The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-11-10

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there would be no steamship sonoms
here in December.
This is thought To mean that the So
noma will be taken off one trip to tn,
Colonies to undergo extensive repairs
The vessel falls behind her schedule on
every trip. losing as much as four to
flVe Gays coming up from the Colonies
MANCHURIA ON DRYDOCK.
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 31.-The Pa
cific Mail Steamship Company's steam
/ er Manchuria was placed on the dry
dock at Hunters Point this morning
! that We're received during the ground
/ ing near Honolulu some time ago The
| injuries sustained by the big liner were
! found to be so extensive that it will
| take about four or five days to make
| a complete survey of the vessel. Prac-
| tically the entire hull of the ship was
| damaged and necessary repairs will
| amount to an enormous sum and it will
| take several months to put the vessel
| in a seaworthy condition.
The hull of the big steamship is dent
| ed in from the bow to the stern show
ing gaping holes, and it is figured that
about two hundred plates will have to
be removed. With the exception of one
on the starboard, every blade on the
| two propellers is curled over.
The bilge keels were badly damaged.
but the one on the starboard side more
so than on the port. AS there was still
considerable water in the double bot
tom, it was impossible to tell what
damage had been done to the inner
hull.
MANAGEMENT ON SHIPBOARD.
The appointments, so far as concerns
the comfort and convenience of the
traveller on the ocean passenger steam
er, particularly of the newer of the
regular liners, have approached very
nearly perfection. AS much, however,
can not be said of the internal admin
istration of these vessels. The ocean
passenger traffic has reached such large
proportions within recent years that
some modification of the present sys-
TEN of managing the many affairs on
shipboard IS necessary, especially when
the large number of passengers carried
by the great ocean liner of today is
considered. One of the most important
matters that needs revision is that OF
the dual relation of the captain to his
ship and his passengers. In an arti-
Gle on this subject, Mr.. j. NJ. James,
+. r. @. s, points out that as the
master of a vessel is responsible for the
.trzISr %
the vessel and the safety of the lives
of all on board, he should not be called
upon to look after the personal COM
fort of passengers or attend the saloon
table at meal times unless he may
please to do so. His position as COM
mander of the vessel should be d.
vorced from all social relations with
passengers and the consideration of
them as guests. In earlier times when
ocean travellers We're comparatively
few, the social qualities of the master
of a steamer counted for considerable
in popularizing the line to which it be-
longed, often enhancing the reputation
of some one of it's vessels. Then 1t was
possible for him to become acquainted
with his passengers personally. mat
time however, is past. The great in
and in the number of the passengers
carried on each of them at the present
time furnishes a good reason why this
position of captain should be free from
all trammels of a social nature. This
would not result in any disadvantage
to the passenger, as any attention or
information that is usually sought
from the officers of the ship might be,
Tar
readily supplied by an intelligence bu-
reau on board ship especially created
for this purpose. and a system might
be devised to meet the modern require.
r7ents of travellers in other directions,
not the least of which would be that of
certain banking facilities. 1t is also
suggested that some revision of the
medical staff is necessary, and that
Il surgeon and two assistants would
be none too many on the great passen-
ger steamers. There are doubtless
other matters connected with the in
ternal administration of the modern
passenger steamer that with advantage
might be given consideration with
view to their betterment. The number
of great ocean steamships are sure to
increase, and passenger traffic will also
greatly increase The steamers win
continue to compete with each other in
the matter of luxury and convenience
of their appointments, but it must uItl-
mateIy come to this, that the alne
whose internal administration of It's
steamers is managed through various
departments responsible to the captain,
but leaving him entirely free in the
discharge of his duties, will become
the most popular. because it will have
reduced all matters pertaining TO the
requirements of passengers to an intel
ligent system. thereby greatly AIDING
to their convenience and sense Of safely
while on the voyage.
MARINE NOTES.
The steamship Hongkong Maru sail
ed yesterday from San Francisco for
the Orient via Honolulu.
The transport Logan is due to arrive
from San Francisco tomorrow. She
will bring one days mail.