Advantages of Turbine Steamers

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7880, 24 July 1905, Page 3

Advantages of Turbine Steamers

A correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says that passcugers supported the statements ol the officers of the Allan Company's turbine liner Victorian as regards the comparative quiet and almost complete absence ol vibration. Experienced travellers who have crossed the Atlantic scores of times, were naturally most impressed. Noiselessly, smoothly, with perfect steadiness, the great vessel of 12,000 tons sped across the Atlantic with 117 H passengers on board. After leaving Moviilr, for a couple of days a s'.itf wind and head seas were encountered, hut hlill there was no vibration. People slept as comfortably in their berths on the third day out as at home. Strangely enough, some of the ship's officers who for years have been accustomed to the throb of engines and the noise ol whirring machinery, professed Hut tbey missed the familiar accompanient to winch their cars and nerves bad been trained, and found that sleep was at first difficult to f woo. Before the end of the voyage, however, they, recognised clearly the advantages of the new system. Dr. Davidson, the ship's surgeon, said that tbc prospects of seasickness and nervous disorders were unquestionably less appalling under the new order of things. The only man who seem- | ed to be discontented was an official connected with the catering department, who complained of the extra work thrown on him by the excellence of the people's appetites. He was quite glad one night when the electric light suddenly went out at dinner time, and everybody left the tabic early. Against the dissatisfaction of the caterer, however, let us place the testimony of the hath steward, who said he had never been aboard a liner where more people bathed, a fact which he could only attribute in some mysterious way to the introductions of turbines.