GROWTH OF THE TRANS-ATLANTIC LINER.

Bruce Herald, Volume L, Issue 57, 27 July 1914, Page 6

GROWTH OF THE TRANS-ATLANTIC LINER.

It seems but a very short timo ago tliat the Cunard Line placed the Campania and Lucania in the North Atlantic passenger trade, when these vessels wrested from the City of Paris and City of New Yorlc, the fastest previous ships,, the record for quick passages between this and European ports (says the New York Marine Journal). It makes one realise, therefore, how quickly the greyhounds of the Atlantic become obsolete to see in the public print that the Campania is to be consigned to the junk pile next summer. This vessel, with her 'sister ship mentioned above, came out in 1893, and they were among the earlier (jOOft transatlantic liners. The Lucania was burned while lying in port at Liverpool about threo years ago. Both these vessels, were considered fast for their day, and their time even now is only exceeded by a very small number of transatlantic ships —in fact, they could be counted on tho lingers of one hand. The Lucania, in October, 1894, made.a westward passage of 5 days 7 hours 23 minutes, and in September of tho same year an eastward passage of 5 days 8 hours 38 minutes.

The Campania has to her credit a trip of 5 days 9 hours 13 minutes in the same year. When considered that this trip was made 20 years ago, and that only the Mauretania, Lousitania and Kronprinzessin Cecelie have exceeded it, one realises that the limit of speed in steamships across the Atlantic has been practically reached, not, however, because it is impossible to build speedier ships, but that such are too expensive for general use.