New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-01-12
OCEAN STEAMERS IN WAR
THEIR AVAILABILITY AS CRUISERS AND
TRANSPORTS.
DIMENSIONS OF THE LARGEST vESsEIs-THE
DAMAGE A EUROPEAN CONFLICT WOULD
CAUSE To SHIPPING.
,RGEST yESSEIS-THE

The article which appeared in The Tribune yes
terday regarding the number Of vessels apd men
that could be called out OF the mer, ~snt marine
into active naval service by Great Britain, Ger.
many and other nations that eht be drawn into
a European war aroused a great deal OF discussion
in shipping circles. As a natural consequence the
size and tonnage OF the vessels Owned In foreign
countries and running TO this port came UP. and II
was surprising To learn how litle was known ac'
ciratciy of the immense amount Of tonnage that
comes to New-York that might be- readily utilized
by forei.n Powers. ether fleet cruisers or as
fast Transports That the readers OF The tribune
may be- familiar with the Length. tonnage. beam
and depth Of the great vessels hat cross the bar OF
this harbor brief sketch Of the larger SHIPS
appended
OF course. the largest steamship that ever
dropped anchor in this harbor was the famous
Great Eastern Il took five years 10 build her. AM
she was finally completed 10y j. Scott Russel, on
the Thames. England. in 1888. This vessel vas Nv
feet long. @ feet beam. y feet deep had draus''
of 2S feet and measured $4,000 tons gross. She
was sidewheeier and when the engines GeVelopea
1900 horsepower they drove her along n the ra's
Of sixteen and one-half miles an hour The Great
Eastern WAS a rather unfortunate vessel. ana ai.s'
serving as cable ship. AZ transport ana f0'
various other purposes she finally broken up
So far a. me great vessels OF the present Gay are
concerned. the Cinard Line easily leads IN size
with the fleet Campanla ami Lucania- whieh ai'
twin vessels OF exactly the same type ana are 'hs
sWiftcst ships ahoat IN the merchant marine. Ihey
6,l feet long. - feet shorter than the ues,
Eastern. which was popularity known a. an elensn
-, nd ma, ,,,s. "a fss, deso "a be-, less than
Great Eastern. and 1880 tons register Inc wv
b,r, y"ssa1s ,G'a, hut nave none 10 +! .2ute their
claim TO be the nce,est OF the ocean ereyhounds
chief vessels OF the White star Line. the Majestic
uT Ton f.IFH nAN Ia a re-
OF the following dimensions Length eoo' oteau ,s
olN, depth. 53 ana gross tonnasr NSoi' ,s star
nect OF ro0my passenger steamers. the " mite ole.
Line cas- large number OF iast ana o!s irSsn
steamships Mhch nav eh,rinouS res rereutly
launched steamship George. which was tuly cs.
scribed in The Tribune the occasion her 'T
age across the Atlantic. The George holds w
proud position OF being tire largest cargo steiner orr
the world. and would make an admirable rSnspvss
If England should become involved IN war sne na a
capacity Of 1900 tons. and Is 90 feet long, las
feet beam. and is 20 feet deep INA. sn
The other freighters OF the line. whose names 81
end with the famous &c, are worthy company,nnss
of the queen of cargo steamships. Next in POM ua
OF length come the vessels OF the American lAn.
The ST. Paul and 81. Louis, the latest additions ss
the american neet nave ao9nt 9netth rnnard Ina
but weather boats they have no rivals. h nv
are 1855 feet long 50 feet beam. 5Oi depth ana nav
The Hamburg American Line follows WI WIN y "a.
MAMMA Augusta Victoria and columbia wh'I IN
in length from 400 feet TO go fest; anu Snres
and G Havei Of the North German Lloyd Line fGli;
low the vessels just named closely In polnta "
length and tonnage In the article OF yesetpS nx.
which fully described just how tho European rowM
ers could rely their merchant marine loi ,hs1
The Tribune described the vessels ana men ,hsr
Germany, England and France could call 10 tns'
assistance from the transatlantic service; ,, ~
European would mean the Gripping m n.
thousands and thousands of tons or shppli y ~ IA
merce on American bottoms would. OF course, ~
badly nterfered WITH and il is safe to say, '' out.
Is the general opinion OF shipping men, tna,
side of the American Line. there would Ds PnnSalld
cally regular traffic with Europe; ms Ms might
be
call upon the vessels dying her nag ouS anYlre
the fact that they might be In Danger OF OF
this port is enormous, and the aver s &c 10
would not recognize its importance OF neve wuro.
the fullest extent unless it were cut OH py q man
pean war Thousands upon thousands 81, IL then
from shipping agents to longshorenisn mo front
be thrown out of employment. ana the VIZ Danart.
would be a bowling wilderness. Inc bo S lines de-
ment can now scarcely accommodate i done
President O BrIen and his brother Oon"I''
to facilitate trattlo.