Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-03-04
4 rEEp Isro THE FUTURE.
A Prophetic Description of a fall Rive
Steamer IN 1925.

Steamer IN 1925.
The current number of the Marine
journal contains an interesting article on
"'rhe Steamboat of the Future. when
is illustrated by an imagined picture OF
Fall River Line steamer of 1923. Says
the Journal:
Thomas A. Edison has predicted that
within comparatively short time
changes which to-day seem almost in
comprehensive will occur in the develop
ment and application Of power for mt
chanical and propclling forces, his theory
being that the heat of the sun will be
utilized TO create steam for the making OF
electricity TO be stored during the day, for
use and application whenever and wher-
ever required. The storage of electricity
is already an accomplished fact, but lis
handling in this form is so expensive as to
make it us yet of little commercial value.
Who can tell, therefore, what such won
derful possibilities may bring about? 1t
is likely to reyolutionize the forces of the
world.
Among the first agencies to employ the
new force would, of course, be the import
ant transportation lines. among the pio-
neers of which is the Fall River Line, be-
tween New York and Boston, whose great
steamboats,. the Priscilla, Puritan, Ply
mouth and Pilgrim, running between New
York and Newport and Fall River. are
known the world over, as being in adj
vance of anything heretofore constructed.
"The illustration given above, the origi-
nal of which was painted by Mr. Fred.
Pansing, Marine Artist, is simply n Goa
ception of what may be evolved in the way
of n steamboat in perhaps the year 1925.
The thought embraces the construction Of
te,al f,~t hnr Inn f,,ttr
side wheels, two on either side, as pro-
pelling agencies, with electric power capa-
bic of developing speed Of from 80 to 30
miles per hour, or ns fast as the present
average railroad train is run, the vessel
to be devoted to the transportation Of pas
sengers only.
while the person with whom origi-
mated the thought which resulted in the
production of the picture, may he dea ling
in futures too extrayagantly, 1T may be
safe to predict that in the no distant fu-
ture, steamboats, will be equipped with
telephone and telegraph service, so that
, a trip between New York and Fall River
need involve no cessation whatever of
business or social activity, the passenger
remaining during the whole voyage On
| tirely in touch with business or social
affairs.
Tart OF the equipment OF the noat, 100,
may consist of a stage for theatrical per-
formances during the voyage. This feat
ure would be located on the main deck
| forward, while the remainder of the deck
would ne assigned to a beautifully fur
nished cafe, restaurant, smoking room and
summer garden, the upper decks to be
utilized for the arrangement of electrical
ly lighted and beautifully furnished sa-
looms, parlors, staterooms, card and read
ing rooms, all of the rooms and saloons to
he equipped with the telephone for COM
muncating with different parts of the
vessel or to ones home or Office.
"On one of the upper decks quarter
mile bicycle track might be constructed
very comfortably, though it is scarcely
possible that so many years hence it will
be necessary to propel wheels by foot
power, MS electric propelling attach
mcnts will probably he devised and in use
long before that time, propulsion by the
natural method of foot power being left
entirely optional with riders. For vessel
of this size it would be necessary to en-
ploy two hands of music one at either end
of the steamer. instead of one band and
orchestra. which is now feature of the
Fall River Line steamers"