Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-03-01
City of Montgomery Takes In
itial Dip at Shipyard.
MISS STEINER THE SPONSOR
Many Distinguished Guests From
North and South Come Here Tor
Launching Keel Of Ship Laid
Only Few Months Ago.

Just uNe months anu lNNH's iS"N
DAYS from the time of the laying Oh
her first keel plate, the Ocean steam
ship Companys palatial steel trelshi
and passenger steamer C1ty OF Mcnt-
gomery was launched at 11:45 O'Clock
Yesterday morning at the plant OF the
Newport News Shipbuilding X Dry
Dock Company in the presence OF a
large party of distinguished visitors
from the North and South. As the
big hull began the journey down the
vays 10 the waters of James river,
Miss Helen Camp Steiner. or Mont
gomery, Ala. daughter OF MAJOR X. Il
Steiner, broke the traditional Dottle
of native champagne over the crait
bow and named her in honor OF Ala
bamas capitol city.
On the stocks nearby the ways from
which the City Of Montgomery was
sent overheard yesterday rests the
vessels sistership which on March
% will take her initial dip and be
christened City of st. Louis. when
they are completed early in the com
ing summer and placed in service be-
tween New York and Savannah, Ga,
there twin vessels will be notable ad-
oitions 10 the coastwise fleet Their
construction resulted from the contin-
ual expansion of the Industries OF the
South and the need of better trans
portation facilities for the South's
growing coastwise trade.
Building In Record Time.
In the construction of these ships,
the Newport News Shipbuilding &
Dry Dock Company has set new
pace for American shipyards in build
ing this class of steamships. The
keel for the City of Montgomery was
laid down ON September l, 1909, and
she will be completed about June !.
The keel for the City of St Louis
was laid down on October l and she
will be commissioned about July i.
Although slightly smaller than some
of the vessels now plying in that ser
vice. the City of Montgomery and Cltt
OF st. Louis are TO be the best equip
red and handsomest steamers engag-
ed in the coastwise traffic on the AT
lantic coast. Each is to be equipped
with wireless telegraphy, submarine
bells. safety signals and all OF the
ether modern devices for the SAFETY or
life at sea. They also will have a COM
plete system of watertlght compart-
ments. with watertight doors that
can be closed in a seconds time, that
will make them we'll nigh unsuitable.
High and Wide Decks.
Great wide decks, nearly fifty feet
across from rail to rail, with dining
saloons arranged forward allowing
the diners an unobstructed view OF
the ocean, sheltered decks and sun
decks rising forty feet above the sur
face of the ocean, form only a few
Of the attractions of the City or
Montgomery and City of st. Louis. A
length of 3S7 feet overall and top
mage of about 5000 gross will make
these twin steamers the very essence
Of comfort and safety between the
Northern and Southern ports.
One OF the most interesting features
of the construction of the steamers
has been the attention paid TO the
demands of varying climatic changes
between New York and Savannah.
Thus. travellers leaving New York In
the face of a northeast blizzard will
find comfortable, steam heated rooms,
warm lOunging rooms, music rooms
and coy corners that make the YES
sells seem like hotels. AS soon as the
climate changes occurs south of Cape
Hatteras, the ventilation and cooling
apparatus on board the ships will aid
the passengers in bearing comfortably
the balmy air of the Southland In
the same manner will those coming
from the South be assisted gently in
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