The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-07-20
THE DUGOUT.

to be of use, if desired, in the Govern
ment service. She could be armed with
two tiers of guns and had plenty of room
in which to work them, and could carry
coal enough for voyage to Europe. Her
first trip to Liverpool occupied thirteen
days, and she consumed forty tons of
coal daily. She was 256 feet long, fifty
feet broad and thirty and half feet deep.
The development of ship.building since
that day may be conceived by comparing
the first of this class of merchantmen
with the latest examples, the City of Paris
and the City of New York, which have
been admitted under the American flag
on condition that they, like the United
States, shall be convertible to the naval
service of the United States at the will
of the Government.
There are now under way or COM
pleted for the United States Government
forty ships of various types which when
finished will give US the third navy in
the world. The contracts cover four
battle ships of the highest class, six
double turreted monitors, two armored
cruisers, thirteen protected cruisers, two
of them the fastest in the world, and
fifteen smaller vessels, including torpedo
boats.
The latest device in ocean transporta-
tion is the passenger whaleback. The
length OF the vessel which is to be the
first of the fleet is 225 feet, with dis
placement of 14O0 tons. The hull is of
the steambarge pattern, very like that OF
the freight whaleback, being almost en-
tirely under water and supporting .
strongly built pier above the sea. 1t is
divided longitudinally into three COM
partments subdivided into twenty-one
separate water tight sections, with out.
doors below the water line. It is claimed
that this model will give stability not
possessed by any other form of hull, and
that even when attacked by tornado 1t
will not be seriously disturbed. The
engines are calculated to give speed OF
twenty-four knots an hour. They are
of triple expansion, 122 revolu-
tions a minute, and are to re.
ceive steam at pressure OF 1l5
pounds. There are numerous other
engines for electric lighting, hosting,
heating and ventilating. The super
structure is supported by five piers f1f-
teen feet in diameter. The steel masts
will be used also as ventilators. The
frame of the superstructure is connected
by transverse beams to central glrder
that is supported by and bolted to the
piers and masts. The lower floor OF the
superstructure is devoted entirely to
staterooms lighted by incandescent
electric lights. Accommodation for NV
first-class passengers is provided. Steer
age travellers will be restricted to the
hull. For the frst.class passengers who
wish to promenade there is ample room
upon the roof. Passage from the hull
to the superstructure will be by electric
elevators inside the first, middle and
stern piers. In addition to the stability
which is claimed for the new model, 1t
IS also expected that, since the cooking
and working apartments will be in the
hull, the passengers, who will be onlyin
the superstructure, will avoid the sicken-
ing SMELL OF machinery, odors of the
kitchen and noise of freight and all
other causes that disturb or prevent
sleep. 1t is believed by the designers
and capitalists Of the whaleback teet
that the ocean voyage will be made IN
FIVE days with perfect comfort.-Chlcago
Herald.