The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-06-04

derbnL but very fortunate for the build
crs OF steam yachts Failing I'm bis at
femot 60 raise the Alva Mr.. Vanderbilt
dctcrulined 20 build new yacht that
would eclipse anything Of the class atoat
The Alva. which was 2oj feet long and the
largest private steam yacht I'm the world
when she went down 20 the bottom, was
not a very fast craft. 10 always annoyed
Mr. vanderbilt when reference was made
to the fact that JAY Goulds atlanta
heat the steam yaCht record for boats
OF her size So when the mulu-minlonaire
decided 20 build again one Of the pro-
vison5 I'm the contract with his build
ors was that the valiant should make
at least eighteen Knots an houf. He
wanted 60 Toe able 70 say that he owned
the largest cosJiest and most speedy
steam yacht in the world. and TINS keep
up the reputation OF the family for being
Che LEADERS, I'm palaual steamer building
and aIs1 Keep fresh the memory of Com
mod1re Vanderbilt. The Commodore
would have new boat built ar once If
an Aston or rival millionaire had dared
70 take me leadership. His son will have
spent. J am told, $4,000 on the Valiant be-
fore she receives her finishing touches
When be built the Valiant SEQ lone thirty
five feet more than the Alva. MIR wander
bht believed that he had reached the
limit in the size of private steam yacht
ANA thar none of the money kings who
were aspiring 20 be commodores Of the
steam yachting seas would think OF build
iHc % larger boat
Not 50, though.
Ills old rival I'm palace building. Mr..
John D. Rockefeller, after waiting IN
tet the beams of Mr.. Nanderbnrs Yacht
ordered one for himself He bae inst
cor lrsFr.
yacht $40 feet long capable OF % speed
a. twenty-one knots an hour 10 the
Cramps. OF Philadelphia. Everything
about the boat viii be OF American make
and ] am informed on good authority
the win cost when completed. in ten
months. about $4,000. In point OF pala-
ual fittings, She Will excel any craft
Of royalty or American money prince
ofoat This boat will, IL IS expected. be
more than a match for the English yacht
Valiant.
Row the cable tells US that Mr.. VIII
Ham waldorf Aston who took up his
residence in England after the New
York newspapers published his obituary
recently. Is also about 10 build a NAM
moth steam yacht some twenty feet or
more greater in length than the Valiant
hVt t is the plans Of Mr. Jacob Astor
That interests American yachtsmen the
most for that gentleman remains on
ths side OF the big pond
AS books and literature were Mr.. VIII
Ham Waldorf Astor's hobby, electricity
is Mr. John Jacob Astor's. MIR. Aston has
been am enthusiastic devotee Of the God
dess OF Electricity for number OF years
but 80 SIS only recently that ne expressed
desire % own a yacht propelled by cleo
uiciy. He IS now having designed a
yacht about 40 feet I'm length 10 be pro-
PEELED ty electricity so great rs his con-
rlence So the advancement Of the mys-
trrious power that Wizard Edison has done
e. much 20 chain.
AZ Mr Astors private dock on the
hudson Just north Of Rhincclin. n. y,
theie is now 90 be seen a forty-foot boat
mat can accommodate twenty-five per-
sons without crowding. This boat Is
propelled by electricity and IL IS be
cause Mr Astor is said 10 be so wen
tt-Isdal with her that he has decided
U also experiment with n yacht more
than four times her length. which ne
expects will attain a speed quite as great
a. the steam-p propelled Valiant.
Iats new electric boat, owned by MT
As,or Us OF more than passing interest 10
t.l interested Ira marine matters. 1t fore
Shadows the development Of this apph-
cation ~ electricity under the patronage
q "a progressive gentleman Of wealth.
Although the use az electric launches
+ Well established abroad, where they
can Dee found on the Thames, they are
novelty in this country owing chiefly 10
ur pr5tractcd litigation on the subject
o. storage batteries This litigation has
extended over several years. but has
Recently terminated. and Mr.. Astor was
tle lrst to take advantage OF that fact.
The C0rcyra. the ancient title of one OF
Tie Ionan Islands, is the euphonious
name given by Mr. Aston 10 his hand
ZONE electric craft j. c. Chamberlain
az electrical engineer OF New York. d.
Iecied the work for Mr.. Astor, with every
part OF which the millionaire was thor
opghly familiar. The Corcyra has been
tested on the Hudson and In New York
Day and che attained a speed OF ten miles
an hour. The batteries or the Corcyra
re charged by permanent plant which
tir. Astor has erected on his dock. she
y forty feet six inches on ths water Tine