The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-10-23
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Sumptuous Fittings Of the New
Turbine Cunard Steamship.
GIGANTIC IN EVERY WAY.

Her Engines Develop $1,000 Horse
power.
1t may be said that the arrival of the !
huge Cunard steamship Lusitania, the |
largest of ocean liners, marks a climax
In maritime affairs Of a year that will
be regarded as epoch making In the
matter Of constructing and putting into
service new and gigantic ocean liners,
says the New York Evening Sun. 1t
seems only a few weeks ago that the
mammoth Adriatic Of the White Star
line was arriving, and now m the
great Lusitania, even larger and more
speedy than the White Star vessel.
And the difference in size between the
two is not so inconsiderable. The Adri-
attic, to proceed directly to concrete
figures, is 725 feet long, while the
Cunard leviathan measures 100 feet
from tip to tip.
There will be something of difference
In the appearance Of the turbine liner
as compared with the pioneer vessel
Of the Cunard feet which in July, 1910,
steamed cautiously across the Atlantic.
This vas the Britannia, a wooden,
paddle wheel steamship which vas POT
feet long and which had a gross ton
mage of 1,154. This is rather meager
as compared with the L~usitania's
great measurement of 32,50O net tons.
The ancient B%ritannia's engines had an
indicated horsepower Of TAO, which
seems to place her in the towboat class
when it is considered that the turbine
engines Of the Lusitania develop 6S,OOO
horsepower In driving the vessels
quadruple screws. The Britannia's
speed was about 8 knots, while the
Lusitania can be driven at the rate Of
2512 knots an hour.
The old time liner had a crimson
funnel amidships, the distinguishing
mark of the Cunarders, but this would
seem a tiny pipe if held up in COM
parison with the Lusitania's four gi-
gantic stacks. This vessel is the first
Of the Cunarders to boast foul stacks.
The Lusitania was constructed at
Clydebank, where the Carmania and
Caronla We're built. She was launched
In June of last year, and since that
time some speedy work has been done
In finishing the vessel up, considering
the sumptuous fittings required and
the mammoth scale upon which the
work was carried on. Through some
mental legerdermain it may be posi-
BILE to CLEAN a practical idea Of the ves-
sells length. 1t IS pointed out that if
the Park Row building in New York
were placed atop of the st. Paul build
ing and then, with this tremendous
feat accomplished, If the gigantic Lusi-
tania We're placed on end alongside
the new liner would exceed In height
the double structure by more than 100
feet.
Additional figures may serve to en-
phasize the idea Of the great vessels
bulk. She has a beam of lightweight
feet and a nodded depth of sixty feet.
Her load draft, when her spacious
holds are filled with cargo, will be thir.
ty-seven and one-half feet. The di-
ameter Of the tunnels is considerable,
being no less than t~wenty-four feet, or
approximately the distance covered by
the worlds champion broad jumper
The tunnels are 155 feet in height. The
vessels coal carrying capacity must
needs be large, and her bunkers hold
more than 1000 tons. 1t Is expected
that the $50 fires roaring in the YES.
sells hold while she is under way will
consume nearly 1000 tons Of fuel q
day.
A great pressure of steam is needed
in order to drive the vessel at such q
high rate of speed. Each of the foul
shafts carries a great propeller of man
ganese bronze, and the outermost shafts
are each connected with a high pres
sure turbine, while the inner shafts
are operated by low pressure turbine
engines. Upon the result Of the Lusi
tania's turbines may depend the fu
ture of this great speed producing bu'
also great fuel devouring engine. Int
the construction Of the new Cunard
er's engines have gone all the device:
and advantages that have been gained
through years Of experimenting b.
the most expert engineers.
OF course to give these high pressur,
turbines full play and to render pos
stble a satisfactory test of the power
full machinery a stanch and worthy
hull must be provided. The keel plat,
is the beginning Of the outer shell O.
the ocean leviathan. The keel plat,
of the Lusitania, greatest of ships, Il
five feet wide and four inches thick
Associated with this fat keel is a yer
teal keel five feet high and one incl
thick. This in reality i;1the backbone
of the ship. To this Powerful has,
are fastened directly or indirectly til,
ribs and frames that go to make VI
the skeleton Of the great vessel, he,
manifold beams and supports, all O
steel and each welded to its neighbo
IN an almost u~nbreakable grip.
And with the beginning of the shiI
also there starts the task of provid
Ing for the safety of those who vii
be transported from one place to an
other in the vessel. The double bot
tom is only one of the precautions tina
are utilized NOWADAYS TO iuSI,ra th,