The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

16 M A R I N E CUNARD MODELS AT THE WORLD'S FAIR. The exhibits of the Cunard Steamship Co. at the World's Fair consist of models of their different vessels showing the various stages of the progressive development in ship build- ing from the advent of their first steamer, the Britannia, in 1840, to the latest additions to their fleet of the present year. This interesting collection gives the visitor a history of the Cunard company in epitome and forms a striking testimony to the enterprise of the premier British ship company. Built in 1840, the Britannia was the pioneer of their Atlantic mail service, which has now been successfully performed by subse- quent vessels for six- ty-four years. She measured 207 ft. long by 34 ft. 4 in. broad by 24:4t. 4 in. deep, with a tonnage bur- den of 1,154 and an indicated horse power Ol yi. 'tet "cargo capacity was 225 tons, and she was fitted for the accommodation of 115 cabin passengers, but no steerage. Her average speed was 8.5 knots per hour on a coal consumption of 38 tons per day. She started on her maid- en voyage from Liv- . erpool to Boston on July 4, 1840--the cel- ebration day = 0 American independ- ence--and attracted universal attention and admiration, while her arrival in Amer- ica was the occasion of unbounded enthusiasm. The Hibernia was added to the fleet in 1843 (and a sister ship, the Cambria, in 1845). The Hibernia was of greater dimensions, more extensive passenger and cargo capacity, and attained a somewhat higher speed than her predecessors. She was 210 ft. long by 35 ft. 9 in. broad by 24.2 ft. deep; of 1,040 I. H. P., and of 1,422 tons, with an average speed of 9.25 knots. : The Asia marked a new development in the history of the Cunard business rather than in the progress of naval engineer- ing. She was, structurally, like all her predecessors, a wooden, paddle-wheel vessel, but of larger size and corre- spondingly greater engine power, besides being fitted with the latest improvements for the comfort and convenience of pas- sengers. She was 266 ft. long by 4o ft. broad by 27 ft. 2 in. deep, of 2,400 I. H. P. and 2,226 gross tonnage, with an aver- age speed of 12.5 knots. The Persia (1855) was a magnificent iron paddle steamer of 3,307 tons burthen, and 4,000 I. H. P., with accommodation for 250 cabin passengers. She was among the earlier iron ships of the Cunard company, and at once became the favorite and most successful steamer upon the Atlantic. Her meas- urements were 376 ft. long by 45.3 breadth of beam by 31.6 depth, and her average speed 13.8 knots per hour. The Scotia (1862), length 379 ft., tonnage 3,871 tons, speed 14.4 knots, was a distinct improvement upon all previous efforts of marine ship building, and acknowledged to be the CUNARD MODELS AT THE FAIR. ye Fr VA ek UW finest mercantile vessel then afloat. She was the last of the paddle-wheels, and broke all Atlantic records, performing the passage from Liverpool to New York in 8 days 22 hours. She was followed in the same year by the China, the first of the single screw propellers. The Russia (1867) was built on the Clyde by J. & G. Thom- son, and measured 358 ft. long by 42.6 ft. broad by 209.2 ft. deep, with a gross tonnage of 2,960, and an indicated horse power of 3,100. Her speed was 14.4 knots per hour, on a coal consumption of go tons per day: Her cargo capacity was 1,260 tons, and she accommodated 235 cabin passengers. The Russia was probably the most beautiful vessel that had ever ~ been seen upon the ocean up to that time. Her graceful outline and the symmetry of her proportions were considered by nauti- cal men to. be per- fect; while the ele- gance of her interior decorations and gen- -eral accommodation soon gained for her a reputation for com- fort and luxury. . lt may be noted in pass- ine. that her' com- mander, Capt. Cook, navigated this vessel 630,c00 miles on the Atlantic in all weath- ers without accident or break-down of any kind, and safely car- ried to and fro 26,076 cabin passengers. The Gallia (1879) was one of the finést of the early screw steamships worked by compound engines, an invention that utilized steam at a far higher pressure and produced equal to or better speed results on a much smaller consumption of fuel. She was of 4,808 tons and 5,300 I. H. P., with an aver- age speed of 15.5 knots per hour. Her measurements were 430 ft. long by 44.3 ft. broad by 36 ft. deep. The Umbria, built by Messrs. Elder in 1884, and followed in 1885 by her sister ship, the Etruria, identical in all particu- lars, was considered the greatest triumph of the science of modern ship building. Her dimensions are: Length, 500 ft.; breadth, 57.3 ft.; depth, 4o ft.; with a gross tonnage of 8,127 tons. She is.a five-decker, the promenade deck, extending over the full breadth of the ship for nearly 300 ft. amidships, is reserved for first-class passengers. The interior accom- modation and the beauty of her decorations made her one of the wonders of the age, and she has proved one of the most reliable and successful vessels afloat. She is furnished with steam steering gear, is divided into watertight compartments, and is fitted with waterproof and fireproof doors. The com- pound engines indicate. upwards of 14,500 H. P. Speed, 19% knots per hour. The Campania, together with her sister ship, the Lucania, performs the fastest mail service between England and Amer- ica, and in addition to this distinction both vessels are models of artistic luxury in the beauty of their decorations and the extreme comfort of their passenger accommodations. Her