The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-09-25

that were obtrusive features In the big steamboat in the days of woden building have disappeared from view with modern steel construction, and there Is nothing now to mar the graceful lines of the great sweep from stem ot stern.
 In physical dimensions the Providence does not quite equal the Priscilla of the same line which Is the largest boat of her kind a1oat. The Providence Is 397 feet long and 8S feet wide over the guards-more than 100 feet longer than the United States cruiser Des Moines, whose place she took on the Fore River building beach, and just twice her breadth. The steel hull is fitted with a double bottom running up to the water line and consisting of 13 watertight com partments. Above that the whole vessel is divided into seven compartments by heavy watertight bullxheads, while at the bow extra protection Is gwen by "col- .lision" bulkhead and a water tight "col- lision' steeldeck, placed Il feet below the main deck runningback from the stem more than a third of the vessels length. Unlike the water tight bulkheads of ocean going vessels, those on the Pro- vidence are solid, without openings of any kind and with barely room enough between the bulkheau and the ceiling for a man to crawl over. The depth of the bulkheads Is ample to avert the possibi- lity of disaster. Altogether, the Provi- dence seems a bulk larger than any of her predecessors while she marks a striking advance for her class in that she Is building in a 'battleship" yard where large part of the work done Is for the United States government.
 As a Floating Hotel.
 Outwardly. the new boat will not be unlike several large American sldewheel- CTS but inwardly, as a floating hotel she is designed to surpass in luxury and elegance many of the finest of the ocean liners. There are six decks, exclusive of two "breaks' put in to secure didrect outside ventilation for Inside staterooms. and altogether there are berth accommo- dations for 1929 people, including the crew. The Providence has twenty more staterooms than the Puritan, which has a larger number than any other boat of her class now in commission, and of those magnificent apartments known as bridal rooms there are ten In all, five on the saloon deck and four on the gallery deck. An entirely new feature of this steamer is dome deck house with fifty state rooms, rising above all the super structure other Sound boats carry.
 In the Fall River liners with old Puri- tan names a severely simple though rich style of decoration was adopted in the Providence the decorations are all in the ornate style of the Renaissance Gold laid on ground work of cream is the color scheme which is carried out with great lavishness in detail. The effects attained in panels, walls and ceilings are possible largely through the inven- ton of manufactured board-a sort of artificial wood, so to speak-which can be made in very large pieces and is not effected by atmospheric changes, so that 1t will not check" or crack. This new composition, having the further ad- vantage of being fireproof is employed in flat spaces to which decorations are to be applied, such as the paneling or the main and gallery decks and the dome that covers the grand saloon-a dome 33 feet wide and extending the whole length Of the gallery deck. 265 feet. The mahog- any stairways and the galleries have wrought iron balustrades and at the head of the grand stairway Is a large plate glass mirror in place of the paintings in the Priscilla and the Puritan.
 On the quarter deck are the smoking saloon, the ladies' parlor and the steam CTS offices The dining saloon is on the lower deck aft and adjoining 1t is a private dining room-a new feature of
 
 decorative effect will be increased by a novel system of lighting by means of candelabra on the individual tables. There are 1900 incandescent lights in the different parts of the steamer the current being distributed by a two-wire system with special insulation; and the lighting fixtures have been made a part of the scheme of decoration, being set either in clusters about the pillars or concealed in the cornices.
 Precautions for Safety.
 The fire extinguishing service and the life saving apparatus are probably the most complete ever put into a vessel of any kind. The main fire protection. given by large pipes with thirty hose connections and nearly 2500 feet of hose In various parts of the steamer, Is to be under the direct control of the chief en- gineer in charge. It Is supplemented by three powerful hand pumps and a battery of chemical extinguishers, in ad- dition to the usual pals and axes. Be- sides twelve 26-foot metallic life boats ten 20-foot life rafts and cork Jackets enough for 20Oo people. there will be a Lyle gun. such as the government life saving stations use, for throwing life lines.
 Tho Providence is intended to make
 
 hour. She will have double inclined compound engines or $500 horse power, with two H-inoh high pressure cylinders and two s3-inch low pressure cylinders, and a piston stroke of nine feet. The engine and boiler rooms are steel en- closures with walls rising above the up- per deck, and are decked over with steel giving the ship still further pro- tection againsl fire. Special considera- tion has been given to the plumbing and ventilation systems, which are sur- passed in few hotels ashore, and the steam heating apparatus is tested to maintain a temperature of 65 degrees throughout the vessel in the coldest weather.
 Although the traffic of New England has developed the Aseps Island ssunA