The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser., 1900-06-15
EN- ROUTE TO THE PARIS
EXPOSITION.
MID OCEAN, May, Goth, 1900.

Americans must traverse a thous-
and leagues of sea in order to reach
the Paris Exposition, for the Trans
Alaskan Siberian Russian Route is
not open. But in spite Of the distance
:he water end the expanse Of it, it is
safe to say there will be three times as
many Americans at the Paris Exposi-
ton as there were Europeans and Asi-
atics together at the Chicago Exposi
ton. Next to the English, we Amer
leans are the greatest travellers in the
world and since we and the English
speak the same language and spend
more money than all the rest of the
globe PAGERS OF the world, the language
spreads and spreads. 1t is far more
spoken and printed and read than any
two languages 1t is no longer neces-
sary to know French, German, Span
ish or italian in order to travel in
these countries, though it is of course
more convenient to do so and will add
greatly to the pleasure and education
of travel Our language is spoken in
all the important hotels and shops OF
Europe. Even the French, so imper-
vious to anything that has not origi-
mated in Paris, have begun in the last
ten years to learn English and are able
now to cajole and cheat us in our YER
nacular.
These reflections came to me at sea
on my fourth trip to Europe and my
second trip to Paris Worlds Fair.
In 1878, twenty-five years ago in the
Month of May, 1 sailed on a steamer,
The Swevia, of this same Hamburg
American line. The Swcvia was q
boat of about 5000 tons. This boat is
10000 TONS 1t took us then twelve
days to cross we expect now to make
the passage in less than seven days.
These improvements are suggestive of
recent progress in ship and engine
building. | have crossed in four ships
of this line. have preference for
these German manned boats. Their
martinez discipline which is seen in
the crew and in the attendants, wheth-
er on deck, in cabin or in the dining
saloon, atfoads sense Of security and
protection that one does not feel with
the lax, go go-as-you-please management
of some other lines. 1t may be that if
we should collide with something and
our boat should start in a vertical bee
line for the nearest land at the bottom,
these machine-like Germans would inn
itate the French sailors in the recent
wreck of the Bourgogne, jump in the
boats themselves and beat off the first
class passengers with the oars. But
men and sailors have been known in
deadly peril to think of others before
themselves and l believe there is some
thing of this Berkinhead spirit in the
seamen who man the Hamburg boats
The danger of sinking has been reduced
until it is no longer possible except
collision or fire, and the dangers from
these sources have been minfied almost
out of sight by the selection Of safe
ocean routes and by fre-proof con-
struction.
The three distinct achievements of
the twin-screw system are increased
speed, regularity in the arrival of YES
sells, and, most important of all, high
degree Of safety at sea. BY this sys-
tenn the vessel is divided into two
parts entirely separated from each
other by long steel wall or bulkhead,
running the whole length of the ship.
Two non-communicating parts having
thus been established each one is
equipped with an engine shaft and
screw, working independently of and
wholly unaffected by the movements
| of the other The advantage gained
by this principle is obvious, for de-
rangement Of the engine on one side in
no way affects the other which will
| continue its work with but little loss
Of speed. Each half of the ship is fur
ther divided by transverse bulkheads
into numerous water-tight compart-
ments and a double bottom insures
from injury from below. Another adj
vantage of the twin screw is the con-
troll held over the direction of the ship.
In case of accident to the rudder the
vessel can be accurately steered by
driving one screw ahead and rcvers-
ing the other
We are half way over today and
there is no lack of sea air, The ocean
fronts everywhere. No land breeze
and no mosquitoes. These conditions
cannot be had every day at Atlantic
City. These boats have become so
luxurious that many people sail mere
~ for rest and recreation. But the
cost is about $40 per day. My ticket
was 1925, war revenue tax s., tips s.,
total Sl35. Mr.. Armour, the Chica-
90 millionaire is aboard and his single
passage costs him $500, but he has
physician and valet and his wife and
two childrcn-probably $1,000 Or ST.
200 out of his pocket. He can stand
it. He was heard to remark that he
was living better and more comforta-
bly, than at home.
! In s,,ite of 4 Dlacid sea about one