EMPRESSES OF THE ATLANTIC.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 13394, 30 May 1914, Page 3

EMPRESSES OF THE ATLANTIC.

The Royal Mail , steamships, Empress of Britain and Empress of Ireland, built at Glasgow, ■Scotland, in 19Q6 (says, an official publication), were 'first put into commission in Juu^ of that year. They are constructed on' exactly similar lines, in accdrdjuice with the latest designs in naval architecture, and embrace every; advantage that constructive genius and operative experience can suggest or devise. Manned by' officers and crews, thoroughly* drained and reliable, they attain the maximum of safety and ser-, vice. ■ !

Dimensions and appointments : .Length 570 feet, breadth 66ft 6in. They"' ac-' commodate comfortably 350 first cabin, 350 second cabin, and'.* 1000- thirds-class passengers. They arc of; 14,500 tons register, and 18,000 indicated horsepower. Without driving they have a sea speed easily establishing their right to the title express steamslhips. The cabins throughout .are roomy and luxuriously furnished'." ' On the* upper and lower promenade decks are a number of special aooms, single and en suite, with or Avithout private baths. The spacious dining saloon at one sitting accommodates the entire complement of passengers. An attractive feature is the arrangement of small roimd tables in alcoves. They -are usually assigned to families or parties tra velfirig toget her. The cafe situated on the lower promenade deck, is sumptuously appointed, in keeping with its practical purpose, which is to supply light jfefreshments at any time during" the day. The music room olv the upper promenade deck,, with its original decorations, cheery open fireplace, and many cozy nooks and corners, is the acme of comfort and luxury. The smoking room, .library, and rbther public rooms are in every respect in' keeping with the high , standard maintained throughout the ship.

' In short, -to quote from " ji. marine journal : "From stem to stern and from keel to truck, these ships arc the very last word in shipbuilding." They are designed for safety and comfort, and make the voyage from Quebec to Liverpool in about six days; the first two days of the voyage are delightfully passed" on tihe placid waters of the^St- Lawrence, America's nfost picturesque inland water-way; thus the- Actual 'time on the open sea-" is • redibced to less than four days, as against «jx days wflien travelling via York and other Atlantic port?. Probably the most remarkable features of .the ''Empresses of .the. Atlantic" are their remarkable steadiness at sea and the ri-bsence, of vibration, even with engines at full speed. ' . During the summer r the "Empresses" «ul from Quebec for r Liverpool, the other dhips of the line from Montreal. During the winter St. John/)N.8., is the port of departure ,for all ships of. the fleet.- ' - -.. ■ ■ '■"'" ..■'■;''•■"

Rimouski, mentioned in the cables, is a short distance below Quebec, where on inward-bo/und - liners the Customs and quarantine officials and 'baggage checkers com© on board, and the. mnils are landed. Rimouski is a quaint French-Canadian' village. r . v 1 'The Empress lifters cost over £400,000 each. , . ' , ".. ■ .' • ;