The Newtown bee., 1900-05-25
LOCAL AFFAIRS.
The Allan Joy.

THE PALATIAL NEW STEAMER, OF THE
 BRIDGEPORT STEAMBOAT CO, WHICH
 MADE THE FIRST TRIP LAST WEEK.
 Through the courtesy of Mir Connolly, the genial manager of the Bridgeport Steamboat Co.,, a representative of THE BEE had the pleasure on Monday of look ing over their new boat, the Allan Joy, which is to ply between Bridgeport and New York. She Is the handsomest. best appointed, largest and speediest steamer that ever sailed from this port. The Allan Joy is, in every way, far ahead of the Nutmeg State. She is 238 feet long, has 43 foot beam, displacement of l,457 tonnage, carrying capacity of 800 tons and a speed of 19 knots an hour. She can make New York in three hours, loaded. Her machinery is of the la est design and every possible precausion against accident has been taken. She has & l 400 horse power triple expansion engine, the diameter of the cylinders being 20, 31 and 50 inches. The steam is made in two boilers, with three furnaces under each. The engine is ponderous affair. An auxiliary engine is used to run the electric light plant. This is no small feature. The engine Is tested to 400 pounds pressure to the square inch. Enough electricity is generated to light number of Bridgeport's largest buildings. The chief engineer Is P. R. Spencer, and he has ten assistants. The engine room Is one of the neatest ever seen. The fire- men are assisted in keeping the place tidy by patented ejector which disposes of ashes in quick order. The accommo- dations for the public are remarkable be- cause they are so superior to anything the Bridgeport public has previously en- joyed. The passengers will not be re- quired to use the same gsngway that the freight handlers use. They go direct to the office in the after part of the steamer, not even having to pass freight. The office and saloons are all finished in white and gold, and on the office fl DOT and in other parts of the boat where passengers
 
 with rubber tiling. From the office all parts of the boat are accessible without going through rows of freight. The freight is all forward on the main deck, and the passenger has no reason to go there. Below deck, aft, there are 1O2 free berths. There will be no charge for berths hereafter. The place is roomy, we'll ventilated and clean. On the main deck, directly over the berth room is a smoking room for the men. In the low CT forward cabin are bunk rooms for the second officers, and the fo'castle is the deckhands sleeping quarters. Cleanli- ness is the first obligation. Two exits lead from each of the lower cabins. The main saloon on the upper deck is we'll named grand. It has 8 sweep nearly 200 feet long and covered with rich red plush carpet. The furniture to be put in will be of mahogany, upholstered in red. Opening from this cabin are 42 finely ap- pointed and spacious staterooms also the women's berth room. There are 3t berths, and no extra charge will be made for them. The forward and after decks are roomy and in keeping with the other parts. The same condition is to be found on the hurricane. Two stairways lead to this deck, an arrangement which hal not existed on any steamer which has sailed from this port. In the pilot house is to be found 6 double wheel, one operated by steam, another new feature on Bridgeport boat. Should the steam steering apparatus give out, the hand wheel is there. Connections with the en. gineer's bell are in all parts of the cabin and the officer on the watchout never hal to cross the cabin to give 6 signal. Al echo, or resounding tube tells him in- tantly whether his signal has been heard. Speaking tubes go to various parts of the boat and there is a signal system by which the watches have to send repor to the pilot house every 15 minutes.