The Wrangell sentinel., 1923-06-14

btcdhCI AidohoB thC hCW palatial steel liner of the Alaska Steamship Company, steamed into port at o'clock Monday evening with it's decks lined with nearly 300 passengers.
 Almost every inhabitant of the town was on the dock eager to ob- tain a first view of the ship.
 Immediately after the passengers had disembarked a public reception was held aboard the ship, and every courtesy was shown by the officers in conducting the visitors over the ship.
 The new steamship Alaska repre- sents the highest type of construc- tion and owing to her superior pas senger accommodations and cargo carving capacity of 5000 tons, will enable her owners, the Alaska Steamship Company, to offer to the public service on the Southeastern and Southwestern Alaska run such as it has never been able to do be- fore.
 The Alaska is a steel twin screw passenger and freight steamship It has double bottom throughout, with collision bunkheads. The hull construction has been especially de signed for strength and durability The engine room is a marvel of con- venience and this department will prove of deepest interest to those who follow and are interested in mechanical and electrical engineer ing. There are two tripple expan- sion engines of the Hoovens Owen and Rentschler type, each being of 2S00 indicated horse power. The boiler installation consists of six of the Babcock and Wilcox type. In addition to the main engines there is the most complete installation of electrical and refrigerating ma chinery, while the deck equipment includes some of the very latest de- signs in winches and windlasses, all of which will be operated by steam.
 Forward on the bridge deck and back of the commodious pilot house and chart room are handsomely ap- pointed quarters for the captain and other officers, with necessary baths.
 The Alaska is 365 feet ten inches over all, with beam of 49 feet and depth of 33 feet inches, so some idea can be gained as to her i'm mense size. As a matter of compari- son, however, it might be added that the Comet, first steamship built in Europe, in the year 1911, was but AZ feet in length. The ship of Co., lumbus. in which he discovered America, or the good ship Washing ton, commanded by Captain Robert Grey, when he sailed into the Co., lumbia, were less than one third as long, and the famous Britannia, in- itial steamship of the Cunard Line to cross the Atlantic was only 207 feet in length. None of these historic vessels could at all compare in the ratio of cargo capacity or general dimensions.
 This increased cargo capacity is of the greatest importance in consid- ering the ores, fish, merchandise which must be moved expeditiously in the general service of Alaska's growing industries and the increas- ed passenger traffic expected that the steel steamship Alaska has been built. The Alaska was built at the yard of the Todd Dry Dock and Shipbuilding Corporation at Taco ma, and the vessel is certainly a credit to her builders.
 The Alaska will operate on the weekly service out of Seattle in con- junction with the Alameda and Northwestern. both of which steam ships have been lately re arraged and refurnished SO that they would be in position to maintain the standard of service. One of these boats will he scheduled to leave Sc. attle every sasturday morning at g 'b' clock.
 5. To the average person the passen- ger accom- "dations will prove of the greatest interest and a veritable surprise awaits the stranger who boards the new steamship for a tour of inspection.