New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-06-24
THE ST. LOUIS.
ARRIVAL OF THE NEW AMERICAN SHIP
At SOUTHAMPTON-BRIT AND
AMERICAN SUBSIDIES - THE
FLAG on THE HIGH SEAS.

has been great event III tnis enteIpllsIHS' d"-
bilious town, jealous OF the commercial prestige
nj Liverpool. The time OF the ship disap-
poIntment 10 thoughtess and reckless cacula-
Tors who unreasonaby insisted upon having all
records broken by a new ship on her maiden
VOYAGE The engineers understood their bust
ness and had d proper .ensc OF responsibility t.
their EMPLOYERS They KEEP, the twin engines
down to eighty revolutions. when the machinery
was capable OF running at ninety-iive minute.
The speed in this way was reduced TO an av-
eragc OF is Is knots per hour, with 443 knots as
the highest daily run. The time was slow. but
the voyage Vas described by every one as de-
lightful. The steadiness Of the ship in a beam
sea was remarkable. There was very little sea-
sickness among the passengers. and the dining
cabin was crowded at every meal. That Is a
practical way of demonstrating the success OF
the voyage The vibration OF the machinery was
hardly percepfible deck In the cabins.
The passengers were Of one mind in declaring
that Mr. Grscom's prediction that the ST. Louis
would be record breaker SO far comfort
concerned had been fulfilled.
The ST. Louis Is recognized at once in South
ampton as improved Paris. Her bow is
sharper and her curves are more graceful. She
is ten feet longer the water line. but has
practically the same beam and depth. with
tonnage of l,699. The substitution OF two fun
nels for three has an important bearing upon the
comfort OF the interior arrangements, which
original and most satisfactory from every point
Of view. The main dining saloon is large enough
to seat $50 passengers at one time. that no
unfortunates have to wait for second table or
seek the retirement OF an inferior dining cabin.
This great saloon is amidships between the two
tunnels and there are no pillars or pipes running
through it. 1t is where there is the least pos
aud ha oh 70
fully guarded. SO that pantries not passed
by passengers in going to their meals. keen
eyed observer who thoroughly explored the ship
declared that il must have been designed by
engineer who had suffered the worst horrors of
seasickness. for every thing had been done to re-
duce the risks and discomfort of that distressing
malady. His judgment fully confirmed by
the experience of the passengers during the first
voyage. Every one spoke Of II as pre-eminently
a comfortable ship. All the arrangements for
sleeping cabins ,ngeniously designed to re-
move passengers from the atmosphere of pantries
and dining-room and to provide abundance of
fresh air and light. The saloon parlors. library
and smoking rooms luxurious In all their APP
pOintments and most tastefully decorated. The
second cabin is also model of comfort. and the
steerage accommodations superior to those Of
ordinary ships These details superfuous,
since the ship has been fully described in New
York but 1t was necessary to refer TO them
roughly in order 10 emphasize the fact that the
St. Louis designed primarily to secure the
comfort OF passengers and to lessen the annoy
ances Of a voyage
The St. Louis will undoubtedly prove faster
ship than either the Paris the New-York. but
there is no expectation that she will rival the
Campania and Lucania as record breakers In
order to do that her tonnage would have TO be
greatly increased. the horsepower of her en-
gines run up at least 10000. and her daily coal
consumption enlarged by 200 tons. The American
liners are among the fastest ships ahoat and
with the advantages Of the Southampton service
land their passengers and mails with great regu-
larity and promptness Sometimes the best
Liverpool steamers are little ahead in time. and
sometimes they behind the American steam
ers. In bad weather the advantage for mail ser
vice lies with Southampton. but in good weather
It is with Queenstown. The margin however
is slight under any conditions. and there are
superior facilities at Southampton for rapid
transit TO London and the Continent. The st
Louis will be of the most popular SHIPS ior
American travellers because ii is specially de-
signed to meet the requirements of their char
acteristic tastes II it proves 10 be considerably
faster than the Paris and New-York, 1t VIII De
a dangerous competitor for the Liverpool steam
at Southampton for docking ships and delivering
passengers and mails without delay. Liverpool
is making great efforts 10 offset these ad-
yantages by improved transit facilities at the
docks but Southampton. too. IS wide awake ana
determined TO leave nothing undone TO secure
large share Of the transatlantic passenger TRACE
So far as general management and ship service
are concerned, the American liners are worthy OF
the flag under which they sail. Steadiness IS the
chief characteristic Of the ships when at sea, ana
there Is less motion in rough weather than IN
ordinary vessels. They are also among the
safest ships on the ocean. since they nave
double bottoms with water ballast and bulkheadS
without doors. The st. Louis, with her seven
teen water-tight compartments. Inodei snip
for seaworthiness and safety. The table and
service leave nothing to be desired. The man
ayers Of the line in changing the flag and order
ing two new ships OF the Cramps wisely de-
tsrmined 10 appeal for American trafhc IN Inc
mos, practical way by having all the details OF
accommodation and service of the highest order
NJ excellence. They are getting their return al
mos, Immediately in patronage from the travel
ling public Their ships are now CROWDED VIII"
messengers at every crossing Sentiment mas
something to do with 1t. There ~ ha'uid'
preference among Americans for SAILING uhue'
ther own flag when they can do so conveniently
put sentiment would speedily exhaust i's ioi0e
I, ,ba accommodations and service were INFERIOR
o- - any deteils essential 20 the comfort OF pas
sengcrs were neglected With painstaKihg care
every precau,ion has been taken 10 coh"'a"o
popular support and 10 retain IL WIN u"'e"S"'e
vigilance and unremitting courtesy 10 passe"se,'
structures upon the American liners as SUD-
u,n;uod sbins kent afoat by official pap from
washington come with very poor grace iIo'i
,,-,,., CRITICS The St Louis New-York ana
p.rts receive liberal payments for the transpor'a-
,,o, ~ mails from the United states treasury
md are reserved without extra cost Tor "oVe'"-
,oo,, use as auxiliary cruisers in any emersehC''
Tbe,r main English rivals also are AIDED by '''e
-oar. The British Admiralty pays an