The Washington times., 1906-03-18
FLOATING PALACE
IS THE ST. JOHNS
The Big Side Wheeler Will
Prove a FayOrite.
CAN SEAT 5000 PASSENGERS
Journey From New York to Capital
VIII Be Made as Soon as
Weather Permits.

AAe~AAAcE-AA~
steamer, which Capt. e. S. Randall,
manager OF the River View and Co
lonial Beach excursion resorts, has Sc
cured in New York for service on the
Potomac between this city and his re-
sorts, will be brought around from New
York some time between the LIST and
18th of April. as soon as the weather
gets settled.
Several gentlemen from this city have
been invited to make the trip. A crew
from Captain Randall's steamers will
also be sent to New York from this city
TO take charge of her, and bring her
TO this city
CommodiouS Excursion Boat.
The ST. Johns VIII be used 20 carry
excursion parties to the River View re-
sort. She is particularly adapted to
the excursion business. having wide and
roomy decks. She will carry 5000 pas
sengers without any undue crowding.
The st. Johns is a fine side-wheei
steamer, with an iron hull, divided into
five water-tight apartments. and has
record for speed in the fast company she
has been with about New York. She
Is Us feet long on deck. has a beam Of
IS feet hull and 63 feet over guards, and
Is II rect uetp III Ine nOlu liSAA
draft, S1s feet, will allow her to go to
ell the more important points on the
river. She will be the largest side-wheel
steamer on the river. and with one ex-
ception viii be the largest steamer on
the Potomac. Her speed is about nine
teen miles an hour, and IL put on the
Colonial Beach route she can easily
carry her full load OF passengers from
cir 70 he In oI
lowing for turning in the narrow hArbor
here
Her engine is of the beam type, and is
surface condensing. with a cylinder
sixty-six inches In diameter and twelve
foot stroke.
Engine Horsepower.
II will develop 1.20O-horsepower and
steam TO drive it is supplied by three
Scotch boilers. which are allowed
pressure of fifty-five pounds to the
square inch A donkey boiler supplies
steam to her pumping engines, windlass.
electric lighting plant, and other aux
Hilary equipment.
She has sleeping accommodations for
about 200 people, in seventy-five large
staterooms and parlors in the saloon,
and in the cabins forward and aft and
on the main deck Is sleeping room for
about $50 more
The main saloon OF the steamer is n
big apartment, and Is elegantly furnish
ed. Easy chairs and touches. mirrors
and flower stands are provided and
these give it 4 most homeIike appear
ance- II is about forty feet long and
thirty-five feet wide and from it access
is had to larga private parlors on both
eli ha
A fully equipped barber shop and large
toilets are also to be found on the sa-
loon deck Access is had to the saloon
by wide and orramented stairways. for
ward and aft from the main deck. and
broad stairways lead from the saloon
deck to hurricane deck.
The forward deck outside the saloon IS
seventy feet long and the after deck, or
fan tail, is forty feet long. Seats run
inside he ratings around these decks
and also around the hurricane deck rail-
ing. and along the edge Of the turtle
shell ever the center OF the saloon
Dining Room Will Seat $50.
The dining room will seat $50 persons
at one time and seated at the table the
diners car obtain a full view Of the
scenery through the broad windows
that surround the room On all sides.
The restaurant. unlike those on the
Potomac steamers now In service. is
located under the main deck forward
1t is a large room and Will equal in
size many OF the large restaurants in
this city. e is finished in hardwood,
and Is equipped with tables, at which
guests can be seated while partaking
OF refreshments.
The general decorations of the steam
or are white and gold. the color scheme
being most nlec sing to the eve