Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-05-17

rently the last Of the North German LLOYD
express ships to be ordered from the Clyde.
Ibe company made an experiment by
having the Kaiser Wilhelm H., q G, COO ton
vessel, for their Australian trade, built at
Stettin, and their two most recent express
steamers, the Spree and tho Havel, have
come from the Same yard. These vessels
are, strangely enough, built much after the
style OF the Lain, the twin-screw principle
not being adopted, and the Lahns Ave
cylinder arrangement being copied.
THE AueusTi-vIcToRIA.
The year 1899 saw new competitor in
the field. The Hamburg-American Steam
Packet Company, which for long time
had maintained service from Hamburg to
New York, became DESTROYS OF breaking
the North German Lloyd's monopoly of
the Southampton traffic, and started an
express service in opposition TO it. Its
FIRST vessel was the Augusta-Victoria, built
ht Stettin. vessel Of 1861 tons and 14,1l0-
horse power, which is said to have done
over 20 knots on her trial in Stokes bay.
She has twin-screw engines, and she made
her maiden passage In May, 1889, in days
hours 30 minutes.
She was quickly followed by the Column
bia. vessel of similar construction, built
on the Mersey by Messrs. Laird Brothers.
She is four feet longer and good deal
deeper than the Augusta Victoria, and her
gross tonnage is 1868. She Indicated Is, $50
horse power on trial, and attsinedaspeed Of
20.5 knots. She is decidedly faster than the
Augusta Victoria, having made her first out
ward passage in July, 1889, in G days Fl
hours % minutes, doing SOP miles at
1873 knots. She came back in days Is
hours, at speed Of 10 knots. The best
day was 1853 knots equal TO q speed Of 1874
knots. In August the Augusta Victoria
went out in 6 days 16 hours, and on her
fourth homeward voyage the Columbia re-
duced the Southampton record still fur
Their, performing the passage in days II
hours SO minutes. The distance was
5000 miles, equal to 1895 knots. The
Hormsnnis of the same line. a vessel of
$3.50 tons gross, built at Fairfield, came
out in May, 1890. She Indicated 1882
horse power on trial, and did 1925
knots, and her maiden voyage was days
10 hours 20 minutes, but so far she has
proved inferior IN sea speed to the Column
bia, as tho latter reduced the westward
passage to 6 DAYS 16 hours % minutes the
following month. There it still remains.
The North German Lloyd feet of nine YES
sells Excluding the Spree and Havel, which
are too fresh IN the field TO have yet given
proof of their mottle) are tho most evenly
balanced feet on the Atlantic, the
best passage Of the Elbe being
hllulu bNbHty-iOuT uOuIS Ol Alo lam .
fastest. Moreover, the Elbe did not make
her best passage till her eiGhty-third out
ward voyage, which she accomplished in
days 20 hours IN August, 1889. This shows
that their owners. like some of our own,
do not over-drive their vessels when now,
and. as a result, the vessels 60 on improylng
their passages almost TO tho end of
thor career. Much may be expected of
the Spires and Havel. The forme did 20.1
knots with IS 600 indicated horsepower in
a trial on ths Baltic when she was not put
to her full speed.
TIE COLUMBIA.