LARGER STEAMERS PROBABLE.

Grey River Argus, Volume XXXVII, Issue 6347, 24 January 1889, Page 2

LARGER STEAMERS PROBABLE.

« As the tendency is towards increased size of ocean steamors it is quite possible that passenger steamships of the future may be almost if not fully as large as the Great Eastern, although it is thought that this steamer cannot be utilized with profit for passenger purpopen. Quick ocean voyages are demanded by the travelling public in these times. Although the trips mßde by the crack steamers greatly surpass in speed anything previously known, yet the demand in this respect has not slackened, and steamers are now in course of construction that are expected to shorten the time of an ocean voyage considerably. It Is not noticeable in every instance where much increased speed is obtained that the vessel has had to be made lar/er in all respects than other steamers. The advance in «peed must be accompanied by Increase in the size of the steam a rs. This Is necessarily so if the vessel is to pay her owners. And this process is continually going on. Competition in the ever growing passenger trade between this country and Europe is pushing the lines to try and excel in the class of steamers they put at the service of ocean travellers. There is hardly anything surer than that, on witnessing the performance of the wonderful vessels that will before long be out Into commission, some competing line will build others to outrank them in both speed and size. How long the spirit of rivalry will prompt the building of steamers of continually increasing size cannot be -stiited. Apparently the end is not yet. The matter of Increased speed is the point to be reached, and as before remarked, this must necessarily he gained by increase* la.cthe.size of the vessel. If it were possible to decrease by one-half the time of ah ocean voyage by employing as large, a vessel as the Great Eastern, It, is not: more than probable that it would be done even in these days when ocean travel has rUpt, developed into the enormous traffic that the future will In all probability , witness; A steamer of that speed could ■ make-two tr'ps to one of any of those now afloat. Fewer steamers of this ki*d would be necessary for the service, and the ex•pense of management in consequence *would probably not be much if any greater ■^thari.th-t incurred with the present crack ..steamer. If the Great Eastern had possessed this ability, it is not at all likelV.she wpaTd h^ve met the ignominious 'fate that lias befallen her. But the great 'speed that would enable vessels to make the Voyage between here and Kuropa in .from . three to four days will, if ac;j6pnjp{ished at all, be the outcome of long experience, not only .in : theibuilding of shlp t »nd engine, but also in the profitable rtrnniW 'o'"y«r'r la^ge »r»d 'fast ocean steam-GXu>-*Neio Xorli Maritime jßepitttf,