Rome, of the Inman line. next
in size TO the largest passenger steamer
afiOat. The most sumptuOusly furnished
steamer in the trade, the Inman people
were IN hopes Of ''plucking the laurel leaf
from the Alaska" She made a fair aver
age at first, making one trip in days, u
hours and 13 minutes, but did not come
up TO their expectations. After running
few trips she was thrown on the hands
OF the builders as not up to the contract.
II is whispered she will be replaced by one
which shall surpass in speed, accommO-
datiOns and size any vessel now running.
1t is believed that the City Of Vienna will
be the name of the future wonder.
The Seryia, of the Cunard line, is the ia
vOrite steamer for fashionable yOyagers.
1t is no unusual thing for her passage list
TO number from 2J0 to $50, even in winter
months. She has not madeas fast time as
her rivals, but has pressed them pretty
close. Other well known steamers, such
as the Britannia, Werra and Elbe, inyari-
ably make the trip in eight and nine days.
Several new steamships are now being
built 10 take the place Of the old ones.
which are rapidly becoming Old-fashiOned.
The GuiOn Line have nearly completed
the Oregon. which will take her place on
the line next summer. Already it is pre-
dicted that she will be faster than the
Alaska. They have still another steamer
on the stocks. to be called the Nebraska.
The White Star Line expects to make a
sensation with their two new steamers
now building, to be called the DOric and
Ionic. They will be as fast as can be
made, and will be larger than the Bri-
fannie.
Also the Cunard people will not be out
uOne Dy their nelghDOrS, Tor they are said
to be building a steamer which they will
compliment New York city by calling the
OTangia.
1t is interesting to note that with each
new steamer built new improvements and
inventions are made, and the manage
ments of the various lines have brought
the system down to such a point as to
leave very little room for improvement.
The next five years will no doubt see
vast stride in the business of steamship
building, and, as we are in a progressive
age, we shall expect to see the running
time brought down to five days.