The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-05-23
STEAMERS PAST AND PRESENT.
The Old Chancellor Livingstone and
the handsome New Portland.

That the Portland Steam Packet Company
bas been progressive during the last few
years Is well known fact and the steamers
they now have upon the line are inferior to
none In the country except possibly as re-
CARDS their size. When the palatlal steamer
Portland was put on the route between this
city and Boston about year ago 1t was evil
dent that the steamer fremont, which pre-
viously had been the superior boat Of the
line, was put In the shade. In order to pre-
vent this apparent difference In the attract
iveness Of the two steamers the company has
during the past winter given the fremont a
thorough overhaullng and she Is now sup
piled with all modern appliances. The Ed.
ison Electric Company of New York have
just completed the installation Of very su
periOr plant In the fremont and she will 20
on the route this evening brilliantly lighted
with her new system OF lamps. Besides this
the steamer has been fitted with electric call
bells In each state room and throughout her
cabins and new spring beds Of the very best
type have been placed in the ladies' cabin
and state rooms. The cabins have been re-
carpeted with new and handsome patterns
and with the new coat Of paint throughout
which the steamer has received she will pre-
sent very handsome appearance and to-
gether with the steamer Portland, the line
will certainly compare fayorably with any
In the country.
IN this connection the following bit OF
steamboat history may be found interesting.
In the window Of w. ID. Bucks office on
Middle street can be seen several pictures
which illustrate very forcibly the great ad-
vance in steamboat building. The first
which will attract attention Is a picture OF
the Chancellor Livingston, a famous boat in
her day, built under the direct superintend-
in 1876 She was then the largest boat that
had been built In that city, being Of 800 tons
burden. The picture shows a style Of ar
chitecture which Is at least strik-
ing. Working beams had not then
come into use and she had
eine, this engine had 56-inch cylinder and
6inch stroke. There were three smoke
stacks athwart ships, three masts, a bow
spirit and jibboom. The steamer was l54
with draft of Z feet inches, and Sleeping
berths for a total Of 175 passengers. Prob
ably many of our readers do not know that
the great Commodore Vanderbilt Of New
York was formerly interested In the line of
otcdulDUdtS DbtWccu IOLLlduu anu DOSLO0.
In 1882 he sent the Chancellor Livingston to
Portland to run on the route between Boston
and Portland. In 1884 the Livingston was
broken up having been found TO have been
unseaworthy and her engines were placed
upon new boat built at the foot of Park
street and named the Portland this work
was done under the superintendance Of the
late Capt. j. b. Coyle. A lithograph Of the
first Portland Is also on view In this window.
The contrast between the first Portland and
-.
Witch the Portland Steam Packet ComnanV
Is now running on the route shows at a
glance the great advance made In steamboat
building within about 80 years. 1t was on
this boat that In 1885 anthracite coal was
first burned with success through blower
Invented by Capt. Coyle, which process was
afterwards adopted on other steamers in
New York.
In April. 1874. the present Portland Steam
Packet Company was organized, succeeding
to the company operating the Portland, and
the steamer Commodore Preble, a twin
screw propeller Of about 500 tons was
LAUNCHED on the 10th OF April, followed by
the Gen. Warren on September 2Sth. These
were commanded by Capt. Cyrus Sturdiyant
and Capt. Geo. knight respectively. In these
days OF modern ocean greyhounds, propelled
Dy twin screws, 1t may be interesting TO re-
call the early adoption OF that principle on
the line between Boston and Portland. As
the passenger accommodations of the pro-
pellers were somewhat limited and a threat
ened opposition was about to take effect, the
Steam Packet Company purchased and put
upon the route the steamer John Marshall
which for several years ran in connection
with the propellers, but the increasing bus
lness OF the company rendered new steamers
imperatively necessary and the side wheel
steamer st. Lawrence, whose picture may
also be seen among the others, was built In
New York. This was followed In two years
by the steamer Atlantic. the Forest City,
Lewiston and Montreal, boats Of large
freight capacity, but not sufficiently large as
regards passenger accommodations and the
steamer John Brooks, we'll remembered by
the many patrons Of this line, was pur-
chased and rebuilt for the route. The
Montreal was burned In the fire originating
at the Maine Steamship Company's wharf on
August 9. 1873. The steamer fremont was
added to the feet In 1888 and the magnif-
cent steamer Portland In 1890. These boats
now form the regular line, and in every re-
spect both as to strength, seaworthiness and
all the requirements OF modern luxury are
OF the highest class.