The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1913-09-05
THE GREATEST STEAMER i'm fHE
WORLD.
Some Oh the "ImperatOr's" MarVels.

Some Oh the 'Imperator's" MarTels
The "Imperator," which Is the new
est " the liners built to ply the waters
between the United States and Europe
il also the greatest She is almost one
fifth of a mile long-to be exact, 9ls
feet Her beam Is SO feet, which
compares favorably with that OF pre-
tentious city street; and her tonnage
is $4,000.
NJ less remarkable Il her machine
nv. The "Imperator" is driven Dy
nuadruple turbine engines deVeloplns
62 coo horsepower, which drive tne
ship at an average speed OF ~ -
knots The reversing turbines &C.
velop about $4,000 horsepower. There
are four propellers measuring more
than 1874 feet in diameter and reVolv-
ing at a normal speed Of lS5 revOlu-
lions a minute.
since mere figures tell but little
nerhaDs the real size of the "lmpera-
tor" may be best judged by her AZ
cessories. For example, no less than
Ave great anchors are carried, OF
which the main anchor, the largest i'm
the world. weighs 26,455 pounds The
combined weight Of the five anchors
and their chains is 4S5,OS2 POUNDS
The cargo of many small steamer IL
not much larger.
Some idea Of the size Of the I'M
perator" may also be gained from tne
fact that her sides are built upon 327
steel ribs, on either side, each weigh
ing a ton and third. The weight OF
the steel plates, angles, prof1les, and
the like. totals 260 tons. More than
600 900 steel rivets were used, each
weighing eleven pounds. No wonder
that the tonnage OF the 'Imperator' Il
fifty thousand.
Because of her great size her decks
are particularly imposing. Two OF ner
three broad decks are partially 1nclos-
ed. The promenades vary In width
from 16 to 20 feet, while the circuit
of the deck Is equal to walk OF ABOUT
i've ordinary city streets. None OF
the ventilating tunnels common TO
many steamers are to be found on the
Hence her entire upper
ar sun deck can be used for games and
for promenading.
That the "Imperator" is In truth
huge is driven home by the quantity OF
carried. For a seven-day
voyage between New York and HAM
burg the "Imperator" takes on board
25 tons Of fresh meat, $4,000 eggs ana
so tons OF potatoes. The larder De-
sides contains IA tons of fresh vege-
tables. Besides, there are over hVe
tons Of fowl and game, and Il tons
OF fish and shell fish, 800 pounds or
and 1000 cans OF preserV--
ed fruits. No less than 1880 quarts OF
milk and cream, 1000 pounds OF
cheese, 500 pounds OF chocolate and
cocoa, and 1000 pounds OF coffee are
also taken On board.
A more comfortable or more luxu-
riously equipped raft than the I'M
perator" it would be difficult to i'm
agine. The passengers have great
choice OF dining rooms, bathrooms,
winter gardens, palm rooms, grill
rooms, smoking rooms, gymnasiums,
roof-gardens, and lounges. There Is
a practical stage for theatrical per-
formances, a running track, an elabor-
ate Roman bath and swimming pool,
a florists shop, candy shop, photo
graphic dark room, electric elevators,
and other features not found on most
transatlantic steamers.
The furnishings Of the "Imperator"
too. are remarkable. The leading
decorators Of Europe have been given
carte blanche. Thus, the main lounge,
which may be converted into a ball
room, is hung with Gobelin tapestries.
The sumptuous Roman bath repro
duces with great fidelity the famous
Pompeian Hall in the Louvre. The
pool, which is surrounded by decora-
tive Pompeian pillars measures
twenty-one by thirty-nine feet.
The provisions for safeguarding
passengers on this largest OF ships
will naturally arouse interest. As we
have already pointed out in these
columns, the "Imperator" is built with
an inner skin, and with both longi-
tudinal and transverse bulkheads. All
told there are no less than sixteen
steel bulkheads, forming in all thirty
six watertight compartments. Further
il secured by steel decks.
The bulkheads have been carried to
the level of the second deck, high
above the water line. That they will
perform the function for which they
are designed has been proven by act
ual test; for the compartments have
been completely flooded to ascertain
their efficiency under extreme condi-
tons. The compartments are hydraul-
ically closed from the commanders
bridge. Auxiliary control are to be
found on the upper deck.
Eighty-three large lifeboats are pro-
to accommodate 2,496
passengers and crew Of 1,180. Two Of
these are motorboats, high-powered
enough to tow the others, and equipp-
ed with wireless telegraphy apparatus
having a range OF over two hundred
miles. Besides the usual lifeboats, IL
Illuminated life-buoys are provided.
The wireless equipment of the ''Im-
perator" has a range Of 1900 nautical
miles. There are two reserve antennae
and two receiving instruments for
long and short waves, designed for
news service and rescue work. The
station l. manned by three expert op-
orators, one of whom Is constantly on
duty. So powerful is the wireless
equipment that the vessel will always
be within ethereal hail1ng distance OF
land.-Scientific American.