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1902. | SOME NEW BRITISH SHIPS. Glasgow, Aug. 13.--A vessel of special interest for Americans has just had her trials here. In the development of the general trade between this country and North America a good deal is due to the Norfolk & North American Steam Shipping Co. (Ltd.). This company own a number of fine vessels, and the latest addi- tion to its fleet, the steel screw-steamer South Point, has just had her trial trip. The South Point was built by Napier & Miller, (Ltd)., Glasgow, and engined by Dunsmuir & Jackson. She was constructed under the supervision of Mr. W. Steele, and was built to Lloyd's 1oo Ar classification, under the three- deck rule, and with forecastle cellular double bottom and fore and aft peak construction, for ballast tanks. She is of 4,400 tons gross, with a deadweight capacity of about 7,000 tons. 'The other dimensions are: Length, 385 ft.; breadth, 50 ft.; and depth, (molded), 28 ft. 6 in. She is schooner rigged, with a poop bridge, and six large hatches and eight winches. Special atten- tion has been devoted to the cargo gear, which is of the most complete and most modern type. The propelling machinery con- sists of triple-expansion engines with cylinders of 27, 43 and 72 in., respectively, with a stroke of 54 in. The boilers are of extra large type, and are fitted with Howden's forced draft. The South Point acquitted herself admiraby on the measured mile, a speed of about 12 knots being obtained. From the yard of William Beardmore & Co., (Ltd.), Glasgow, was launched the other day a steel. screw steamer of about 5,000 tons for the Eastern & Australian Steamship Co., London. This vessel, the Empire, has been specially designed to suit the require- ments of the company's service between Australia, China, and Japan, and although intended to carry a large cargo she will also maintain a good speed at sea, and has very superior accom- modation for first and second-class passengers. The general dimensions are Length, 4oo ft.; breadth, 46, ft.6in.; depth, 30 ft. 2in.; with a topgallant forecastle, long bridge, full poop, and shade deck amidships. The vessel is constructed of steel to Lloyd's highest class, under special survey, and in accordance with the board of trade regulations for passenger steamers. The upper decks and fittings are of teak, and the most modern appliances have been supplied for the efficient handling of ship and cargo, including a very complete installation of electric light- ing with double dynamos, refrigerating plant, chambers, etc. Luxurious accommodation has been provided before the machinery for first-class passengers; and as the steamer is intended to trade in tropical climates exceptionally large state- rooms have been placed on the upper deck. These are of perfect ventilation, and they are furnished with the most up-to-date improvements for the comfort of the passengers. Above, on the bridge-deck, are a spacious dining saloon and music room, with a spacious smoking room. Overhead the shade deck (on which the boats are stowed) forms an admirable shelter to a splendid promenade on the bridge-deck, which is reserved for first-class passengers. Very superior accommodation has been supplied in the poop for the second-class passengers. 'he 'tween decks are fitted for European and Chinese emigrants. 'The machinery consists of a set of triple-expansion engines having cylinders 28%, 47 and 78 in. diameter respectively, by 51-in. stroke, with two double-ended boilers for a working pressure of 200 lbs. and fitted with the most recent appliances for efficiency and economy, including Howden's forced draft, bronze propeller blades, etc. With a cut-water bow and figurehead the vessel has a very sym- metrical appearance and is altogether a fine specimen of a first-class merchant steamer. The new twin-screw steamer Moeraki, built by Denny & Bros. for the Union Steamship Co., of New Zealand, is intended to cope with the rapid extension of the passenger trade between the British colonies in Australasia. This vessel is built of mild steel, under special survey of the British corporation, and to the _ requirements of the board of trade. Accommodation is provided for 190 first-class passengers, many of the staterooms being situ- ated on the weather deck, and all being well ventilated, both nat- urally and by the assistance of electric fans, which enable the vessel to be kept cool even in hot weather. The main dining saloon, which is situated at the fore-end of the midship deck- house, is a large apartment capable of dining 112 people at once. The framing is in waxed oak, richly carved, the filling being of anaglypta decorated in ivory and gold. The ceiling is panelled to match. The upholstery is in sylvane relief velvet. The swing- ing doors are filled with leaded glass panels, the window boxing is of a "wheel" design, and this feature is maintained throughout the work, the mirrors, etc., being all circular. Above the dining saloon is the music room, which is in mahogany, finished in ivory enamel. This room is exceptionally high. The panels are filled in with views of New Zealand, and the upholstery is in rose relief velvet. A feature of this apartment is the dome skylight, which consists of an outer skylight of teak glazed with plate glass and an inner dome of steel and stained glass. Electric lights are fitted between the inner and outer casings, so that the rich effect of the colored glass is obtained both by day and at night. The smoking room is panelled in a classic design of polished and carved mahogany with panels of embossed leather and upholstery of green buffalo hide. The staterooms for first- class passengers are fitted in the most complete and modern manner. The beds are arranged to fold up out of the way during the day time, so as to increase the available floor space. All the first-class accommodation is fitted in the middle of the vessel, MARINE REVIEW AND MARINE RECORD. 