The morning call., 1893-01-22
STEAMERS OF THE FUTURE.

An English engineer confidently expresses
the opinion that we may look forward TO
the time when steamers will make twenty
six knots an hour and will cross The Atlantic
in four and a half days. The progress In
steamship construction has been so rapid OF
late that the fulflment of this calculation
would be a surprise to nobody. Already
there are numbers of vessels that steam
twenty knots and two under construction
are guaran tead by the contractors to run
twen;y-oue knOts. A still higher speed Is
expected for two steamers in the shipbuid-
er's hands for the White Star Company. 1t
is a question Of designing vessels of enormous
displacement on ine lines and equipplng
them with heavy engine power of the most
recent type and with the best form of boilers.
No vessel now in service is quite 600 feet
long. The largest falls IS feet short Of that
measurement But one has been launched
which is exactly 600 feet in length. and
sister steamer will soon leave the slips.
The Great Eastern was so feet longer. The
engines of the CunarG racers are to be 10000
horse power, and doubtless those of the
White Star steamers will be still higher.
No one can place limit upon the size Of
steamers of the future. The length may
go up to 500 feet. the displacement be as
much as 10000 tons, and the horsepower
$4,000. Even in the engines there may be
marked Improvements. Some gain may be
found i'm going from triple 10 quadruple or
QuintuDle expansion. Possibly there would
be no gain in speed in using three vrOpellers,
but for safety three should be better than
two, Just as two are safer than one. The
steamer which crosses 5000 miles of ocean
in four DAYS and half will be much larger
than any now atioat
What will such vessels do to earn diyi-
deEd for their owners? In the main they
must depend upon passengers and mail
contracts. They cannot altogether dispense
with cargo, for vessel must have stability
in the water. but it is quite likely such
racers would carry commodities requiring
speedy delivery, on which high rates would
be charged. The higher class passenger
traffic will doubtless be studied rather than
the sIeerage, which, If profitable when an
epidemic is not stalking abroad, becomes
hazardous and precarious the moment there
is danger OF detention atQuarantine. What
number OF saloon passengers the steamer OF
the future may carry can only be vaguely
guessed at Some modern steamers have
accommodation for 700 and can almost seat
the whole number simultaneously al table.
But in addition they have spacious quarters
for see0Ed-class and Steerage passengers.
Much of this space could be utilized in ex-
tending the saloon. Room might be found
for 2000.
Tie steamers which make the voyage
across the Atlantic in four and a half days
must provide an increase OF entertainment
for the passengers. 1t is not unlikely that
they viii carry good instrumental bands,
giving performances IN the morning, after
noon and evening. s cOneert-hall may also
be expected, capable Of being converted into
a ballroom or a theater. Perhaps star
company of actors may come and 90 with
these floating palaces The more luxury
for wealthy passengers is studied the bet
ter are they pleased, and they are willing to
pay for it handsomely. This, at least, is
the experience which shiD-owners have Of
the average American saloon passenger. At
present the entertainment resources of a
saloon are limited. The library. the smoking
room, where there is much playing,
and the promenade deck constitute all. As
In these huge steamers motion is very little
felt, except during the heaviest storms, even
the humping of the propeller shaft being
scarcely perceptible, a series Of concerts
theatrical performance and balls could be
made a success For a long voyage across
the Pacific or TO Australia, q steamer thus
provided would not leave the passenger a
dismal moment Many would be tempted
to 60 to sea for the enjoyment of The trip.