Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-05-13

The Morning Star packet, registered
in the port of Rock Island and owned
and operated by the Northern Steam
boat Line company, is cruising down
the Mississippi river, bound for New
Orleans The boat is to make this
unique trip in something like % days.
No stops are being made for passen-
gers except possibly at Burlington and
ST. Louis. The trip, going and return
ing. is 10 be made al easy stages. al
lowing the passengers ample oppor-
tunity to view the beautiful scenes
along the Mississippi At this season
of the year the landscapes and views
are even more picturesque than at 9th
er periods, and this is one of the rea-
sons for the early trip. The unique
voyage was planned. and is being car
ried out under the direction of Captain
Walter A Blair.
1t is fitting at this time to state what
the master of the boat has done to
make this palatial side wheeler the
handsome craft that it is. The boat
was purchased by the new company a
year ago at Paducah, Ky. 1t was built
in southern waters, and piled princi-
pally along the Ohio. First of ALL it is
a side wheeler, and its decks slope
gracefully. When purchased the boat
was 223 feet in length. Now it is 255
feet, an additional % feet having been
built TO enhance the beauty of the
craft The addition was on the bow of
the boat This addition on the upper
decks is used for a lounging deck.
The cabin of the boat is 140 feet in
length. 1t will be used as a dining
hall for the cabin passengers, and as
a dance hall and rest room for women.
In the dining room 125 passengers can
be accommodated at one time, and 1t
is the object of the company to carry
no more passengers on the trips than
can be seated at the table. There will
he but one service for each meal, and
thereby the Inconvenience of second
ia bles will be abolished.
The state rooms of the boat are fit
ted with brass. double-deck beds, sta
tionary washstands with running wa
ter. and closets. Bath rooms for men
and women are conveniently located.
There is a laundry on the stateroom
deck. where washing and pressing will
be done. A room formerly fitted for a
bar has been made over into barber
shop There is a stand where soft
drinks and CONNECTION will be sold. The
officers have staterooms on the upper
deck, apart from those of the passen-
gers. They have private dining
room nearby. The other employees of
the boat. including deck hands ami
walters and helpers, will bunk on the
lower deck. For the deck hands the
hunks will be in the engine room,
while for the other help staterooms
have been installed on the lower deck.
In this way they will be separated
from the passengers
Arrangements for the comfort OF
in warm and in cool wealth !
or is most noticeable, for it includes
an entirely new and novel arrange |
ment There is an arrangement to /
the rear of either wheel encased in |
galvanized iron The cool water spray /
Is thrown onto this continuance, and /
L in turn conveys il TO a pump which |
throws il through conduits leading 10 !!
The staterooms BY ventilators the |
current of air may be regulated as de- |
sired by the occupant of the rooms.
The kitchen and pastry rooms are |
tilted with the latest equipment used /
n the work Potato peelers, dish 1
washers and driers have been in
stalled Steam closets in which TO
Keep cooked food warm and various
,ther useful patents are installed.
The engine room is capacious and
veil fitted. Engines to be used in case
here should be emergencies and dyn-
mos and other machinery for the sup
dying of light and heat have been pro
-ided. Extra large bunkers for coal
nd refrigerators for the storage of
meats for long cruises have been
luilt.
There is plenty of room for heavy
argo Of freight and baggage, and If