The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-08-22
NEW CANADIAN PACIFIC BOATS.
Description OF the Magnificent Steamers
for the Transpacific Route.

Description OF the Magnificent Steamers
for the Transpacific Route.
London Canadian Gazette.
The three steamers-the Empress of In
dia, Empress of Japan and Empress of
China-which are to carry on the imperial
mail service via the Canadian Pacific rail-
way to China and Japan, are now making
rapid progress towards completion at the
yards of the Naval Construction and Arma-
ment Company. limited, Barrow-in- Fur
ness The Empress of India is so far adj
vanced that she will be launched with due
ceremony on August so, and leave for the
Pacific. probably by way of Australia,
about November /. The other two vessels
willfollow atintervals of about two months,
!. e.. about January / and March 1 re-
spectively. Captain Marshall. one of the
favorite commanders of the 2. &. o. line,
will undertake the command of the EN-
press of India. while Mr.. Archibald, for.
merly of the New Zealand Shipping Com
pany's service, will be the first officer, and
Mr.. Montsarrat, late of the p. & o., will be
second officer. Arrangements are being
made for through rates to all eastern points.
and an agreement has been concluded
with the P. d o. company for the issue Of
round-theworld tourists tickets
That no expense or trouble has been
spared by Mr.. Bryce Douglas the experi-
enced chief engineer OF the Barrow Com
pany, and the Canadian Pacific authorities
to make the service equal to any afioat.
may be judged by a few details of the YES
SETS. They are twin-screw steamers, of
10000 horsepower. gross tonnage of
800, and are contracted to do Is knots on
the measured mile. and 1914 knots on 400
miles sea trial. The dimensions are:
Length, between perpendiculars, 4S5 feet:
breadth. moulded, 81 feet, and depth
moulded, SO feet. Each vessel will be
lightly rugged with pole masts and
fore and aft canvas, and the form,
both under and above water, is Of
such symmetry and finish as to ensure
propulsion at the high speed required. The
greatest possible attention has been paid
to precautions for the safety of the vessels.
The plans were in fact submitted to Mr..
White, the superintendent of naval con.
struction at the admiralty, and approved
by him before construction was COM
menced. There is, too. completely
divided set of engines and boilers, and the
greatest possible strength has been con-
centrated in them so that the canvas will
not be required except to hold the vessels
down in heavy gale.
The accommodation for passengers is ex-
tensive and luxurious. Each vessel will
carry 120 first-ciass, 80 second and 300 steer
age, as well as nearly 1000 tons of cargo.
On the upper deck an extra promenade ia
provided for the use of passengers in the
heaviest weather, while good many
special state-rooms are also to be found on
this deck. On the lower deck, which is 90
feet long. there is a covered promenade OF
100 feet where shelter and fresh air may be
found in wet weather; while the dining
saloon, library, and other parts of the
saloon accommodations. are richly up-
holstered. A special feature will be made OF
the second-class travel, which the Canadian
Pacific authorities believe may be extern
sively developed. They believe, too, the
whole traffic by this route is capable OF
much expansion. Western ideas have of
late so permeated the life OF China, and es-
pecially of Japan, that the people of these
countries are travelling far more than thew
did formerly; while the success which has
already attended the effort to divert the tea
and general eastern trade to the Canadian
route is good augury of what may be ex-
pected when this increased and improved
accommodation is available. The total cost
of the three vessels is estimated at between
10000 and f650.0O0. and we may add
that an excellent model of them Is now to
be seen at the Canadian Pacific offices. SO
Cannon street. 1t will shortly be exhibited
in the window of the new offices of the
company. at 81 and So King William street.