8 MARINE REVIEW. Lake Type of Car Ferry for Siberia. In August, 1895, the Review referred at some length to negotia- tions then pending between the Detroit Dry Dock Company and the Russian government for the construction of car ferries, similar to those at the Straits of Mackinac,to be used in connection with Russia's great enterprise, the Siberian railway, for transporting passenger and freight cars across Lake Baikal in Siberia. A map of Siberia was published, showing progress of the railway and the location of Lake Baikal, which is about the size of Lake Erie. Russian engineers had been to the lakes and had examined the ice-crushing car ferries at the straits, as well as those of the Ann Arbor company on Lake Michigan, and while the negotiations referred to were under way, Messrs. Frank E. Kirby and Gilbert N. MeMillan visited St. Peterburg in the interest of the Detroit company. But the contract for the first of these car fer- ries went to Sir W. G. Armstrong & Co., of Newcastle. A picture of the boat just completed by the English company is presented herewith. It will be noted that the Russian government has adopted the same type of boat. that is in use on the lakes, but instead of being built of wood with heavy steel girders, steel strap- ping, etc., it is of steel, and will be transported in small parts from En- gland to Siberia, there to be put together ona floating pontoon dock, so as to obviate the necessity of provision for launching. The Engineer of London says of this car ferry and the service in which she will be engaged: "For more than half the year Lake state rooms and a private saloon, in addition to large public saloons or waiting-rooms. There are three sets of triple expansion engines working at a pressure of 160 pounds. Two sets drive twin propellers fitted, as usual, at the stern, and the third a propeller at the bow of the vessel. The last is for the purpose of disturbing the water under the ice, so as to assist the heavy steel stem to break un the solid field of ice, that it may be pushed aside by the advancing vessel. This - large vessel of 4,200 tons displacement has been constructed in less than six months, taken down and packed on an ocean steamer for ship- ment to St. Petersburg; from there railway cars will convey the material to the furthest accessible point on the Siberian railroad, whence the rest of the journey to Baikal will be accomplished on sledges. A naval architect employed by the Siberian railway is already at Lake Baikal making preparations for the reception and the erection of the parts of the steamer. In view of the great difficulties of trans- port, the weight of each portion of the vessel and machinery has been reduced to a minimum. The boilers are considerably the heaviest items, but the weight has been kept below twenty tons apiece."' Interesting Facts Regarding Divers, The dress of a fully equipped diver of the present day weighs 169} pounds and costs about $500. First of all comes 84 pounds of thick underclothing; then follows the dress itself, weighing 14 pounds; boots 32 pounds, monstrous things with leaden soles; breast ICE-CRUSHING CAR FERRY BUILT FOR SERVICE IN SIBERIA. Baikal is frozen, and provision has had to be made in the vessel for breaking ice, which will probably be some feet in thickness. The form of the vessel has been designed to meet this requirement, and the lines are arranged so as to offer the least possible resistance to motion through the ice. The stem and stern consist of heavy steel castings, which will concentrate on a small surface the momentum of the ves- sel,and inflict on the ice the severest shock possible with the means at command, 'The hull is of course abnormally strong and heavy. The frames are of deep channel section, and very closely spaced. A belt of plating one iach in thickness and some 9 feet in width extends from stem to stern at the water line, and generally speaking, every constructional detail has been worked out so as to offer the greatest resistance to the pressure of the ice. The material of the hull is Siem- ens-Martin steel. The dimensions are 290 feet by 57 feet, and the draught of water under ordinary working conditions is 18 feet 6 in- ches. The principle of water-tight subdivision has been carried very far, so that the vessel must be pierced in several compartments before she is in danger of sinking, and in addition to the usual water-tight bulkheads, an inner bottom is fitted. The cars are run over a hinged gangway onto the railway deck, where they are securely fixed in posi- . tion by means of special appliances: Accommodation for the passen- gers is provided on the decks above, and consists of several private and back weights, 80 pounds; and, lastly, the helmet, which weighs 385 pounds. When the hull of the Great Eastern was cleaned by divers as she was being loaded with the cable for the Indian submar- ine telegraph, the contract price for the work was $9,000, and it was completed in six weeks by twelve divers. The incrustation on her bottom was more than a foot thick, and after it was removed she lifted fully 2 inches. The greatest depth at which a diver may safely work is thought to be about 150 feet. There have been, however, rare instances of diving to 204 feet, and sustaining a pressure of 88} pounds on every square inch on the body of the diver. Diving was first in- cepted by the action of the elephant in crossing a deep river, when he swims beneath the water, elevating his trunk, by which method he breathes. The flag ships in the British navy carry eight divers, and the cruisers four each, fully equipped.--Strand Magazine. To California on the Nickel Plate road--Our service, time, and rates are not excelled. Our fast western express makes direct con- nections with the California limited from Chicago every day; also our night express due at Chicago at 7:40 a. m., daily. All details cheer- fully explained by agents at depots, or Cleveland city ticket office, 224 Bank street, 379-Nov. 20