FLOATING ISLANDS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1155, 16 June 1911, Page 5

FLOATING ISLANDS.

ATLANTIC TRAVEL AND ITS FUTURE. It was stated some time ago that thirty American millionaires were chartering tho Olympic to take them nml their families across to the Coronation on her maiden voyage from New York for a $uin of •£125,000. The latt completion of the vessel, however, Las put this out of the question.

About a sixth of a mile in length, and with nine steel decks, the Olympic provides accommodation for 5000 passengers. She is a triple screw boat. The combined engines are of from '18,000 to 50,000 horse-power indicated, as against the Jfauretania's 70,000, the speed aimed at being a trifle over 21 knots. Both the Olympic and her sister ship were to be fitted with powerful searchlights, and a complete long-distance wireless telegraphy installation, besides the most modern submarine signalling apparatus. With a beam of over 90 feet, the main saloons of tho boats have an area never before enjoyed afloat. There will bo e many apartments, which will render the illusion of a gi'eat hotel complete. One J of tho upper decks is to be completely 1 enclosed to serve as a ballroom, skating rink, or theatre. The ball on the last ; night out is usually held on deck, with ' partitions of canvas hastily contrived to . keep out the wind or. rain. The boats . will offer complete flats, which will make 1 it possible to cross the Atlantic while ens joying all tho privacy of one's own home. There will be a great swimming bath : aboard, largo enough to permit of diving. The most striking, departure in dining ' saloons on the new ship will be the vcran- ' dnh cafe, built on one of the upper decks - far astern. Tho cafe will be erected with exposed rafters entwined with vines, while , the sides will be latticed effects to make the illusion of a cafe at tho seaside as complete as possible. The new liners will be as complete in their safety devices as : in 'their luxurious outfit.. Both the ships I will be practically unsinkablo and abso- . lutcly fireproof. Each of these two palatial vessels will represent .500.000 sterling when they leave the builders' hands. The Limit in Speed. 1 Tho question now exercising tho inari- ■ time mind is: How much greater can ships become? So far as speed is concorned (says "The Times"), competition has come to an end, with the Cunarders left in undisputed possession of the prize. It is possible to get higher speed than 2G ■ knots, but only at a price no one is willing to pay. The cost of running the Lusitiinia and Manretnnia, with their coal consumption of 1000 tons a day, is terrific. Even with the great Government subsidy to set against the loss, it seems doubtful whether these boats pay. At ; an; rate, the company's shareholders havo had no dividend for two years past. The Hamburg-America Line declares that it will never again spend money—though it seems to have plenty—in building "re-cord-breakers." Nor docs any other company show the slightest intention to enter for t!w> championship. Only an offer of extraordinary subsidies by an ambitious Government or n revolution in maritime engineering is likely to modify this thrifty resolve of the shipowners; "and neither event is believed to bo imminent. Ports Too Shallow. So much for limitations of speed. But is there no limit to be placed on tho size of these floating islands? Perhaps not, in theory. In practice, tho chief difficulty they will _ have to mtet is a very serious one—the inadequacy of their terminal ports. The approach to New York is safe enough for a Slauretania loaded to a draught of 3-tft.j but a vsssol half as large again, like the German boat now on tho stocks or the projected Cunarder, will draw a good deal more than that if fully loaded, and she will not want to waste any cargo space that she can fill. On this side of tho sea, in spite of all the dredging in and off the Mersey, no ship drawing more than 30ft. can yet venture up to the Lovcrpooi lr.nding-sthge at low water; and the Olympic and Titanic will not bo able to enter their terminal port, Southampton, drawing more" than 31ft., even when tho latest dredging scheme has been carried out. Enormous Food Supplies, The Olympic will consume on her round trip of threo weeks about 25,0001b. of poultry, 2500 head of game, 35,000 eggs, 55001b. of butter, 1500 gallons of fresh milk, 40,000 oranges, 20001b. of hot-house grapes, 1500 quarts of ice-cream, 15,000 bottles of beer, 500 bottles of spirits, and 7500 cigars, not to mention commonplace victuals like meat and flour. But these figures scarcely help us to realise tho fell frequency or feeding-time on board ship, or the lavish variety of the bill of faro concocted by the unresting ingenuity of tho chef. Special cooks, are carried for special classes of the travelling community. Jews can havo "Kosher" meat if they wish, though first-class passengers of this persuasion rarely express any such desire. The principles of vegetarians and fruitarian are equally respected.