ELECTRICITY ON SHIPBOARD.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 167, 14 July 1880, Page 4

ELECTRICITY ON SHIPBOARD.

The new iron steamship Columbia, built by John Bosch nnd Sod, nt Cheater, for the Oregon Railway and Navigation Company, is now lying at pier' l7, East River, preparing for her outword voyepe to Oregon, to take her place on the line between San Francieoo end Portland, Or. Her dimensions are 334 feet over nil, 38J feet beam, find 23 feet depth of hold. She is fitted with a single pair of compound engines of an indicated horse-power of about 2.300. Her register is over 3000 tons. The main diDing room is finished in bard boards, each section being relieved by two email pilasters finished off with handsome mahogany capital?, und again relieved by two email pillars of French wßlout. Over this msin Blairway h a dome extending (be whole lenplh of tho upper saloon, with tbe lights noar the side openings, as in a palace car, thus giving the beet of ventilation. At the after end of the saloon tho gmokiog room ia situated. It is fitted up similar to the Pullman care, a party of four, being able to sit together, and »t ntehtit can be cbanped into b large and comfortable bedroom. As to the kitchen .department, the pantry is extra large, and the scullery 'ond pantry are fitted up with all tnemoclera improvements and conveniences belonging to a first , class hotel. The floors are covered with tiles. The heating apparatus cousiats of a register in every room, supplied with bot air driven in by ao engine and controlled by tbe occupant of the room. It hot weather it can be utilized for cold, and in cold wca her for hot air — thus doing; away with the disagreeable features of stea'tf henters. The greatest novelty, 18 the Edison electric light in every room and over all the tables. It is furnished by four of Edison's dynamo machines in the eDgine room, arranged 80 tbat each line is under Gomm»cd of tbe engineer. The lights of the eeparate rcoms will be ucder tbe control of the paesergets on tho inside uud the steward on (lie outside. Thur, U a psssenger wants to retire early, he can turn out tbe light, aud when lights are ordered out the atewcrd ecu shut tbotu off by a lock-switch from the outside. All of tbe rooms are fitted up with electric calls, find the offices end smok-ing-rooms are fitted up with (elopbonee, the smoking-room being in connection with tho steward's room and the captain's with tbe chief engineer's, the purser's and steward's. Other improvements consist of a tell-talo electric apparatus to the bridge from tbe engine, po that the captain, when docking, cno tell by simply pressing a button whether the engine is goincr ahead or backing, Bod at what speed, so as to prevent any accidents by mistakes in telegraphing frcm thebridge to tho engine-room. The etofring gaer is an attachment from

•the freight hoieter, eimilar to the Corapeny's steamship Oregon, but with selfacting improvements. The elevators for discharging cargoes are new, es are also the running engines at the ports, ;so that a truck loaded with freight can be run from the lower hold out to the pier eutirely by steam. The headlights and dock-lights are run by a Weston electric machine. The model of the vessel is finer than that of the Oregon, although similar in stylo. Her rig will ftlao be the same bb the Oregon's, ail the additions being mainly for comfort and Bpeed.~ -New Yorld World, April 27.