Semi-weekly herald., 1913-03-10
This interest is due

the Aquirania. This interest is due
almost wholly to the extreme size OF
the vessel. In her present condition
on the slips at Clydeb.ak she pre-
sents wonderful spectacle, appesr-
ing something like an cleven-storied
skyscraper in course of construction.
The Aquitania will have q gross
tonnage of $4,000 tons. or 5000 tons
greater than the Olympic, the largest
ship now afloat. The Aquitania and
the Hamburg-American liner Imper-
ator now building at Stettin, will have
the same gross tonnage. though in
other measurements the Gunarder will
eclipse the German vessel. The di-
mensions of the Aquilania are $50
feet length and 95 feet beam, while
those of the Imperator are 40 fe.s
length and 80 feet beam.
Ever since the contract for the
Aquitania was awarded to the Clyde
bank builders in December, 1910. it
has been generally known that the
new vessel was to be the largest ship
ever built; but it has rot been gen
orally realized how very much larger
the ship was to be than any of the
huge liners which have excited won
der in the past by their great pro-
portions. AS already stated the new
vessel will have much greater ton
mage than the White Star liners Olym-
pic and her sister ship the ill-fated
Titanic. Those record-breakers of but
few years ago, the Baltic and the
Adriatic, length 709 feet and tonnage
$4,000 and $4,000 respectively, are
not to be compared with the Aqui-
tania.
Brought to land, the Aquitania
would dwarf great works of which
man has long been prone to boast.
The Washington monument in the
United States capital, whose 555 feet
was for years the worlds record for
high construction, would make only
fair prop for the new steamer lean
ing against it. The big thing of the
sea would overtop the famous Wool
worth building in New York city by
more than 100 feet.
The speed of the new vessel will
be about 23 knots an hour. This 10
considerably less than the records of
some of the transatlantic liners now in
service, but is considered fast enough
for all practical purposes. The in
terror furnishings and decorations of
| the Aquitania are planned on the most
lavish scale, and she will in every way
merit the description of floating
city. She will have accommodations
for $50 first class passengers, TAO
second class, and 2,400 steerage pas
sengers. How greatly the new vessel
will exceed all others in the nature
of the passenger accommodations is
shown by the fact that the first class
staterooms are to be 90 per cent larger
than the customary size.
With so much space available fea-
lures are possible that have never be-
fore been introduced. There will be
a choice of dining rooms, restaurant,
grill, tea room, tea garden, rathskeller,
palm gardens, women's salons in diff
ferent decorative periods, swimming
pool, Turkish baths, gymnasium and
tennis courts. An entirely new fea-
ture will be completely equipped the
1 ater. 1t is said that theatrical COM
pany with repertoire of plays will
be provided for the vessel by New
York manager.
The Aquitania will be as complete
in her safety devices rs in her lux
urious equipment. The number Of her
life boats and RATS will meet all the
requirements of the new regulations
of the British board of trade, while
the number of her watertight COM
partments will be greater than those
of any vessel now afloat. An auto
matte device on the bridge will con-
troll the great steel doors separating
the compartments, making it possible
for single hand to close them all ir
case of danger. Furthermore the sys-
tenn will include an electrical indicator
by which the officer on the bridge can.
not fail to detect any defect in tht
working of the safety devices. Still
another set of safety devices viii
guard against fire in every part Of
the ship. In addition the vessel viii
be equipped with powerful wire
less system which will enable her t.
keep in constant communication with
the land during the entire passag,
across the Atlantic.
II A I'D p:1t n