27 where the motion and vibration are at a minimum. 'The second class. passengers are accommodated in large rooms at the after end of the vessel. The dining saloon extends from side to side of the vessel, and is capable of dining eighty-two persons. The culinary department is very extensive, and is fitted with all modern conveniences. in a large refrigerating chamber, which is kept cool by an ammoni™ refrigerating machine, which is also capable of making a supply of ice and keeping the cargo chamber at a temperature low enough for the safe carriage of perishable goods. The navigating appliances consists of a powerful Clarke-Chapman windlass, situ- ated on the fore-castle deck, a steam tiller controlled from flying bridge by means of Brown's patent telemotor gear, and a warping winch for handling the vessel in dock. The cargo gear consists-of hydraulic hoists and derricks, supplied by Brown Bros., Edinburg 'The propelling machinery, which is being sup- plied by Denny & Co., is of sufficient power to drive the vessel at a speed of 14 knots at her load draught. 'The launch was presided over by Mr. Seddon, premier of New Zealand, whose daughter christened the vessel. SHIP YARD NOTES. The plant of the McWhinnery Ship Building Co, Aberdeen, Wash., which was recently burned, is to be rebuilt on a larger scale than ever. The Holmes Ship Building Co., West Mystic, Conn., will shortly- lay the keel for a five-masted schooner, somewhat larger than the Jennie DuBois. The cruiser Boston has been recommissioned at the Mare island navy yard after undergoing extensive repairs. She has been fitted with masts to receive wireless telegraphic messages. W. A. Boole & Son, Oakland, Cal., are building a four-masted wooden barkentine for Capt. George Seeley of Seattle and others. The dimensions of the vessel are: Length, 240 ft.; beam, 41 ft.; and depth, 17 ft. Hay & Wright, Oakland, Cal., are completing' a large dredge.. It will be used by E. McMillan in dredging the lower Sacremento and .San Joaquin rivers. ~The dredge will be 142 ft. long, 50 ft. wide and 12 ft. deep. It will cost $60,000. John M. Brooks, East Boston, Mass., has begun work on a four-masted wooden schooner for William A. Nickerson of Provincetown, Mass. The dimensions of the vessel will be: Length, 160 ft.; beam, 36 ft.; depth, 14 it. A new tug boat, the John G. Chandler, built by the Kelley- Spear Co., Bath, Me., for the Commercial Towboat Co., of Boston, made a successful trial trip last week. Her engines were supplied by the Bath Iron Works, Bath, Me. The tug made 11.5 knots, which was regarded as satisfactory. i W. E. Woodall & Co., Baltimore, have received an order from the Southern railway for two covered barges to be used in the company's business about Norfolk harbor. Each is to be 125 ft. long, 28 ft. beam and 8ft. deep, copper fastened and coy- ered with yellow metal to light waterline. The Pusey & Jones Co., Wilmington, Del., has a contract for the construction of two tugboats for the quartermaster's depart- ment of the United States government. They are to be each 116 ft. in length and are to be of steel. They will be fitted throughout with modern improvements including searchlights. 'There seems to be some hitch in the proceedings to take over the Roach ship yard at Chester, Pa. The yard, however, is quite busy. 'Two liners are under way--one for the Mallory line and: the otker for the Savannah line. Both vessels are over- 5,000 tons gross. An order has been received for furnishing a new thrust box and section of shaft for the Pacific Mail steamship. City of Peking. The Peking was built at the Roach yard in 1874 and was the largest steamship afloat, except the famous Great Eastern, at the time of her completion. Her shaft is a very large one, the ship being driven by two engines working tandem on a single shaft. The work will be done at Chester and ship-. ped to San Francisco as soon as possible. At the ship yard of Percy & Small, Bath, Me., the four- masted schooner, Margaret Ward, building for J. S. Winslow & Co., Portland, Me. was launched recently. . The Ward is a flush-decker of about 1,100 tons and of the following dimensions: Length over all, 191.5 ft.; breadth of beam, 38.7 ft.; depth of. hold, 20.5 ft. Her construction consists of an oak keel, a hack- matack frame, two decks of white pine, ceiling and planking of hard pine. 'The masts are of Oregon pine, 98 ft. long, and the top masts are of half that length and of spruce. The craft is wire- rigged, and will spread an unusually large amount of canvas. There are only two deckhouses, the main cabin and the forward house, which includes the forecastle, carpenter shop, galley and engine room. ; The William C. Trigg Co., Richmond, Va., has just delivered to the Pennsylvania Railway Co. of New York, the tug Lancaster, recently built by them. The company recently contracted to build two more tugs, duplicates of the Lancaster, for the Pennsyl- vania Railway Co. and a very large sea-going tug. for the New York, Philadelphia & Norfolk Ry. The cruiser Galveston will be launched about Sept. 1. The revenue cutter Tuscarora for the great lakes is nearly completed and will have her trial trip in a few days. The Mohawk, also for the revenue cutter service, will be completed in a few months. The provisions are kept in good condition