Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-19
Opinions Of Some Marine Experts
Upon the Ship Of the Future.
WHAT is THE LIMIT OF SPEED
Is the Question Agitating ShipbuilderS
and ShipOwnerS.
CROSSING THE OCEAN IN FIVE DAYS
rwRrrrnN ron zee p1srATcu.l

the City of Paris and the great progress
that has been made in maritime machinery
and in ship building, gives reason to believe
that the day is not far distant when the
record will be cut down to five or five and a
half days from Sandy Hook to Fastnet
Light
There is not sea captain or engineer VINO
crosses the ocean who would be willing 70
admit that he is trying to break the record.
Such an admission would work incalculaole
injury to the line. All These old sea dogs
are as mum as an oyster on the question Oh
speed. The men who are building the SHIPS
and devoting their time and energies 70
new machinery and other appliances tnaI
will increase the speed are likewise dltil-
dent about giving information, for their RI
walls would be quick to take advantage OF IT;
but there are some men in New York who
are posted on the question of the progress OF
fast time at sea. They are the editors OF the
various maritime newspapers
The average reader may not be aware that
there are half dozen newspapers published
in this city devoted to steamships, sailing
vessels and the wants, hopes and ambitions
OF those who Ego down to the sea in ships,
and yet such is the case. Prominent among
these papers are the Marine Journal, the
Ocean, Marine La,0, Maritime Register and
the Nautical Gazette. The editors of these
papers are watching with intense interest
the records of the various Atlantic grey
hounds. It is their business to be informed
of all new appliances and to study the
progress made in building fast ships. In re-
cent conversations they have expressed
themselves very fully.
THE OPINIONS OF AN EXPERT.
John H. Gould, the editor of the Ocean,
was asked the other day, "What progress
has been made in the building Of steam
ships of late Years?"
phenomenal strides my dear sir. The
ocean can be crossed now in just about half
the time that it took 10 or 15 years ago.
The commencement of rapid ocean transit
! dates back to the year 1867, when the old
steamship City of Paris, Inman Line,
crossed from New York to Queenstown in
days % hours minutes. In December of
the year 1869 the steamship City of Brus-
sells, of the same line accomplished the pas
sage in days 20 hours 10 minutes.
''The record was again broken in the sum-
mer of the year 1875 by the steamship City
of Richmond in days 19 hours As minutes
and in the fall of the same year by the City of
Berlin. from Queenstown to Sandy Hook, in
days Is hours 40 minutes. In February,
1876, the laurels were claimed by the White
Star Line steamship Germanie, which ran
from Sandy Hook to Queenstown in days
Is hours II minutes, and in April, 1877, the
same steamship further reduced the time to
L
of the same ocean fleet, in August of the
same year, accomplished the trip in days
10 hours 53 minutes.
"We next come to the initial voyage of
the America in June, 1884, which sailed
from Sandy Hook to Queenstown in days
13 hours "A minutes. This is the fastest
maiden trip on record, and she was after
ward sold to the Italian Government for
special service. In August, 1884, the Oregon
of the Guion Line made the journey in
days hours AZ minutes, outdistancing all
rivals. She was afterward sold to the Cunard
Line, and was wrecked shortly afterward
within sight of New York.
"In 1885 the Etrurla reduced the time too
DAYS 9 hours for an eastward trip, and in the
same year, on her westward trip, accom-
plished the journey in days hours 81
minutes. She was beaten in May, 1887, by
latter vessel recording 6 days 4 hours AZ
minutes, which was in turn outriValed by
her sister steamship Etruria in September
1888, placing the record at 6 days 1 hour 30
minutes, and she appropriated to herselfthe
title of greyhound OF the Atlantic and
champion of the ocean fleets. The City of
New York has made the best average on her
first three voyages, and the City of Paris
now has long lead with her magnificent
run of days, % hours and minutes
HOW THE WORLD WILL BENEFIT.
'Tn what way will this increase of speed
benefit the world generality"
"It will be of material value to all classes.
The mail service will be more regular and
more constant and this will be absolutely
beneficial. Then to passengers who have
urgent business on the other side and to
visitors also, it will be great boon, for
while these modern vessels are most luxuri-
ously appointed, most people who travel on
them don't care how soon they set foot on
terra firma again, especially if they suffer
from seasickness. The remarkable increase
in speed will also have an influence on COM
merce and freight as well, but this is too
large subject for me to deal with, even if 1
felt competent to do so.''
'What will be the minimum time in
which the ocean will be crossed in future?"
That is prospective entirely" replied
Mr.. Gould. Il can give you my opinion !
and that is all. 1t has been suggested at
various times that the ocean will be crossed
in five days and even less. am always
very chary OF giving my opinions on queS-
tiOns OF this kind, because l may state some
thing which is beyond the power of demon-
stration, but L am free to confess that have
great faith in the possibilities of things. At |
present there is model of ship that was
intended for the Guion Line. 1t was de-
signed by the late Sir William Pierce,
Chairman of the Fairchild Shipbuilding |
Company Glasgow, and is expected to do
the ocean in five days. When completed it |
will probably sail under the Guion flag. |
This vessel has four tunnels and two masts |
rugged fore and aft.
1t Is not yet known what the capacity of
the twin screw is, but shipbuilders are con-
vinced that 1t has come to stay. The City |
of Paris, on her initial trip, had one set of |
engines stopped for several hours; the other |
was kept at work and the ship made excel
lent time during the interim. 1t has also |
been suggested that the American vessels |
should cross from Montauk Point to Mil |
ford Haven, but this is still sin the air. ."
"What is the highest rate of speed yet at
tained?' 1 inquired.
"The City OF Paris on her last trip made |
an average of 2S1z knots an hour-this is
the highest"
''Does increased speed mean increased |
dangers?"
''This is much vexed qustion. A great |
many captains have been OF the opinion that |
fast travelling lessons rather than increases
danger, so that when going through fog it |
is really safer to go full speed, because you |
get out of danger so much quicker. Whereas |
that is the opinion of some captains. as far |
as my own personal opinion is concerned 1 |
do not think that fast travelling incurs any