THE THOUSAND-FOOT SHIP.

Clutha Leader, Volume XL, Issue 71, 13 March 1914, Page 1

THE THOUSAND-FOOT SHIP.

■No so very many years ago that, (listiuguishod naval architect, the late Sir William White, surprised tho world bv suiting that if tho conditions of transAtlautie traffic calkd lor a, 1000-foot ship, it would ho perfectly practicable to build and opera ie a vessel ol that size. j*'ew oi us at that time dreamed that there would ever ho n call lor such 41 huge vcs-.el; yet so rapid has been tho development of Transatlantic, travel, and so industrious have heen the (lock and harbor comm'.saionors on hoth s.des ot tho Atlantic, that ■not only is accommodation m the wav of channels and piers being made icadv for Mich a. «h'P, but, thanks to the enterprise of 110 steamship companies, the 1000-foot-ship is within sight. Tho launch of ttio \ aterland (formerly known as the huropa) for tho Hninburg-Amorka Line has carried tho Transatlantic liner ut> to withm 50 feet of the 1000-foot limit suggested by Sir William White as a. remote possibility. If we remember rightly (says 'The Scientific American',) his statement was made at tho time of tho appearance of tho White. Star liner Uceanic, the first ship to exceed tho length of tho Great Easterns (CM feed and tho first to exceed tho limit of 700 teet. _ ijinoo her appearance, tho pro-Bi-cssm has been rapid. Sh« was followed by tho Adriatic, 725 feet over all; the Lusitama, 700 feet; the Oeoanie teet; then by the Imperator 920 feet; and now by this 950-foot ship. A third ship is building upon tho docks at Stettin. She is to be larger than the Vliter and, and if her length is increased only by tho freeboard of tho Valeriana at her stemhead, this ship will ™ , the distinction of being the hrst 1000-toot vessel. Frequently the question k asked, what is tho limit of practicable size? How big will be the liner of 10 or 20 years hence-' In reply it can be confidently baid that the physical limitations are those only of tho denth oi our entrance channels and the leivth economic standpoint, from the point of our harbor pier,. Judged from tho view of revenue earning for the steam snip companies, there m every inducement to build these Transatlantic liners in ever-increasing size*; provided, of course, that the speed be maintained within reasonable, limit-.. It mar lm broadly stated that the larger tho'sllip the less cost of carrying a given number ot passengers and a given tonnage. ot freight. Iho same principles which have led our railroads u> huikl 50-ton cars and 300-ton locomotives encourage our shipbuilders to produce vessels 1000 teet or more in length,