AMERICAN OCEAN STEAMSHIPS.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 712, 11 August 1870, Page 4

AMERICAN OCEAN STEAMSHIPS.

[news of the world.] A few prominent Australian gentlemen, passengers Tiy the ■pioneer steamship from New Zealand, having expressed a wish to see the ships of the Webb line sq that they might carry back to their country an idea of American ocean steamships, Mr Siewart, of Collie, Stewart and Co, invited several of them to accompany him to Benicia on Saturday last, and the President of the California Steam Navigation Company ordered the steamship Amelia to call alongside the Nebraska. Upon nearing this beautiful piece of architecture the Australians expressed astonishment at the size and magnificent appearance of the ship. The Nebraska and Nevada are sister ships in size, equal cabin accommodations and power. The Nevada, Al, at Lloyd's, for seven years, 3000 tons burden, built in New York in 1867, of live oak, double planked, 4 inches thick, iron stripped, 286 feet long, 41-foot beam, 26 feet depth of hold, four decks, including the spur-deck and coal hole, the height of the main deck is 8 feet, berth deck 7 feet, cargo deck 6 feet, the deck beams are strengthened underneath with braces. She has two masts, and can be brig-rigged. The machinery was constructed with great care, and many recent improvements in-" troduced. The engine is a vertical beam machine. The cylinder is 85 inches in diameter, with 12 foot stroke of piston, and on her trial trip averaged 15 knots, and will average a speed of 340 miles per day when working up to full power, and is looked upon as the fastest ship on this coast. Standing aft upon the hurricane deck, and looking 286 feet forward, onr Australian friends exclaimed that a line of these ships would certainly command the whole, of the pas senger traffic, and that one of these ships, appearing in Australian waters, would astonish the natives, and decide the question of subsidy at once^ Running along the centre of the deck are twenty beautiful staterooms, each having a close and Venetion door opening on. the deck, with windows twenty-two inches square. These staterooms, are all double, with doors on either side, and patent ventilators in the top. Contrast these beautiful windows, as large as those of country cottages, said our friend, "with the auger holes of the Wonga Wonga." Forward of these cabins are the captain's, purser's; and doctor's rooms. Right aft is the ladies' sitting-room, well fitted up, private and ventilated with several doors and windows. Forward of that is the gentlemen's smoking : room, 16 x 18 feet, fitted up with a degree of comfort seldom ever foi*nd aboard of ' ships. On the main deck is the grand saloon, 90 feet long by 28 feet broad, 8 feet under the beams. On either side of the saloon is a row of state rooms, opening on the deck, accommodating eighty passengers, ventilated, and in every respect the same as. the rooms upon' the upper deck, with two bridal chamber in the forward part of the saloon. The. main entrance' is spacious and airy, 40 ' by 29, with large, folding- dbors and staircase, leading up to the hurricane deck. Forward of the main saloon is the pantry, kitchen, officer's mess, and • engine-room, bathrooms, barbers-shop, cow, and ice-house and bar. Forward on *his deck, the male portion of the third-class sleep in standee berths ; the females sleep below in cabins. The deck is cleared of berths during the day, and used for eating purposes. The berth deck, as far aft as the second.

cabins occupied by third-class passengers, and will altogether accommodate about 620. Abaft this there are some forty well-ventilated state rooms for second cabin passengers, with plenty of light and properly fitted up. The sleeping aud other accommodation, such as washrooms, bath-rooms, &c, come fully up to standard of first-class aboard the City of Melbourne. Further aft are six. large first-class state-rooms, 12 by 10, fitted up with every degree of comfort and modern luxury, with batli-rooms, &c. The means for extinguishing tire are perfect. An iron pipe, leading the entire length of the ship, on the berth deck, with some ten or fifteen valves with hose always attached, and in the hold steam can be used with more effect than water. The means for saving life are most effective — life buoys in every room, and boats that will contain 830 passengers. The Australians returned from their visit to the Nebraska and Nevada fully satisfied that no such ships laid ever visited Australasian waters ; and if the passenger-travelling public, in their distant colonies, only knew the comfort of sailing in such ships, the comfort of sitting in your state-room, with the door open, smoking a good Havana, a jug of icewater alongside, and perhaps something stronger, your room all your own, perfectly isolated from every one whom you please, pure air, fine ventilation, steaming down through the tropics at 12 knots, the torrid heat no longer felt, no rolling, everything steady, rapidly nearing your destination, everyone smiling ; all comfortable. Such are the pleasures of a trip aboard an American ocean steamship in 1870.