Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1893-07-14
PRIDE OF THE GREAT LAKES.
The PaIatial Getty of Alpena" In Which
the Michigan Editors Went to the Fair.

The PaIatial getty of Alpena" In Which
the Michigan Editors Went to the lair.
The Michigan State Press associa-
tons annual excursions are always en-
editors always have the best there is
going. This year, of course, they went
to the Worlds Fair and after due de-
liberation chose the lake route as the
most enjoyable, and when the Detroit
& Cleveland Steam Navigation Co., an
nounced that their new steamer the
Getty of Alpena'' would be ready TO
sail at about the time the editors
wished to visit the fair it was at once
decided To make the trip on the eX-
quisite vessel and the choice was a
very wise one as il is uneXcelled in any
way.
The "City of Alpena" was built by
the Detroit Dry Dock Co., and on her
trial trip showed a speed OF 20 miles
per hour. She is the largest and most
magnificent steel passenger steamer on
the lakes, costing over $500, 900. The
cabin is furnished in mahogany, and
possess the novel feature of the upper
lakes of an additional tier of state
rooms. There are $50 staterOoms and
parlors, each provided with electrical
annuncialors, wire and patent mat
tresSes, Pullman blankets, and illum-
mated by electricity. Electric lights
in staterooms are not a novelty any
more, but the lamp fittings on the 800
incaudeScent lamps will attract attcn-
ton. The electric ca button in each
stateroom, however, is novelty, and
one that will be thoroughly appreciated
by the passengers. 1t is placed SO that
the passengers in either berth can
reach it without arising. There are
144 of these buttons on the boat.
After looking over the boat the most
luxurious feature, and one that will be
appreciated, is the barber shop and
bath room, and just aft the ladies' and
gentlemen's toilet rooms. Parties who
make long journey by rail, and have
no time to go TO hotel before reach
ing the boat, or business men hurrying
through on a hot day may take a bath
in the most approved style. Then
there are four staterooms forward that
are furnished little more elegant and
are more roomy than the others.
In case anything should happen TO the
boat there are sight water-tight bulk
heads which would keep the steamer
afioat under any circumstances. The
stability of the construction need not
be detailed any more than to say that
the builders, whose boats have "a repu-
tation for strength and efficiency, have
used more than usual care in building
this boat.
The general effect of the decorations,
which is in the style of louis XIV, is
dark, shading to light. The woodwork
and finish are in Honduras mahogany,
the blue Wilton carpets, with old gold
figures, relieve the dark effect of the
mahogany. The ornamentation in the
main cabin is beautiful, but the second
cabin, with its ivory and gold relief in
contrast TO the mahogany will surpass
it. The panels in the ends of the state
rooms are in gold, relieved by orna-
ments in raised gold. The dining room
has headlights arranged in pairs, and
the most important thing about it is
that it is ventilated by the McCreary
cold air system. Air is drawn down a
shaft through ventilator, and is
passed over ice and cold water before
it is liberated in the dining room Civ
ing pure air where a roast and Sne
odor of victuals are usually given tc
what is found on the menu card.
A separate cabin is provided on the
main deck for passengers without
staterooms. The lower saloon has been
devoted exclusively to the dining room,
kitchen and pantry, thus separating
the culinary departments entirely from
the main saloons and sleeping apart
ments. In fact, all departments are
supplied with every modern conven-
fence that experience can devise, or
money procure to make this steamer
unsurpassed for safety, comfort and
pleasure.
The dimensions of this new floating
palace are: Length of keel, 264 feet;
over all, $50 feet; breadth of hull, 3s
feet; breadth of beam, over all, 20 feet;
moulded depth, Is feet. The hull is of
steel. The propelling power is low
pressure, compound beam engines OF
5000 horse power. The paddle wheels
are of the Morgan feathering pattern,
adopted by this company for their
great speed without jar or noise.
Steam steering apparatus places this
immense vessel easily under the con-
troll of one man.
The steamer "City of Alpena' is run
ming between Toledo, Detroit and
Mackinac making close connections al
Mackinac for Chicago, Petoskey, Bay
View, Sault Ste. Marie, Marquette and
Duluth.