The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-04-19

! that thew would hesitate at. What could it
be run for, and what room would the manu-
featuring paraphernalia take up in the ships
hold. If it would occupy more room than
the machinery now in use, that would be
very bad, butt it is more than likely it would
take much less space, and every foot of space
on a big ship has its value. Even though
electricity would cost us much more than
the present system of motive power If we
could make faster time. and be assured that
it was safe, we would accept IT,. we can't
experiment with electricity, which is an I'M
known power to a great extent as vet, on
one of our big vessels out IN the middle of
the Atlantic, where it might kick up just
like an untractable horse. l believe the
time will come though, when electricity will
be used as the motive power on our great
railroads and steamship lines. But until
we get it we cannot stand idle but will go
on improving and perfecting our machinery
now in use. We have landed passengers
from New York in London in seven days
and in Hamburg in eight days. Ten years
from now we may be able to land passen-
gers in London in say four days and in
Hamburg in five days. l believe in fast
time and if we could cross the Atlantic in
two days | would favor it.
"And as to the danger of the speeding of
steamships?'
There is Just as much danger in raining
at the rate of fifteen or eighteen knots ar
hour as twenty knots, the fastest runs yet
made by our steamships, as Twenty-Five
knots an hour, the possible speed of the
future. There has been much talk about
icebergs tina have been floating in the path
of the passenger steamers and of the alleged
danger of fast running in connection with
them hut whore a ship is provided with
twin screws there is really little danger.
You will remember the Normania's expert
ence. She was headed right for a NAM
moth iceberg but with the twin screws
and her powerful rudders she was turned
right about when within a ships length of
the berg. OF course when | say L believe
in faster time | want all the mechanical
Improvements to keep pace.
THE passage of the postal subsidy bill.
which grants 81 a mile to iirst-class Ameri-
can ships, will no doubt stir up consider
able capital for ship building on this side
OF the Atlantic. | have heard of Nh. Cor
bins plan, out | understand that gentle
man has not spoken On the matter as yet.
Many people may not care to go down to
ferring New York, which will probably al
WAYS be the central point for travellers to
Europe.
"Ihe travel to Europe is constantly in
creasing. Nowadays in the regular season
our ships are all crowded to their utmost
capacity. People have got more money to
spend, it would appear, and these trips
AUD NV " hLS q SocA TX ioA VIZ
prosperity of America. There aye not only
more people going over, but there are more
that are taking the expensive lines. TIL
public in this way is giving great encour-
agement to the companies that are spend
ing thousands and thousands of dollars in
perfectinG their ships.
"But we have a treat in store for the pub
lie in May" continued Mr.. Schurz. ''rhe
Prince Bismarck, our new ship which is
now being fitted out across the Atlantic,
will make her first run 10 this country early
next month. We expect she will eclipse all
previous records. Tit emperor of Ger
many WAS shown over the Prince Bis
marck the other day by the representatives
of our company in Germany and he ex-
| pressed great delight with the vessel.
The emperor spent an entire afternoon on
the ship, which is lying at the wharfs OF
the ship building company "Vulcan'' re-
.ceiving the last of her furnishings. The
Prince Bismarck pleased the emperor very
! much and he was particularly interested in