ELECTRIC MARVELS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 177, 25 July 1908, Page 6

ELECTRIC MARVELS.

ON BIG ATLANTIC LINERS. PBINTING A DAILY NEWSPAPER AT SHA. Although much has, from time to time, been written about the two leviathan Cunard steamers Lusltunia and Mauretania, yet comparatively few can grasp the significant part which electricity plays throughout these ships. A few facts relating to the electrical equipment of the Mauretania may be of interest. Apart from tiie 70,000 horse-power of the turbines which propel the ship through the water, the electrical power, which is supplied by four generators, represents an additional 2144 horse-power. Electricity is used not only for Illuminating the ship at night, but also for a multitude of other purposes, 3uch as operating the lifts, of which there are two for passengers' use, eight for baggage and malls, and two smaller ones In the pantries. Elec-trically-driven cranes and winches are al3o provided. It may be of interest to know that G307 electric lamps are installed throughout the ship, giving the enormous total of over 100,000 candle-power. For heating the first-class quarters sixty electric radiators have been fitted, to say nothing of some forty-three heaters In the bathrooms during the cold weather. Numerous electric fans are nsed for ventilating the various rooms, and are so arranged that they can supply either warm or cool air, according to the weather, while the air in the cabins can be totally changed six or eiglit times in an hour. Apart from the above ventilatlng-fans, sixteen larger ones, of 50 horse-power each, are fitted for supplying forced draught to the 25 boilers. In the extensive kitchens of the Mauretania electricity is called upon to play an important role, and it may interest some housewives to learn that one range alone has a frontage of about 60ft, and includes a roaster with four vertical spits rotated by an electric-motor, these spits being capable of dealing with half a ton of meat at a time. This is in addition to a smaller roaster with three spits, driven In the same manner. In the bakery electricity is employed to operate a large dough-making machine capable of making bread for at least 3000 persons. Among the miscellaneous apparatus driven by this wonderful nnseen power are three circular knives for slicing ham and bacon, fonr potato peelers, a whisking machine, several egg-boilers, numerous hot-plates for keeping the food warm, live platewashing machines, and two twelve-qnart freezers for making ice-cream for the passengers, to say nothing of the cold-storage plant, and the electrical printing pi*ss which enables the "Cnnard Daily Bulletin" to be published on board. Some idea of the size of this vessel may be obtained when it is mentioned that over 200 miles of wires nnd cables are fitted throughout the ship; these, if placed end to end, would reach from London to Plymouth. Tho electric bell and telephone installation on the Manretanla snrpnsses anytMns hltbeito attempted In connection with ship tvork. Bell-puEhes have been placed over , every bed, and altogether 1293 electric bell pushes have been fitted in the various cabins, etc.. whilst telephones, of which there are upwards of 100, nro to be found In numerous parts of the ship, and in all the best rooms..

Apart from the Marconi wlvJess telegraph outfit which enables passengers to learn all that Is going on in the world just ns if they were In a flrst-elar-s hotel In London lnstend of miles from land, means lias been provided for coupling the ship up to the city telephone exchanges when lying alongside the landing-stages at Liverpool or New York, thns enabling passengers to communicate with theli* friends or to transact business tlie moment the vessel touches the quay, or to say good-bye to friends In distant parN of tlie city up to the time the boat leaves land.

Electricity also plays an important part In the safety devices on hoard this wonderful ship, as, for Instance, showing the officer In charge which water-tight doors are actually cloKcd nnd vrhat navigating lamps are lit. It is also employed to operate the foghorn from the wheel-house, and for the myutein of flro alnrms. In connection with which thero aro SS alarm-pushes in promi-

Four electric searchlights aro carried on board, nnd, in mldltlon to the usnal complement of lifebuoys which every ship carries, two apednl buoys have been provided for use at night, These, upon beinjr released by pressing a button, automatically light n flnre upon atriiiue the voter, thus indicating their position. Mention must also be made of tho ayetem of electric clocks which are placed in the various saloons nnd impurtant situations throughout tho ship Tho electria installation on this vessel ropnsente about £03,000 value, or some fifteen times tbo eeat of tho electric equipment on the average Atlantio liner.