The Wilmingtonian., 1886-10-16
PRICETWO CENTS.

The plating is heavier than any ordinary
work and the ryetting is double in great
many places. -.-"
The bulwa'ks, rails, deckhouse sc
are all Of best Burmese teaks well seasoned
Teak was seclected on account of the ex.
cellent qualities which it possesses of never
splitting and its resistance to the sea worm
it is besides, for such heavy wood. easily
| worked and takes on a very smooth polish
The decks are to be of white pine so that
they may be kept snowy white or as the old
sailors say 'clean as hounds tooth" The
Windlass is to be supplied by the American
Ship Windass Company is Of the latest pat
tern and like the steering gear is to be work
ed by steam, but in case of emergency can be
manipulated BY hand the change being quick.
ly made.
| The steam steering gear is to be operated
from the bridge which has no pilot hosue
the wheelman standing between the two
officers on watch. In case of breakdown a
second wheel easily connectible is situated
aft from which the sherman can stand re
ceving telegraphic communication from the
officer on watch as TO the ships course &c.
The ships boats are to be of cedar, they
| InI nnI I,
equipment, always ready in case of emer-
gency.
The internal arrangements are very com,
plete although plain, the finish being Queen
Anne style in white and gold. The forward
and after deck house are to be finished inside
with polished hard wood the roofs to be pan
| eled finished in stained mahogany and rich
| y upholstered. The midship deck honse near
the smoke-stack is to have a room fitted i'll
it for vapor bath.
The main and after saloons will be finish.
ed with sideboards, escritoires, book. cases
&c, and will have each handsome open
rire place, while the Fittings will be in elec-
ro. The paneliug of the different rooms
will be iu various kinds OF hard wood and the
ornamentltion plain. The state rooms att
~ be plainly but comfortably furnished
Each will contain bed and seat drawers,
lockers, large siz d lavatoiy with racks Sc.
faIl-d,wn table, cuat-hookS g., aud mirror
10 MIR. and Mrs. Vanderbilt's state ooms the
tavaturies will have large marble tops with
tiled lrdgngs and large bevel. edged mirrors
handsomely fitted.
There Will be ho less than twelve baths
| fitted to be filled from the sea aud also con
| ueoted with the boilers so that warm sea
bath can be indulged in at few minutes
uotice.
| The pantry, stove aud wine rooms will
all be large and commodious and fitted with
every requisite for such vessel
Electric bells and the electric light will b.
placed all over the ship No less than two
hundred electric lights will be used OF the
ncaudescent typs. The ships masthead
and side lights will be an exception to thi,
however aud will be oil lamps. They are
very powerful light house lamps specially
made BY Chance Bros, of Birmingham, En-
gland, who make specially of light house
work. 1t was deemed safest to use these for
the above purpose as in case of breakdown
with electric machinery in crowded waters
without sidelights a ship would be in very
dangerous position.
The arrangements for the comfort OF the
officers and crew are very complete and it
seems that nothing has been forgotten in the
spacious quarters forward. Each man OF
the crew, of which there will be 90, will have
4 fold-up cot Or hammock with mattress pill
low and locker. The firemen who will be
aft are to be similarly Accommodated.
There will also be "a fresh water condenser
with connections to the various ships tank $
capable of supplying $50 gallons of fresh
water day.
The first thing that strikes one on looking
at the Alva's engines are tn ir height from
the bedplate to the top of the cylinders
Tney are no less than 10 feet high. Seen in
the erecting shop they look enormous. Thr
type is the inverted direct acting three crank
compound engine which has been so very ex.
trnsively used by Clyde builders, notably the
drm OF John Elder & Company, the Ariz pua
Alaska, Umbria, Etturia &C., have the same
type Of engines and have done marvellous
work. These engines are to be little in.
proved on the above however in having NJ
joys valve gear, which has only beeen per
fected within the last few months, in conrec
tron with the triple expansion engine. Til,
high pressure cylinder will be 80 inches II
diameter and on each side Of it there Will be
a low pressure one OF 40 inches in diameter
each having a common piston stroke Of 4.
inches The high pressure cylinder is to b,
steam jacketted and on co npe elton Of tn,
engine will be neatly Jagged and fiuishuC
with mahogany aud brass bands brightly
polished.
The surface condenser which has beer