The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-04-29
ADDING NEW EQUIPMENTS.
The Ocean Steamship COmpany's
improved Service.


The City Of Birmingham Of the Ocean
Steamship line sailed for New York yes
terday afternoon. A Morning News re-
porter was at the company's wharf when
the vessel was taking in her cargo Of per-
ishable and other freight. The company
has adopted a new system Of ventilation,
with which its vessels are being equipped.
A representative Of the company has
been engaged for the past year, making
an extensive examination of the methods
Of ventilation employed by the fruit car
rying trade, on vessels making Journeys
lasting several weeks, and which arrive
at their destinations with the fruit in
good condition. The results of the inves-
legations, together with the most recent
scientific discoveries in that line have
been embodied in the system employed
by the Ocean Steamship Company in its
ships, and 1t is difficult to see how IL
could be improved upon.
All Of the steam pipes that could be re-
moved from between decks, have been
taken out, and placed underneath the hur-
ricane deck The balance have been COW
cred with twice the usual thickness of min
eral wool, which prevents the radiation
of heat, and also drippings.
In the system of ventilation employed by
the company on the City of Birmingham
I'VE new intakes have been added, and
three new outtakes. The intakes consist
Of tunnels, which rise to a hight of ten
rect, and in the case of the two amidships
70 hight Of twenty feet each above the
deck. The tunnels have a circumference
of at least four feet, and are supplied with
wind caps The pipes run clear of obstruc-
ton TO between decks where they distri-
Dute a current of air of sufficient volume
and force to blow a mans hat off.
by clever arrangement of the cargo,
based on scientific principles, vents and
passage ways are left at the top, and both
sides and crossings are provided at points
ton to the cold fresh air, which in its turn
drives the foul air up and out of the vents
or outakes provided for that purpose
In every case the outtakes, which have
above deck
are of the size of large smoke stacks
nave been placed aft of the intakes, and in
between decks is remarkably cool, and free
from odor.
When the Morning News reporter visited
the CITY OF birmingham yesterday in com
pany with Mr.. J. NJ. Barnard, Jr., the gen
eral agent OF the company, a large ship
ment Of that odoriferious vegetable, the
cabbage, was being stored away IN the
nold, and the freedom of the air between
decks from odor, was particularly no
tlceable. rms was explained later when
on going on deck and standing behind the
outtakes the nostrils were greeted with an
odor Of cabbages that was of sufficient
strength to reach for several miles.
The Ocean Steamship Company has
spared no expense in its efforts to pro-
vide the best system of ventilation and
slowing for vegetables and fruit. Ship
pers however, must not expect that the
improvements will enable them to ship oV-
er-ripe or partially decayed fruit and vege-
tables in the hope that they will be con-
verted by these means into merchantable
articles, and the company are determined
to exercise strict supervision over
shipments as means of protection
to their other patrons against
such practices, which invariably
prove exceedingly detrimental to the rest
of the cargo.
The City of Birmingham is just out of
dry dock, where she was in the hands of
carpenters and upholsterers, with the re-
suit that she is practically new ship.
The comfort of the travelling public has
been looked after in a manner which de-
tiess criticism. The sanitary arrange
ments throughout are new and of a class
usually found in such palatial hotels as
the Waldorf. One of the best staterooms,
10 feet by Z feet, has been torn out and
turned into bath room, the walls of
which are lined with zinc to hight of
five feet. The floor is made of cement
and the room is fitted up with a large
ring spray bath. The bather stands on
the cement, pulls a string and fine spray
of sea water. in the shape of a shower,
falls upon him, slight pitch is given to
the floor grade, and the water is imme-
diately drained off, which gives the bath
the advantage of being always clean and
ready for use. The luxury and comfort
of such an arrangement on hot day
should be experienced to be properly ap-
preciated.
The state rooms have been handsome
ly furnished and recarpeted throughout
the electric current is kept up all night,
so that the patrons of the company need
no longer suffer from the uncomfortable
arrangement, which provided that all
-
o'clock, leaving the occupant in case Of
sickness, at the mercy of the uncertain
light furnished by candles. A proposed,
and very welcome addition to the COM
fort of passengers, will be the barber
shops, which the company intends to have
on its boats at an early date.
The City of Birmingham has been fitted
with one of the latest and most improved
propeller wheels, which Is expected to add
greatly to her speed and steadiness The
improvements stated above are being put
in all the steamers belonging to the com
pany, and the fleet will be entirely equip
ped by the middle of May.
During the time that the Ocean Steam
ship Company was in the hands of a re-
ceiVer it was impossible to expend any
money on improvements, beyond the nee.
essary expenditure required to keep the
boats in repair, but since the reorganlza-
tlon IT mas been the determination of the
management to do all that was possibIe
for the comfort of the passengers, and
| that would add to the efficiency of the
| freight department, feeling that this ac.
! ton on their part would be appreciated
! by the public, and in this manner brine
rd