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PRIVATE DINNERS SHIP. When the Caronia and Carmania were put into commission the excel- lence of the catering arrangements evoked as much praise from passen- gers as did the ships themselves, and their magnificent accommodation for all classes of travelers. The Cunard line, however, acting upon their tra- ditional policy of keeping in the very fore front of the trans-Atlantic lines, has during the past few months in- augurated a further advance in taking further steps to enhance the comfort of first-class passengers, and one which affords another illustration of the fact that these Cunard vessels are floating hotels of the very first rank. The principle which was _ originally adopted in the Caronia and Carmania of departing from the usual long sa- loon tables has been extended, so that small parties consisting of five to twenty individuals can dine together. In catering for these social functions special menus are printed, the wishes of the party concerned being consulted as to the various courses, as they are in the case of a private dinner given at a hotel ashore. These menu cards ~ which may be inscribed with a motto or legend indicative of the occasion are, needless to say, treasured by the guests as an interesting sotvenir. ABOARD These dinner parties for which no extra charge .is made are much ap- preciated by passengers, the increased facilities they provide for social in- tercourse on ship board adding much to the pleasures of a sea voyage. The special dinners are only the outward and visible sign of Cunard enterprise in catering fon their pas- sengers. Chief stewards and head waiters have been put through a course of training in the leading hotels of London and Paris, and they in their turn have trained the different stew-- ard staffs to the highest possible de- gree of intelligent service. The ar- rangements for the preparing, cook- ing and serving of food on board the Caronia and Carmania are as. perfect as can be, the cuisine arrangements of the London, continental and Ameri- can hotels being carefully studied and the best principles of each adopted. The cooking ranges are the largest yet made for any vessel and will only be eclipsed by those of the Lusitania and Mauretania. Potatoes are peeled and dishes are washed by machinery, joints, birds, game, etc., are roasted in special ovens, while the cold stor- age arrangements enable passengers to be supplied with all the delicacies of the season as fresh as when they "TAE MarRINeE REVIEW came on board. With regard to the Lusitania and Mauretania the catering arrangements are receiving special at- tention and they will, as is to be ex- pected from the size arid magnificence of the ships, eclipse anything which has yet been attempted on ship board. The following is one of many trib- utes which the Cunard Steamship Co. has received from passengers respect- ing the new vitualing arrangements. This innovation takes the form of dinners a la carte which, under the able supervision of the catering de- partment, and in the hands of an ex- cellent chef, vie with those of the best restaurants of Paris, London and New York, If they could add to the luxury al- ready provided on the well-appointed ships of this fleet, these dinners must supply the want. Everyone feels that a well-cooked dinner served in a de- lightful way at his own hour is the crowning comfort of the day. The same time it affords an opportunity to entertain one's fellow travelers in a fashion second to none, there ts little to be desired in the way of ocean travel. It is a departure which should meet with the success it de- serves, more especially as it may be enjoyed without incurring any addi- tional expense. SCHULZ THORNYCROFT BOIL- ER IN GERMAN NAVY. We have received some particulars re- ferring to the adoption of the Schulz- Thornycroft boiler in the German navy. This type of steam-generator was fifst adopted in 1896 for use on board torpedo craft, and has since been fitted on board | cruisers and battleships. For 4 time large cruisers had the large-diameter tukes, but subsequent experience indi- cated that small diameter tubes. gave more favorable results. All large cruis- ers recently built have exclusively Schulz-Thornycroft boilers. The battle- ships that have been constructed for the German ravy since the introduction of the Schulz-Thornycroft boiler in these vessels have had the latter type in con- junction with cylindrical boilers, the older description prevailing; but those ships recently finished have 75 per cent of the steam generated supplied by the water-tube boiler in question; whilst all the battleships now in course of con- struction for the German admiralty have only the small-diameter Schulz-Thorny- croft boiler. It is stated that the dura- tion of life of the tubes is five years or more. The following figures refer to the boiler equipment of vessels of the German fleet, built or building. During the period of 1898-1908, there are, or will be, eighteen battleships, of 253,500 gross _ cylindrical, 8,000. 33 indicated horsepower, for which steam will be supplied by Schulz-Thornycroft boilers to the extent of 183,220 I. H. P., and by cylindrical boilers to' the extent of 70,280 I. H. P. Large cruisers: per- iod 1900-7, three in number, Schulz- Thornycroft bailers: 67,600. 1. H.. P.: Period tIg901-7, small cruisers, seventeen in number, Schulz- Thornycroft boilers, 167,000. Year 1900, one gunboat, Schulz-Thornycroft boilers, 1,350 I. H. P. Period 1898-1907, torpedo boats, nineteen in number, 90,850 I. H. P. Period 1898-1905, steam launches, eight .in number, Schulz-Thornycroft boilers, 1,360 I. H. P. The total of ves- sels is therefore sixty-six, which are fit- ted with Schulz-Thornycroft boilers to the extent of 501,980 I. H. P., and with cylindrical boilers of 78,280 I. H. P. It will be seen, therefore, that the water- tube boiler has gradually superceded the cylindrical boiler in the German navy. Among other craft, the battleships to be exclusively fitted with the Schulz- Thornycroft boilers are the Pommeran, of 16,000 I. H. P. to be delivered in 1907; the "Q" and the Schlesien, each of 17,- ooo I. H. P., both to be delivered in 1908; and two cruisers, each of 26,000 I. H. P., both to be delivered in 1907. There is also to be delivered during 1907 a vessel described as a "torpedo-boat" of 1¢,o00 I. H. P., which, like other torpedo craft under construction, will have Schulz-Thornycroft boilers exclusively.-- Engineering, : GRAPHITE IN WINTER. Almost any bearing that requires oil in it will work harder in winter than in summer, as the oil is bound to be more viscous when cold than when warm. It is for this reason that ex- perienced men who have tried it sug- gest that a possible solution of diffi- culties in lubrication may be found in the use of flake graphite along with some thin mineral oil. The lubrica- tion will be as good, if not better, and the drag and slowness will disappear. The steamen James Laughlin was the first steamer to use the new chan- nel on the west side of the Lime Kiln crossing. The big steamer was piloted through by the courtesy of the Dun- bar & Sullivan Dredging Co. in loan- ing a tug. The new channel is 305 ft. wide and 21 ft. deep. It will not be formally opened to navigation until hlext year. The steamers of the Detroit & Cleveland and Detroit & Buffalo lines will have a uniform appearance next spring. Their hulls will be black and upper works white. _